An artist, gamer, and movie lover, Curtis McLaughlin (above) has been part of the Health Care for the Homeless Art Group for more than five years.
Art is one of my coping skills. I can be anywhere and create art wherever I go.
Juneteenth 2022
06.02.22
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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).
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