We invite you to observe and honor Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Arnerich Massena is closing its office on Friday, June 18 to commemorate Juneteenth, encouraging employees to use that time to engage with the meaning of Juneteenth and expand their cultural awareness. We will gather together that morning with guest speaker Shauna Adams, MSW, to learn more about the history of Juneteenth and how this history has shaped and influenced our culture and society. Our goal is to lay the groundwork for a day of reflection and to help bring conscious awareness to how much understanding and learning there is ahead of us as we carve a path forward and imagine a new future.

We hope that everyone finds ways to come together this Juneteenth and grow in awareness and compassion. Below are several resources where you can learn more about Juneteenth, along with ideas for recognizing and commemorating this occasion:

• https://juneteenth.com/
• https://www.history.com/juneteenth
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/15/juneteenth-2021-history-holiday-how-celebrate/7633328002/
• https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth

For those who are looking for ways to engage, here are a few local organizations seeking volunteer support:

• Portland Boys & Girls’ Club: https://bgcportland.org/volunteer/
• Urban League of Portland: https://ulpdx.org/get-involved/volunteer
• United Way of the Columbia/Willamette: https://www.unitedway-pdx.org/volunteer
• Coalition of Communities of Color: https://www.coalitioncommunitiescolor.org/take-action

And a few resources for finding local Black-owned businesses:

• https://www.pdxmonthly.com/style-and-shopping/buy-from-these-black-owned-portland-brands
• https://iloveblackfood.com/pdx-directory/
• https://www.blackownedbiz.com/directory/location/united-states/oregon/portland/
• https://www.pdxmonthly.com/style-and-shopping/black-owned-businesses-service-directory