The Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services has declared a winter shelter declaration for Thurs., 12/4 at 4PM through Mon., 12/08 at 9AM. Call 443-984-9540 by 9PM to connect with shelter. Get more info here.

Juneteenth 2022


Also celebrated as Freedom Day, Independence Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day, June 19 marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued two years earlier by President Lincoln.

Below are ways to both reflect upon and celebrate Juneteenth.


What does FREEDOM mean to you?

Add a post-it to our board below. See what memories, stories or meaning others add, too.

REI Health Specialist Arie Hayre-Somuah will be going around to staff and clients throughout the month to get reflections in person as well. 

Add to the jamboard


Read up on the history and advocates behind Juneteenth

In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing a bill to declare Juneteenth a federal holiday. We celebrate this historic achievement even as we acknowledge the long road ahead toward true liberation.

History of Juneteenth + Freedom
Juneteenth + Health Disparities

 


Watch our two-part Community of Practice on Restorative Justice

“The legal term for reparations is restitution, and it means asking 'What will it take to acknowledge and end the harm?' Let's deal with it on its face. It’s time for us to be a just nation if we’re going to be a nation at all.” - Rev. S. Todd Yeary

Watch


Join the REI Lunch & Learn (Staff Only)

On June 16 from 12-1 p.m., we'll explore legislative tie-ins to Juneteenth and our work. 

See more


Celebrate and reflect with food

Juneteenth Luncheon on 6/20

As part of our agency commemoration, we'll provide boxed lunches for staff at 12:30 p.m. Our friends at Class Act Catering will prepare Grilled Capon Chicken Breast, Macaroni and Cheese, Caesar Salad, Brown Sugar Green Beans, Chocolate Chip Cookies + Vegan Meals including Eggplant Tower and Chef's Choice Sides.

Try a new dish or share a recipe

Make a dish or two this month from Epicurious' recipe list for Juneteenth. Share your dish!


Pump up the jams

Lilian Amaya is assembling a Juneteenth Playlist for all of us to enjoy!

Please send your suggestions her way, and we'll post the link below once it's ready.

Email Lilian your song


Join in community Juneteenth events

Have other events to add? Email communications@hchmd.org


Support Black-owned businesses

Interested in supporting or donating in honor of Juneteenth?

Consider browsing the books at Everyone's Place, or donating to Jubilee Arts, a community-based art program located a few blocks from Sojourner at Argyle or Black Yield Institute, a Pan-African think tank and collective action network that addresses food apartheid (and participant in our Community of Practice on Homelessness). 

More Recent News


With SNAP benefits in Maryland facing uncertainty, many families are wondering how they’ll put food on the table. Here are ways Health Care for the Homeless is helping, as well as a list of local food assistance resources.

On Saturday, November 1, more than 300 runners, walkers, friends and volunteers gathered in Patterson Park for the 2025 Rock Your Socks 5K. Read all about this year's awesome event!

Before joining Health Care for the Homeless as Registered Nurse Case Manager, Alex James, RN, LMSW, (left) completed a internship under the guidance of Clinical Program Manager II Tammy Montague, PhD, LCSW-C (right). “I didn’t know that a workplace could be this supportive,” Alex reflects on their internship with supervisor Tammy.