Lansing Juneteenth Celebration
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 2025 parade will take place on Saturday, June 21 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 2025 Parade Grand Marshals
Dr. Willie D. Davis, Jr., Ph.D.
A professor at Lansing Community College and Davenport University, Dr. Willie D. Davis Jr. (Babakubwa Kweku) has his Ph.D. in International and Comparative Education from Michigan State University and has taught for 50 years, 14 in the K-12 system and 40 years as an Adjunct Professor. He has spent 40 years in Public Health as a Consultant in areas of Health Education, Statistics, Chronic Disease Control, Community Organizing, Quality Control for Medicaid Screening and Minority Health. He has published in several journals and books and has traveled extensively to Africa and the Caribbean as well as to Australia, Europe, South America and Asia gathering material for the All Around the African World Museum and Resource Center of which he is the Curator/Director. He has also served as a board member of an African Centered School named after Malcolm X – El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, for 25 years and in the naming of a street Malcolm X Blvd in Lansing, Mi. He has coordinated tours to Tanzania and Jamaica and helped develop Sister and Friendship City relationships in Ghana and Tanzania respectfully. He retains active membership in many African and African American organizations and others including the Lansing Juneteenth Scholarship and Education Committee and enjoys the distinction of attending as a vendor, for every Juneteenth Celebration.
Mr. Daniel Boggan, III
Daniel Boggan, III retired from the Lansing School District on January 31, 2025, after an extraordinary 33-year career dedicated to education, athletics, and student success. Over the span of his service, Daniel held numerous impactful roles, including 7 years as Head Principal and 4 years as Assistant Principal. His commitment to student development also including 3 years as Athletic Director, 18 years as Assistant Athletic Director, 18 years as Student Support Specialist, and 1 year as a Public Safety Officer. A passionate and accomplished coach, Daniel led Sexton High School’s football and track programs to remarkable success. He served as Head Football Coach for 16 years and Assistant Football Coach for 7 years. In track and field, he spent 22 years as Head Boys Track Coach and 8 years coaching both boys and girls teams. Under his leadership, Sexton Football and Track earned a total of 21 conference championships, 10 regional championships, 6 district championships, 3 state runner-up finishes, 1 state championship, and the only Lansing School District football coach to ever reach the state championship in Lansing School District history. Along with multiple area coach of the year honors, Daniel had been named the state of Michigan coach of the year in Track and Field in 2005 and Football 2014. His coaching legacy includes 131 Division 1 and Division 2 football, and track scholarships awarded to student-athletes who benefitted from his mentorship. This also includes several of his football players playing in the NFL, Karl Brooks of the Green Bay Packers being the latest. Daniel’s coaching excellence has been recognized with inductions into the State of Michigan Football Hall of Fame, the Eastern High School Football Hall of Fame, and the Sexton High School Hall of Fame for both Football and Track as a coach. Now entering a new chapter, Daniel serves as Strategy Manager for the Michigan Public Health Institute’s Advance Peace Initiative, where he is focused on ending gun violence and improving community safety. Proud of the legacy he leaves at Sexton High School, Daniel remains committed to making a difference in the lives of young people through a new and vital lens of public health and community engagement. During this journey Daniel has had the support from his beautiful wife, Shari who he has been married to for 31 years.
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 .