In observance of Juneteenth, Adams 14 schools and offices are closed on Monday, June, 20, 2022. Juneteenth is an United States federal holiday, as well as Colorado’s eleventh state holiday, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people, specifically enslaved Black/African Americans.
On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the victory of the Union in the Civil War, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, informing all enslaved people in the state that they were free from bondage. This day has come to be known as Juneteenth and has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865.
Adams 14 understands that the recognition and celebration of Juneteenth is a critical part of its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. While the day reminds us of our country’s long legacy of systemic racism, inequality, and inhumanity, it also reminds us of our capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments.