The African American Parade!
Greetings from the PEERS Board and the Lansing Juneteenth Celebration Committee. We have great plans and look forward to the annual Lansing Juneteenth Celebration and recognition of "Juneteenth Day" as a state of Michigan holiday. Since 1993, the Lansing Juneteenth Celebration has served as a respected voice in the community with the city of Lansing as its backdrop.
In 2015, the African American Parade, became part of the Lansing Juneteenth Celebration. The parade was dedicated in memory of its founder, the late Rev. Dr. Michael C. Murphy, who was a former Lansing Legislator, City Council Member and community advocate.
The 2024 parade will take place on Saturday, June 15 and will kick off at 11:00 am. The starting point is J.W. Sexton High School, 102 S. McPherson Avenue, Lansing, MI .
Organizations interested in participating in the Juneteenth African American parade should review the parade details below. The fee to enter the parade is $30. Sponsors with parade entry included should complete the Sponsor entry application. (For questions, contact Calvin Jones: Calvin.Jones@lbwl.com.
The 2024 Parade Grand Marshals
Ms. Mitzi Allen
Mitzi Allen is a beacon of positive change and community advocacy on Lansing's West Side. Mitzi's journey as an activist, entrepreneur, and devoted mother reflects her unwavering commitment to fostering safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments within her hometown. A proud product of Lansing's Westside, Mitzi attended Kalamazoo Street Elementary, West Junior High, and the very best high school in the city; J.W. Sexton High School. Her dedication to J-Dubb extends to organizing the annual homecoming and alumni parades, supporting the school’s coat closet, and raising funds to support the band and graduating seniors with essential needs. Each fall Mitzi, as a member of the Westside Neighborhood Association, welcomes students at Sexton and Riddle Elementary on the first day of school. Mitzi's dedication to community engagement traces back to her childhood, where she accompanied her grandmother to Lansing Model Cities meetings during the 1960s, witnessing firsthand the power of citizen involvement in urban revitalization efforts. Growing up in a neighborhood full of children, where neighbors became friends and were treated like extended family; it was a natural fit that Mitzi embrace initiatives like the Westside Neighborhood Association (WNA), where she became an active member under the leadership of the late Rudy Wilson. Mitzi took her grass-roots activism seriously; bravely picketing outside a known drug house to force them to shut down or relocate. With equal gutsy conviction in WNA Mitzi welcomes new neighbors, organizes candidate forums, plans neighborhood block parties, leads clean-up efforts for neighborhood parks, plants flowers throughout the neighborhood, chairs the Crime and Safety Committee, and participates in the Neighborhood Watch Program. Her passion for preserving the rich African American history of the Westside led her to organize informative walks highlighting achievements made by Blacks in our city. In 2019, she documented African Americans from the Westside of Lansing who broke the color barrier by becoming the first to achieve acclaim in diverse fields. In recent years she has become a neighborhood tour guide, conducting informational tours highlighting unique homes and landmarks, including the iconic Sears & Roebuck Homes of the Westside. Over the years she has befriended many and modeled the true meaning of neighbor. Mitzi retired after 37 years of public service with the State of Michigan advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities. As owner of OC's Cleaning Service, Mitzi's entrepreneurial spirit shines through. With a long list of satisfied customers, she is most proud of providing the post-construction cleaning of the General Motors Delta Plant and Welcoming Center. Mitzi's green thumb and love for gardening led her to complete the MSU Extension Master Gardener Program. Volunteering countless horticultural hours, two of her favorite activities are planting the flower beds at the state capitol and the Governor’s residence. Additionally, she is also a dedicated mother to three daughters and grandmother to two grandsons. As a member of New Mount Calvary Baptist church, she serves on the culinary staff and works on events that feed the homeless. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, repurposing eclectic finds and walking. Please join us in celebrating Mitzi Allen's tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to making Lansing's West Side a better place for all.
Ms. Carmen Y. Moultrie-Turner
Carmen Y. Moultrie-Turner is the President of the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing located in Lansing, Michigan. Named President/Chief Executive Officer in July 2001, she oversees the daily operations of the Club. Carmen was born in Rome, Georgia. She and her family moved to Detroit when she was four years old. Carmen lived in Detroit until 1982 when she was accepted at Michigan State University (MSU). Carmen graduated with a B.A. from MSU where she majored in Marketing/Communications. After graduation, Carmen returned to Detroit to take a position in corporate America at NBD Bank (now Chase Bank) in their Management Training Program. She continued at NBD for seven years and through hard work, was promoted to Branch Manager for the Wayne State University office. After leaving NBD, she began working at Aurora Mental Health Hospital in Detroit where her focus was working with mentally challenged youth. After two years of inpatient care, she was then promoted to coordinating a partial day outpatient program for youth ages 16 to 21. She was mentored by her then supervisor with plans to move up in the company, but GOD had other plans. Carmen worked with the program for over ten years before deciding to return to Lansing, after her divorce, to accept the CEO Position. Carmen has always been active in the community and local organizations wherever she has lived. Beyond being very active in her church, she also participates or has memberships in: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Lansing Rotary Club Board of Directors, Lansing Rotary Foundation Board of Directors, Blue Cross Blue Shield Advisory Committee, Capital Area United Way’s Agency Relations Committee, Capital Region Community Foundation Board, MCAN Board of Directors, CAPCAN Board of Directors, MLK Commission, Boys & Girls Clubs of America State Ambassador, and Commissioner for Delta Township Parks & Recreation and BGCA Training and Professional Development Advisory Committee In 2006 the Uplift Our Youth Foundation awarded Carmen the “Youth Advocate of the Year” Award, she also received the 2007 Spirit of Scouting Service Award and was also nominated for the 2011 Tribute to Women Award. As well as, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Advocate for Youth Award, Davis-Dunning’s Humanitarian Award, Greater Lansing Area NANBPW Club, Inc. Community Service Award, Lansing Chamber Community Service Award and Chums Incorporated, Lansing Chapter Service Award. Carmen faced her own challenges during her tenure, including the death of both her parents. She never lost sight of what was important-her daughters. She has always put them first, and they have directly influenced how she approached her career and the value she placed in the community. Her oldest is an alumna from the University of Notre Dame and the youngest completed her bachelors and master’s degrees from Harvard University. Carmen’s love for family and commitment to making a positive impact is unwavering.
Parade Route
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Parade will begin at 11:00am moving northbound from the front of Sexton HS (102 S. McPherson Avenue, Lansing), turning RIGHT at the end of the drive onto Michigan Avenue headed eastward.
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Advancing one block the parade will make a RIGHT TURN onto Jenison.
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Parade continues southbound on Jenison arriving at Lenawee Street, then makes a RIGHT TURN onto Lenawee Street.
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Parade now continues westbound on Lenawee Street (headed towards West Street).
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Parade continues westbound on Lenawee Street towards St. Joe Park (Passing Everett Drive; Passing Verlinden).
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Parade makes a slight LEFT (curve-turn) from Lenawee Street onto Hillsdale:
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The Parade will continue on Hillsdale and advance towards the opening of St. Joe Park, turning RIGHT into the park .