Last Updated: June 12, 2023
In honor of this year’s Juneteenth National Independence Day, Team AgLearn is providing information and resources to encourage engagement with our newest Federal holiday.
Historical Background
In 2021, President Biden took the historic step of signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing June 19th as a federal holiday. Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Historically and culturally, celebrated on June 19, it marks the day in 1865 that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved people there that the Civil War ended, and slavery was abolished.
In celebrating Juneteenth, we encourage you to observe the end of the Civil War and reflect on the corrosive impacts of slavery that are still felt in the disparities in health and nutrition, agriculture, access to an education and economic opportunities, voting rights, criminal justice and policing that continue to burden Black Americans. This is also a moment to commit to work together to eradicate the enduring systems of racism and to build this country back better for our future to truly fulfill freedom’s promise.
Event
Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) and the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area are hosting a ceremony to mark the first ever Juneteenth flag raising at the Jamie L. Whitten Building.
This ceremony kicks off USDA's 2023 USDA Juneteenth Observance. All employees in the National Capital Region on June 14 are invited to attend this ceremony in-person. The recording will be made available after the event.
The ceremony features remarks by Secretary Vilsack, as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration Duane Williams and Associate Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Winona Lake Scott.
When: June 14, 2023, 8:30am-9:30am EST
Recording: View the Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony recording External Link
USDA Juneteenth Observance (Jubilee: History, Celebration & Tradition)
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) and the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) are collaborating to host the virtual 2023 USDA Juneteenth Day of Observance.
When: June 15, 2023, 1:00pm EST
Register for the USDA Juneteenth Observance External Link
AgLearn Resources
LinkedIn Learning Courses & Learning Paths
- Supporting Allyship and Anti-Racism at Work External Link
- Driving Change and Anti-Racism External Link
- How to Speak Up Against Racism at Work External Link
- Difficult Conversations: Talking about Race at Work External Link
- How to Engage Meaningfully in Allyship and Anti-Racism External Link
Skillsoft-Percipio
- Aspire Journey: Creating An Inclusive Culture Of Trust and Belonging External Link
- Audiobook: Anti-Racist Leadership: How to Transform Corporate Culture in a Race Conscious World External Link
- Audiobook: Race, Work, and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience External Link
- Book: Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit External Link
- Book: The Business of Race: How to Create and Sustain an Antiracist Workplace—And Why it’s Actually Good for Business External Link
- Book: It's Time to Talk about Race at Work: Every Leader's Guide to Making Progress on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion External Link