This Juneteenth was refreshing.

While I learned about Juneteenth years ago, this year was the first year I participated in community festivities and used this time to intentionally reflect on the pain and triumphs of those who made this day possible. Juneteenth weekend, I enjoyed watching films, listening to presentations and performers express their arts of history, telling personal stories, and supporting minority black-owned businesses in Boston.

In addition to my time of reflection, I also used this time to further educate myself and others on how we keep the true essence of this day alive with future generations. Juneteenth weekend, I enjoyed watching films, listening to presentations and performers express their arts of history, telling personal stories, and supporting minority black-owned businesses in Boston.

This Juneteenth, CommCorp held a fireside chat wrap-up to openly share the takeaways of this Juneteenth and how they will continue to use their influence to carry on the truth of history for the many years to come. As I celebrate with colleagues various ways to honor this holiday, I felt a great deal of hope, pride, and joy to celebrate the actual day of freedom of the brothers and sisters who were enslaved. We recognize, we all play an important role in honoring Juneteenth and recognizing the origin of this holiday.

Together we will continue the conversations of freedom and take steps towards creating a more just and equitable society for all. As an advocate for elevating black voices and emerging leaders this Juneteenth and beyond, I pledge to continue the conversations to drive racial equity across my spaces of influence.