celebrate diversity

Juneteenth commemorates the end to slavery in the United States and is celebrated annually on June 19th. Each year, AGE hosts a community celebration, free to the public, to celebrate freedom and honor Black culture with a community picnic including, food, music, activities, and fun for families.

Our next celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 21

Save the date and join our mailing list or watch Facebook and Instagram for updates as the date draws near!

AGE celebrates Cinco de Mayo each year in honor of our Hispanic community. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. It has since evolved into a broader celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in the United States, with festivities featuring traditional music, food, and dance.

In 2024, AGE participated as a partner in hosting a full-day event in Owatonna’s downtown Central Park. Vendors, food trucks, bounce houses, live music, and other activities ran for the majority of the day and was free to attend by the public.

Stay tuned for news on how we plan to celebrate in 2025! 

In 2023, we hosted an art contest for children in the Owatonna area to create a poem, poster, or art in any format to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact he had on human rights and freedoms for all citizens. Multiple winners were selected to receive an award from AGE.

In 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, we partnered with the Owatonna Human Rights Commission on their annual breakfast (now lunch) event, hosting a free meal and speaker brought in to discuss and present on the legacy and impact MLK Day celebrates.

This year, we started exploring the idea of making MLK Day a day of service to the community, using our day off as a way to give back to the community and live the values that MLK advocated. Members of the AGE Board were able to volunteer at Community Pathways and then attend the Human Rights Commission luncheon and program. 

We would love to expand this event to serve multiple nonprofit organizations in our community and organize a large group of volunteers to work together that day to make an impact on the Owatonna community. If you would like to be a part of championing a service project like this, please contact us at admin@allianceforgreaterequity.org.

Black History Month is celebrated every February in the US. It celebrates the achievements, history, and contributions of Black Americans to society and serves as a reminder of the ongoing journey toward equality while honoring the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Black community.

The AGE Board members have committed to sharing an educational social media campaign to highlight those achievements in the black community and raise awareness to the history and successes seen therein.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration held from September 15 to October 15, in honor of the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. AGE wanted to highlight the rich diversity and influence of Hispanic communities in shaping our community’s and our nation’s heritage.

In 2023, we hosted a social media education campaign to share stories about what makes Hispanic Heritage important to community members. We interviewed and posted videos of the stories shared by five community members and how they honor their heritage in their everyday lives.

In the future, we would like to expand this celebration to an in-person event focused on sharing Hispanic culture through stories and food. If you’d like to be involved in a community planning group, please contact us at admin@allianceforgreaterequity.org.

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition celebrated on November 1 and 2 to honor and remember loved ones who have passed away. Rooted in Indigenous and Spanish influences, it is a joyful occasion of traditions symbolizing the enduring connection between the living and the deceased. 

In 2024, we received multiple requests to put together a community event to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. We would love to put together a community planning group to move us forward in this planning phase. If you would like to contribute ideas, resources, or your time, please email admin@allianceforgreaterequity.org.