On June 19, 2022, Sharon Dennis Wyeth had the very special honor of attending and speaking at the Juneteenth dedication at the Scottsville Market in honor or Minerva Bell Lewis, the town’s Juneteenth honoree, who was also her third great grandmother.

The Scottsville Market is located on the site of land formerly owned by Sharon’s ancestor.

After trying to find “her people” for many years, this was a truly moving moment for Sharon, who was asked to say a few works.

“Juneteenth Our Day of Freedom” is also dedicated to Sharon’s third great grandmother Minerva.

As a child born in Washington, D.C., one of my favorite places to visit was the Smithsonian. At the Smithsonian, I was granted access to knowledge and culture! I’m especially honored by Katrina Lashley’s article in an online issue of Smithsonian Magazine featuring  EVETTE: THE RIVER AND ME, the story of WORLD BY US American Girl doll Evette Peeters. Evette is a burgeoning environmentalist who finds a calling on the Anacostia River, the river of my own childhood.  

Sharon and American Girl doll Evette at the World by Us debut in the American Girl store. Sharon is the author of Evette’s story, The River and Me.