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Date: 6/14/2023
SPRINGFIELD — “United we Stand” is the official Juneteenth song for the city of Springfield, after being approved by the City Council.
Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce shared the history behind the song. He said that he was inspired by Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan and Montenia Shider, who sings “Massachusetts,” to bring this to the council and ultimately, to the State House to see if they could make this the official Juneteenth song.
“On June 19, 1866, formerly enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, celebrated a year of emancipation — of freedom — with the Juneteenth holiday,” Click-Bruce said.
He noted that the date is the oldest known tradition honoring the end of slavery in the United States.
About a year ago, Click-Bruce said he reached out to a pastor and friend about bringing men together. When he suggested singing a song that was performed in 2008 called “You Will Know,” the pastor suggested singing their own song — something that had not been done in the city of Springfield before.
As a result, men of different backgrounds and colors — all from Springfield — were brought together and rehearsed for over a year. The group, Brothers United, created the song “United we Stand.”
Click-Bruce said the song talks about an array of things that some might be “uncomfortable” with. “It’s a struggle that quite frankly, being a young African American here, growing up in the city and also throughout the world, that my father and my grandfather and his grandfather actually experienced,” he shared. “It’s near and dear to my heart and it’s something that speaks to my background and my son’s background, and people that look like me.”
Click-Bruce read a resolution to support Brothers United as they highlight the importance of Juneteenth through music and make history in the “City of Firsts.” The resolution also urges state representatives to file a bill with the state and designate the song as the official Juneteenth song of Massachusetts. It encourages legislators to support the song as well.
Councilor at Large Justin Hurst said the song is “powerful” and one that resonated with him as he can relate to it.
Councilor at Large Tracye Whitfield said, “The words have [a] powerful message about unity and being united and that’s something we should always work on. Regardless if we agree or disagree on certain things, we don’t have to be divided.” Whitfield was also a sponsor of an ordinance to make Juneteenth a holiday in the city of Springfield.
Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown, among several other councilors, commended Click-Bruce for the work on this resolution and granted their full support.
Mass in Motion Grant
Deputy Chief Administrator and Financial Officer Lindsey Hackett shared that the Mass in Motion Grant was awarded to the Health Department in the amount of $279,610 for fiscal year 2024.
“The purpose of the grant is for policy systems and change strategies to create healthy environments and to reduce the population of overweight, obesity, chronic disease and associated risk factors,” said Hackett.
The council unanimously accepted the grant.