SCOTLAND, Maryland — The Scotland AME Zion Church sits along a busy stretch of Seven Locks Road in Potomac, Maryland. It was built by hand and opened in 1924 by African American congregants.
It’s the only historic building to survive in the Scotland community, but this sacred space was nearly wiped off the map by a devasting flood in 2019.
Since then, the Scotland Community has been working to raise funds to rebuild their beloved church.
The Scotland Community will holding its second annual Juneteenth Heritage Festival that runs Saturday, June 15th through Wednesday, June 19th.
This festival is a way for everyone in the communit to come together and help support the church along with several other non-profits dedicated to empowering and uplifting Black and youth communities.
LaTisha Gassaway Paul is a fifth-generation Scotland descendant. She said, “Caribbean Carnival is more than just a festival, it's a symbol of freedom in the face of oppression."
The 2024 Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival pays tribute to the rich cultural heritage of Juneteenth and the Scotland community.
There a eight venues and 23 events taking place during the five-day festival, including an interfaith breakfast, sports clinics, history lectures and the 5K Road Race and 1K family walk, which takes place on Wednesday, June 19 at 8 a.m. Race registration is required and organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with race day activities.
"The 5K is special because the 5K is actually the opening event for the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival on June 19th. It's for all ages. It's a 5K road race and fun walk. It's for all ages. We want families to come out. It is to bring awareness to not only Scotland but it is Freedom Day. 250,000 slaves were freed on June 19th and that's a joyous reason to celebrate," Gassaway Paul said.
Hoping to lead this year’s pack in this year's race is the Winston Churchill High School track team. Nate Swanson won last year's race and discovered his house sits on land that was once owned by the Scotland Community.
"I live right down the road from the Scotland church, I always drove past it. I never really knew what it was. I didn't know the significance of it. Just supporting that community now, acknowledging where that land is from is I think is important," Swanson said.
This community of runners is making strides to give back to their neighbors.
"It's so important to support the diversity of all of us and give back to the communities that are even different from us," said Noor Aly, another Churchill runner.
The racecourse runs through history. It begins and ends at Bells Mill Elementary School, 8225 Bells Mills Road in Potomac, MD where Scotland's children have gone since the late 1960s. The course also passes the 100- year-old Scotland AME Zion Church along the way.
"I've driven by the church a few times, but ... it's never registered, really what exactly it was. So, I think that this is a both a great fundraiser for a great cause and it’s also raising awareness," said Eden Shaw, a Winston Churchill High School runner.
The funds raised will be donated to the Scotland AME Zion Church, The Emory Grove United Methodist Church, 1Up Handles, Soul in Motion, Future Stars, Reach Beyond Basketball. These nonprofits are dedicated to empowering and uplifting Black and youth communities.
RELATED: Swindled out of their land, but still standing: Maryland's Scotland community is rich with history
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