#Juneteenth Archives - MINES and Associates

How to Celebrate Juneteenth at Work: 25 Meaningful Ideas

Nic Mckane — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:21 +0000

Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19th, is an important date that commemorates the end of the enslavement of Black people in the United States. While the famous “Emancipation Proclamation” made the enslavement of human beings illegal in 1863, it wasn’t until over two years later — on June 19, 1865 — that every enslaved person was told about this.

Commemorating Juneteenth in your workplace can be an opportunity to reflect on your company’s DEI practices and the relationship you have with Black employees and community members. However, it’s important to celebrate Juneteenth in ways that are actually meaningful, not just to recognize the day on a surface level.

Today, we offer 25 meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth in your workplace.

Why is it important to recognize Juneteenth at work?

Just like commemorating Veteran’s Day honors those who have served in the military, Juneteenth is an important day that honors the Black American community and the essential contributions they have made to this country. We undoubtedly have a long way to go, but the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday is one important step toward spreading awareness about Black history and the Black American experience.

When you recognize Juneteenth at work, it’s a way to take a clear stand. You are telling your employees, as well as the general public, that your organization supports Black American rights and that you stand in solidarity with the Black community.

Although this support and solidarity should never stay confined to special days like Juneteenth — there are ways to proudly stand for Black rights and uplift Black employees all year long — June 19th is one opportunity, of many, to reflect on your organization’s practices and ensure Black employees are treated equally.

25 ideas on how to celebrate Juneteenth at work

Here are 25 ideas on how to celebrate Juneteenth at work in a meaningful way. Some ideas are geared toward workplace leaders (to celebrate with the whole staff), while others are meaningful ways you can celebrate within your team or even by yourself.

Which ones will your organization implement this Juneteenth?

1. Give employees the day off

Just like employees are given the day off on other important holidays, consider making Juneteenth an organization-wide holiday if you haven’t already.

2. Review your DEI policies

To truly uplift your Black employees and colleagues, there needs to be structural change. Review DEI policies and practices to ensure that Black staff are getting equal opportunities.

3. Offer anti-racism training

Juneteenth can be an opportunity for solemn reflection on how much work there is left to do to truly achieve racial equity. Take the time to work toward this goal by offering anti-racism training to staff.

4. Support Black-owned businesses

Support local Black-owned businesses; for example, you can ask a Black-owned restaurant to cater an employee lunch or order employee gifts from a Black-owned shop.

5. Host a Juneteenth speaker series

Invite Black speakers to host workshops about different topics that affect the Black community. Just make sure to pay all speakers well for their time and labor!

6. Offer leadership development for Black employees

Black employees often don’t get the same opportunities for promotions and upward movements as their white counterparts. Ensure that your Black employees have access to leadership and professional development opportunities.

7. Create a Black Employee Resource Group (ERG)

If you don’t have one already, create an ERG for Black employees. Research shows that ERGs help employees feel a stronger sense of belonging at work.

8. Partner with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)

Partner with a local HBCU to provide scholarships, internships, or continued education opportunities for staff.

9. Show a film

Host a screening of a documentary or film that teaches staff about Juneteenth or other issues that affect the Black community today.

10. Create an online learning portal

Offer education and resources about Juneteenth and Black History by creating an online learning portal that employees can access.

11. Incentivize self-reflection

Provide incentives for engaging with Juneteenth, such as incentivizing non-Black employees to self-reflect on their privilege or implicit biases.

12. Start a book club

Start a book club, and invite members to read one book by a Black author each month.

13. Partner with local organizations

Partner with local organizations that serve the Black community for giving opportunities, including corporate donations.

14. Highlight Black artists and musicians

Celebrate Black art and music history by creating and sharing playlists of songs by Black artists.

15. Create Black mentorship programs

Pair Black senior employees and leaders with newer staff to create mentorship opportunities for Black employees. This can help make it more likely for Black employees to gain access to upward mobility at work.

16. Implement accountability measures

Creating DEI policies is a good start, but it’s not enough. Implement measures to help you stay accountable to these policies.

17. Conduct an anonymous survey

Anonymous surveys can be a psychologically safe way for Black employees to offer feedback about your organization’s DEI practices and how supported they feel as a Black person in your company.

18. Juneteenth reflection prompts

Share daily reflection prompts about racial identity and privilege for employees to answer and discuss in team meetings or by themselves.

19. Invite staff to local museums

If your city has a museum or cultural center focused on Black history, purchase entry tickets for employees so they can visit and learn.

20. Create a Black scholarship fund

Establish a scholarship fund to support Black students pursuing higher education. Match employee donations to the fund.

21. Ensure culturally relevant mental health support for Black employees

Ensure your EAP (and any other mental health benefits) offers resources and support tailored to the needs of Black employees.

22. Partner with a Black leadership organization

Collaborate with a Black leadership organization to develop internship or job shadowing opportunities for Black students.

23. Start a Juneteenth committee

Encourage employees to form a Juneteenth committee to plan future celebrations and advocate for racial equity initiatives within the company. Employees should always be paid for their time, including overtime pay.

24. Publish a DEI report

Develop a company-wide report outlining diversity and inclusion goals, progress made, and the steps that you have yet to take.

25. Promote Juneteenth on social media

Use your company’s social media platforms to increase awareness, share educational content, and celebrate Juneteenth.

We hope that this list has given you some ideas of how you can meaningfully celebrate this important day at work.

Happy Juneteenth!

In solidarity (and to your wellbeing),

The MINES Team

The post How to Celebrate Juneteenth at Work: 25 Meaningful Ideas appeared first on MINES and Associates.

Beyond Juneteenth: How to Uplift and Stand in Solidarity with Black Americans All Year Long

Nic Mckane — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:00:00 +0000

In the United States, June 19 is celebrated as Juneteenth – the country’s “second Independence Day,” or the day when the last enslaved Black people in America were alerted to the fact they were freed. Since 2021, Juneteenth has been a federal holiday in the United States, and many companies are joining the celebrations.

Unfortunately, some organizations are commemorating Juneteenth in a way that’s performative and even offensive. How can your organization truly show up for Black people, not only on Juneteenth but the rest of the year as well?

What is Juneteenth?

On June 16, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Gavelston, Texas – over two years after Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation – to let the over 250,000 Black residents of the state know that the Civil War was over and that they were no longer enslaved. Although the decree was undoubtedly belated, it marked the end of legalized slavery in the United States.

In many ways, Juneteenth is the country’s true Independence Day.

Many Black Americans, especially Black Texans, have commemorated this momentous date for over 150 years. After George Floyd was murdered by Minnesota police in 2020, people all over the country fought to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, and President Biden signed an order making this a reality in 2021.

Now that non-Black communities and large corporations are starting to recognize and commemorate Juneteenth, it’s critical to do so in a way that honors the Black American ancestors who fought for freedom. This isn’t just a bank holiday, and the fight for racial equality in the U.S. is far from over.

Companies should recognize Juneteenth as the historically important day it is, but celebrations shouldn’t be performative or meaningless. Holding a party or distributing Juneteenth merchandise may be inappropriate and even offensive if your company isn’t doing the deeper work.

As an HR professional or workplace leader, use this day to reflect on how your company can promote racial equality both internally and externally. Understand that this work needs to happen year-round – not only on Juneteenth.

Yes, employees should get the day off for Juneteenth (just like they do for other federal holidays) – but understand that this may not be enough.

Here are some meaningful ways that everyone can observe this holiday.

Meaningful Ways to Observe Juneteenth

Although Juneteenth is a celebration for many Black Americans, it’s also a day that brings us face-to-face with our nation’s painful history. Any celebration or observation of Juneteenth that you hold should enhance the deeper DEI and anti-racism work that you are doing year-round to support the Black community.

Here’s how to observe this day in a way that’s meaningful and not appropriative.

Center Black Americans

Understand that this is a holiday to celebrate and uplift Black Americans specifically – their hope, their strength, and their fight. Make sure you center Black Americans in any celebration you take part in. White people and non-Black people of color should not speak over Black people or take away from their celebrations in any way.

Pledge Money Toward Black-led Organizations

Many corporations pledge money toward the fight for racial equity, and your company may want to consider doing the same – especially if you lead any sort of philanthropy efforts. For example, Target has pledged $2 billion to help Black entrepreneurs succeed. Even if your company’s budget isn’t as large as these mega-corporations’, there are meaningful financial efforts you can make to show your dedication and support for equality.

Start and Support Black Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

If you don’t have one already, start an employee resource group for your Black employees. ERGs are communities in which Black employees can be authentically themselves, feel psychologically safe, openly talk about microaggressions and other hostilities, and more. If you do already have a Black ERG, consider asking if members would be willing to plan a meaningful Juneteenth celebration.

Keep in mind that this should be in place of, and not in addition to, existing work – and employees should always be provided overtime pay.

On top of planning a possible commemoration, Black ERG members can also work closely with HR and DEI professionals (if they choose to do so) to continuously fight to make the workplace more diverse and equitable.

Hire a Speaker

Education is one of the most powerful ways to observe Juneteenth. Especially if you’re giving non-Black employees the day off for Juneteenth, it should be a priority that they understand exactly what they are celebrating – otherwise, this important day becomes just another day off of work.

One great way to educate employees is to hire a Black speaker to talk about the meaning behind Juneteenth as well as the devastating legacy of slavery on Americans, particularly Black Americans.

You can also use videos, books, and other digital tools to teach employees about the significance of Juneteenth. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has an excellent digital toolkit.

Examine your DEI Policies and Practices

Lastly, and most importantly, take a good and honest look at your DEI policies and practices. Legal slavery may have ended on that day in 1865, but we are far from achieving true racial equality in the United States. And this is largely due to the income and opportunity disparity that exists.

You may not be able to change the entire world, or even the entire country – but you can certainly change your workplace.

Examine your teams, especially executive leadership teams, closely. Are Black employees appropriately represented? If not, what is the root cause – and what can you do about it? What changes can you make in your hiring and promotion practices, and how willing are you to take action?

A stated commitment to diversity isn’t enough, and often actually lulls organizations into misbelieving that they don’t have a problem with racism. Take a look at policies, but also examine what these policies actually look like in practice. Make a commitment to show up for Black employees and prospects.

Happy Juneteenth from the MINES Team!

References:

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/20/1106193407/celebrate-juneteenth-the-right-way

https://hbr.org/2021/06/how-your-organization-can-recognize-juneteenth

https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth-2022

https://hbr.org/2020/09/how-to-promote-racial-equity-in-the-workplace

The post Beyond Juneteenth: How to Uplift and Stand in Solidarity with Black Americans All Year Long appeared first on MINES and Associates.