Let's celebrate African American freedom, education, and achievement this Juneteenth. Staff will be out of the office on June 19.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States in 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared that everyone who was enslaved was to be freed. This did not happen immediately in many states.

Juneteenth marks the day that federal troops reinforced the freeing of enslaved peoples, specifically in Galveston, Texas. Together with our community, we celebrate this event and can take time to consider equity and honor the achievements of African Americans in our country.