A Mermaid, Fireflies, and Freedom: YWCA Delaware Heads to Juneteenth 2026 with Student-Created Art Leading the Way

Friday, May 29, 2026

This year, YWCA Delaware is proud to join the Delaware Juneteenth Association (DEJA) for the 32nd Annual Juneteenth Freedom Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 13, 2026. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at Rodney Square between 11th and King Streets and proceeds to Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park on Rosa Parks Drive, where the festival officially begins at 2:00 p.m. 

This year, a wave of YWCA Delaware staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters will show up in full color, wearing bright orange shirts featuring a stunning Black mermaid wrapped in Pan-African colors. The artwork was created by this year’s YWCA Delaware Juneteenth T-Shirt Design Contest winner, Alicia Whitney, a sixth grader from First State Montessori Academy. Alicia created a piece called, “Free Under the Sea”. It’s imaginative and whimsical in the best possible way. The artwork shows a Black mermaid fully at peace beneath the ocean — free, radiant, unapologetic. 

Alicia’s design pulled in 185 community votes, earning her first-place honors and a $250 gift card!

Second place went to Maahirah Jordan, an 8th grader from Louis L. Redding Middle School, for her piece, “Juneteenth.” 

“A family member asked if I wanted to participate in the art contest,” she shared, “and I said yes because I love drawing.” 

Maahirah received a $150 gift card for her submission.

Third place went to Marie Noble, a fourth-grade student from Claymont Elementary School, for her artwork Flags in the Night Sky. Marie shared that her inspiration came from a meaningful family tradition connected to Juneteenth.

“Every year my family stays up late and looks for fireflies while we remember and tell the story of when the last people who were enslaved found out they were free,” she said.

Marie received a $100 gift card.

This year’s art contest brought us so many inspiring pieces of artwork designed by young artists depicting the Juneteenth flag, Harriet Tubman’s legacy, Pan-African unity, and powerful stories of freedom and resistance in such original ways. We’re really impressed by everyone who submitted their art, especially since there were requirements that restricted the use of AI, and we’re also grateful for everyone who submitted a vote to support these young artists and to support our housing, SARC crisis response, and economic empowerment services,” said Melissa Gonville, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Delaware. 

YWCA Delaware’s Juneteenth Art Contest was sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts, the Delaware Community Foundation, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

YWCA Delaware staff, volunteers, board members, community partners, families, and neighbors will be walking together in celebration of freedom, resilience, culture, and community.

After the parade, all are welcome to swing by the YWCA Delaware festival table for snacks, resources, swag, and conversation.

We’re honored to participate in the DEJA parade and festival, because it happens here in Wilmington, a place where the history of freedom and resistance is deeply rooted in our streets, the riverfront, and the stories people still carry with them,” said Felisha Lawrence, Chief Development Officer at YWCA Delaware.

Delawareans were divided over abolition in the mid-19th century. Slavery remained legal in Delaware until the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

For thousands escaping slavery, Wilmington became one of the final stops before freedom. Thomas Garrett, a prominent Quaker abolitionist, operated an Underground Railroad station from his home on Shipley Street in Wilmington. Despite being heavily fined under the Fugitive Slave Act, Garrett refused to stop his work and is believed to have assisted nearly 2,700 people seeking liberation.

His efforts were closely connected to those of Harriet Tubman, who, after securing her own freedom, repeatedly returned south to guide others to safety. According to the Delaware Historical Society, Tubman rescued approximately 70 enslaved individuals and worked alongside Garrett during several of her journeys through Wilmington.

Many freedom seekers traveled through the Christiana River area near what is now Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park.

YWCA Delaware is looking forward to celebrating freedom, culture, resilience, and joy in a place where generations before us once risked everything in pursuit of freedom itself.

Anyone who is interested in walking with YWCA Delaware is welcome to register at ywcade.org/Juneteenth and will receive a free Juneteenth t-shirt featuring Alicia’s winning artwork.