Juneteenth Is American History Too

In 2019 Governor Tom Wolf Officially signed into legislation the declaration of June 19 as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day," an official annual observance in Pennsylvania. This marks the official Day of Remembrance in honor of the emancipation of the remaining enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. This piece of American history has long been overlooked not only in the educational system but also in professional spaces and we endeavor to do better in cultural inclusion and equitable representation in all we do.

In observance of Juneteenth, June 18 will be a special holiday closure for state employees under the governor's jurisdiction, and we encourage our private sector partners to join in the official acknowledgement and observance of this day.  Allyship is not just in words, it's in actions too. 

This is our American history too; it is the harsh reality of the founding of this nation we must never forget.  We also stand in solidarity with the descendants of those enslaved Africans who continue to survive, and will continue to make equitable representation and inclusion a core part of our organization's culture.