by Ken Lupoff, Associate Director of Business Development

This year’s Juneteenth federal holiday falls on June 19 – the date in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order 3 in Texas, enforcing President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery and called for the freedom of Black people who had long been oppressed by the institution of enforced servitude. That slavery continued in Texas for some two and one-half years after the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation due to the oppressive acts of white slave owners has been a historically obscure fact, with Juneteenth and its significance being relatively unknown in non-Black communities outside of Texas for many years.

Across the country, Black families have celebrated this holiday and taught their children the importance of Juneteenth for generations. However, it would take 156 years for the significance of Juneteenth to be properly recognized, when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021.

For this second Federal Juneteenth holiday, RDA staff once again decided to recognize an Oakland-based community organization that works to uplift the local Black community. After some deliberation, RDA chose to acknowledge to the work of the East Oakland Collective, a grass roots, millennial-generation run organization that prioritizes black residents, to navigate challenges and barriers through resource distribution and advocacy. To mark Juneteenth, RDA has donated to the East Oakland Collective, as well as highlighting their work and community contributions.

As an employee-owned, majority-woman-managed, California Social Purpose Corporation, RDA works to help public and social sector organizations to meet the needs of the communities we work in. This work, at the strategic intersection of applied research and implementation is grounded in RDA staff’s commitment to equity, access, and opportunity.

Please join us as we celebrate this year’s Juneteenth holiday by attending local events and supporting the goal of Black equity and equality in America.