African American Museum Of Plano

The Plano African American Museum (aka PAAM) coordinates Juneteenth activities in partnership with the community as part of its community engagement. The museum hosted a black music month exhibit at the museum as part of Juneteenth activities. The museum also supported the Juneteenth parade where the route was strategically scheduled through the historic Douglass Community. The event included several vendors with booths on the grounds of the museum during the Juneteenth celebration as well as an activity for the children on the grounds as well. As part of the Juneteenth activities the museum also helped coordinate the midweek community program that included the local historic churches in the community, city officials such as the mayor/city council members and community leaders who shared the significance of Juneteenth and highlighted cultural accomplishments in the community. The community Juneteenth event had close to 1,000 visitors for the single weekend event. Several attendees acknowledged the rich history that was shared and the affirmed the expansion of their understanding of Juneteenth as a result of attending the events.

When Food Speaks is a cultural food exhibit that PAAM has hosted for the past 2 years. It teaches about the history of food and highlights foods brought over on the slave ships by slaves and how they became part of the culture. The event also teaches about the alternative uses of food such as for medicinal purposes. When Food Speaks Gumbo event in 2024 educated attendees on the unique history of gumbo and the culture that it influenced. The event including a guest speaker, a gumbo contest and a zydeco which is an inherent part of the Cajun/Creole culture. The event had 105 attendees and served as part of PAAM's community engagement with the support of the Plano International Festival. This event hosts vendors who offer unique cultural products and some business services that support the cultural and educational experience. Many participants include families as this is a great opportunity for younger people in the city to learn about history, otherwise not taught in school. They are given an opportunity to experience it firsthand by those who sometimes can offer personal knowledge.

Black Music Month of June was celebrated at the Plano African American Museum in collaboration with Juneteenth festivities. The University of North Texas featured a black music month exhibit in partnerships with PAAM that was on display at the museum during the Juneteenth activities and throughout June which is officially black music month by presidential order under President Obama. There were 149 visitors at the museum for the exhibit. The exhibit included the history of various genres of black music and musicians that told the history of specific music artforms and performers. The after school children's program is included in this amount.