CPP to Commemorate Juneteenth with Two On-Campus Events
Cal Poly Pomona will commemorate Juneteenth with two on-campus events in June.
The holiday honors the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when troops arrived in Texas to announce that all enslaved Black people of African descent were free, which was over two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The day became a federal holiday in 2021 and the following year CPP held its inaugural event marking the day. This year, Juneteenth events will be held throughout the California State University (CSU) system.
“Juneteenth stands as a powerful reminder of delayed justice, enduring resilience and the ongoing pursuit of freedom and equity,” wrote Jonathan Grady, senior associate vice president of equity and belonging, in an all-campus email. “Today, as we reflect on this history and its continued relevance, we also reaffirm our commitment to our Principles of Community and the shared responsibility of cultivating a campus where dignity, belonging, care and humanity remain central. Together, we will honor the creativity, faith, courage, resistance, and collective joy that have sustained generations and continue to inspire us to rise together in community, hope and purpose.
The CSU will host its third biannual Juneteenth online symposium, “Pathways to Progress: Legacy, Learning and Leadership,” on Thursday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to noon. The systemwide gathering will unite “voices from across CSU campuses to celebrate the central role of Black history in our shared national story, elevate student success and inspire the next generation of leaders,” according to the event’s website. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the CSU should register to attend.
To create space for conversation, connection and shared reflection, many campuses will hold a watch party for the livestreamed event. Cal Poly Pomona’s watch party will take place in the University Library. Refreshments will be served but space is limited, so CPP students, faculty and staff are invited to RSVP.
The second event hosted by Cal Poly Pomona, “Remembrance, Reckoning, and the Courage to Rise Together” is set for Tuesday, June 16. Attendees will enjoy a lunch inspired by stories and recipes from members of the community, hear from keynote speaker Karen Harris Tyrrell (’24, doctorate in educational leadership) and participate in a collective brainstorm on how to strengthen community and belonging on campus. Capacity for this event was reached within 24 hours of the registration opening, showing that community members are eager to continue building the work of inclusion and belonging.