Celebrating Juneteenth – Now an Official Federal Holiday!

Dear Breakthrough Families, 

I am writing to you today to mark an especially exciting update: Congress’s vote and approval last night to officially make Juneteenth a federal holiday! While we, along with so many other organizations nationwide, had already planned to observe the holiday, this vote brings tremendous support, attention, and affirmation to one of the most consequential moments in our country’s history. 

As you know, Juneteenth — short for “June Nineteenth” — celebrates the day when federal troops took control of the State of Texas to ensure that all enslaved people be freed. This happened in Galveston, TX two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and, at its core, honors the collective end to slavery in the United States. 

As we celebrate not only the moment itself but the new national acknowledgment of this moment, we here at Breakthrough are using the space and time created by this day of celebration to reflect on the work we are doing together to become the anti-racist and inclusive organization we actively aspire to be. 

As you head into this celebratory weekend, please also find below several resources and local events taking place:

With that, I wish you all a wonderful — and official! — Juneteenth! 

In partnership!

Alan Rosskamm

Chief Executive Officer
Breakthrough Public Schools

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