Last year reminded us of how much work still needs to be done to address and heal the racial divide in our country. This work involves acknowledging, remembering, and holding space for those who have been oppressed, marginalized, and victimized for generations.
Today, our offices will be closed in observance of Juneteenth (June 19, 1865), which marks the date that slaves in Texas learned that they too had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation nearly two years earlier. We are all impacted by injustice, not only as a nation, but also as an organization. Human trafficking - often referred to as a form of modern day slavery - disproportionality affects women and girls of color. About 50% of the women and more than 70% of the teen girls of NFNL are of this demographic. We have added Juneteenth to our list of annual employee holidays recognizing that healing begins with knowledge. And, as the late Maya Angelou implored, “when you know better, do better.”
To learn more about the Juneteenth holiday and its significance in U.S. and Texas history, please read this article. #HappyJuneteenth
