Hi —

People across Pennsylvania - and the entire nation - will spend the weekend celebrating and honoring Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is a day in honor of the last groups of enslaved people in Texas who finally got the word of their freedom on June 19, 1865 - two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in 1863. True freedom came when the last group of slaves were freed in 1865 and could now celebrate their freedom together.

Today, Conservation Voters of PA wants to honor our Black staff members and our other staff and volunteers of color, who walk alongside the rest of the team with grace, patience, and honesty as our organization endeavors to become more diverse and equitable. One way we are trying to achieve this goal is by recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday for the organization so that staff have the opportunity and time to celebrate appropriately. As such, our offices will be closed on Monday so staff can celebrate, reflect, or volunteer their time as they see fit.

If you’d like to join us in learning more about the history behind Juneteenth, please click here.

Another small way we can achieve our goal is by using our platform to lift up other organizations, leaders, and events that will be spending this weekend in celebration and fellowship. A few of those events are below. We hope there is one close to your location so that you might be able to honor the holiday in celebration with other Pennsylvania residents.

“Juneteenth at the Museum,” a series of events occurring at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia from June 18 to June 20.
The Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Homecoming, which will take place in Point State Park and Market Square in Pittsburgh from June 17 to June 19. The organizers are calling on all out-of-town native Pittsburghers to come home to celebrate this event, which includes a cookout, live bands, speakers and other family-friendly activities.
Erie’s Juneteenth Celebration, which includes a block party, music and worship, as well as a whole host of other events scattered across Erie over the weekend.
Juneteenth Lehigh Valley, which will include music, art, food and theater events.
Juneteenth 2022 in York, which will include a block party, poetry and an open mic event.
Bucks County Juneteenth Celebration at The Mercer Museum in Doylestown, which will focus on educating and building an awareness of Juneteenth and its historical significance. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 19.
A Juneteenth Celebration in Kennett Square in Chester County, which will run from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 17.
Montgomery County Juneteenth Celebration, which will occur on Saturday and Sunday and will feature hundreds of vendors, live music, food and other attractions.
Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Stroudsburg on Saturday, June 18, a free community event that will feature live music, vendors, entertainment and food.
People’s Picnic - A Juneteenth Event, which takes place at Coal Street Park in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, June 18 from Noon to 4pm.
More events across Pennsylvania can be found here.

Regardless of how you choose to honor Juneteenth, we hope you do so in remembrance and commemoration of such an important day for so many people.