A Note from CEO Jim Wunderman on Juneteenth
On this day 155 years ago, news of emancipation and the Civil War’s end finally reached the last group of enslaved African Americans in Texas. This news came over two years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and even then, not all slaves in our country were freed instantly. Juneteenth is a celebration and recognition of the belated liberation of Black people in the United States. Today we are called to reflect, not just on the too often delayed achievements of freedom and progress for Black Americans in recent decades, but also on the future and how we all have a stake in ending systemic racism and oppression. None of us is free until we are all free. There is much work to be done, and the Bay Area Council is strengthening our commitment to incorporate racial equity action into all areas of our policy work. Learn more about what we are doing.
The goal of the Bay Area Council is to help our region and our society emerge from the crises of our current times stronger, more resilient and more equitable than before. The road to finally achieving liberty and justice for all will be long, but we can get there together. To engage in the Council’s racial equity, diversity and inclusion work, please contact Policy Associate Leslie Alfaro and Director of Organizational Strategy Rachele Trigueros.
