Juneteenth is a day that honors Black freedom, resilience and focuses on Black people’s unique contribution to the struggle for justice in the United States. Trinity Health Of New England hospitals, Johnson Memorial, Mercy Medical Center, Mount Sinai, Saint Francis and Saint Mary’s all held Juneteenth events on Wednesday, June 19.
The 2024 Juneteenth theme is Strides for Freedom. Colleagues and friends gathered at each respective hospital for reflections on the holiday and spoke to the value of their work in the community. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Councils at each hospital work to foster a community of inclusion and belonging and growing in our understanding of health equity. Juneteenth is yet another opportunity to collaborate with our communities.
“As our Mission states, we are a transformative and healing presence within our communities. This does not just include being a trusted health partner for life and providing safe, quality care,” said Stephanie Boccuzzi, M.Div, Mission Leader, Saint Mary’s Hospital. “But it is also about deepening our relationships within the communities we serve. On Juneteenth we turn to history to guide our decisions today. This event is an opportunity to pause and enter a place of learning with one another.”
At Saint Mary’s, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council welcomed community partners to the program focused on “Voting Rights.” Introduced by colleagues, guests included Pastor Kristopher Reese, Grace Baptist Church, who spoke on the role of the Black Church in voting rights, Wendy Tyson-Woods, President Greater Waterbury NAACP spoke on the role of the NAACP in voting rights and retired Judge Maurice B. Mosley spoke on why voting is important.
“I am thrilled that Trinity Health is making intentional efforts towards creating a culture of inclusivity,” said Cheryl Hilton, Manager, Community Health & Well Being. “At Saint Mary’s, we want to be sure that all feel part of a space that is dedicated to opening doors to understanding.”
In the Springfield Market, high temperatures forced the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council to move Juneteenth activities into the lobbies at Mercy Medical Center and Johnson Memorial Hospital. Despite the location change, colleagues came together to reflect on the history of Juneteenth and its connection to our mission and core values. Participants were also invited to explore insights from influential leaders in the African American community, and then come together for a unity photo.
For the second year in a row, Saint Francis and Mount Sinai welcomed a Juneteenth exhibit from The Amistad Center for Art & Culture at the Wadsworth Atheneum. The banners, which were on display in the Rotunda at Saint Francis and the main lobby at Mount Sinai, display stories of freedom from Connecticut.
Juneteenth marks the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On this day, in 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas to announce the freedom of enslaved people and the end of the Civil War. This announcement came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into Law, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.