NLEN, Sweet Beginnings, & the beelove café Celebrate Juneteenth's 160th Anniversary!
- nlenonline
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
“The People of Texas are informed that, in accordance with the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free…”
160 years ago, on June 19th, 1865, The Union Army under the command of Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery to the city’s Black residents. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior, and the 13th Amendment was ratified January of 1865, but news of emancipation traveled slowly, especially across the South.
Juneteenth has been celebrated ever since, as a commemoration of the end of slavery and a celebration of freedom and liberation. The fight for paid time off to celebrate Juneteenth has been a long-standing demand for workers across the US, and Juneteenth events expanded in the aftermath of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign. The ability to rest and celebrate freedom are inherently connected to our mission to connect people with good, family sustaining jobs across Chicago.
A History of Celebration
Juneteenth celebrations originated in Texas and expanded across the US. Chicago’s first recorded public Juneteenth event took place in 1990, with the City’s first Juneteenth proclamation announced by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2002. Activists and designers Ben Haith and Lisa Jeanne Graf designed the Juneteenth flag, which was displayed for the first time in 2000 at a Massachusetts celebration.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, due to decades of advocacy from Black legislators and community advocates. Opal Lee, a retired teacher from Fort Worth, Texas advocated for the federal recognition and became known as “The Mother of Juneteenth” due to her efforts. Lee was present when President Joe Biden signed the federal recognition into law in recognition of her efforts.
With federal holiday recognition, Juneteenth events are more frequent than ever, and offer opportunities for our community to gather, celebrate, connect, and reflect on the literal blood, sweat, and tears required to end chattel slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth Closures and June 20th Operating Hours
North Lawndale Employment Network, Sweet Beginnings, and the beelove® café are closed Thursday, June 19th 2025 to allow our staff to celebrate Juneteenth. We will re-open on a half day schedule on Friday, June 20th.
Celebrate Juneteenth!
We encourage everyone to celebrate Juneteenth. You can find a comprehensive list of events from The TRiiBE at this link. Expect warm temperatures – be sure to hydrate, wear sunscreen, and find shade as you celebrate!
We also encourage everyone to learn more about this holiday and its history. You can learn more about Juneteenth in the links below:
Bee Well and Happy Juneteenth from NLEN!
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