ACSD Chief Diversity Officer Speaks at Juneteenth Proclamation
The Polk County Board of Supervisors met on June 13 at the Polk County Administrative Building in Des Moines, IA to tackle their daily agenda. The first item addressed was the annual Juneteenth Proclamation. The proclamation formally declares that Juneteenth be celebrated as a national holiday in Polk County on the 19th of June. The Board encouraged all who reside in Polk County to observe this holiday.
Four speakers were invited to say a few words describing what Juneteenth means to the Black community. ACSD Chief Diversity Officer Ken Morris Jr. was one of those who spoke. Morris said of the significance of the day, “I think it is important to look back and see what are the lessons learned, so that we can move toward a better tomorrow and a better today…” Morris thanked the Board for their commitment and said it gave him hope for the future. He encouraged others to celebrate Juneteenth in their own communities. Morris closed with a reminder that there is still more to be done saying, “I also want us to move beyond just proclamations and words, and move to action.”
Juneteenth is a portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth.” The proclamation states Juneteenth is the, “annually observed end of slavery in America in honor of a group of formerly enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally learning of their freedom on June 19, 1856, two years after the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation…” It further explains that Juneteenth promotes, “prosperity, freedom, equality, and commitment to eradicating discrimination of all individuals from all colors, races, creeds, and cultures…” Juneteenth was first recognized as a national holiday only two years ago despite being the longest-celebrated African American holiday.
The Ankeny Community Network is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the District Town Square across from the Kirkendall Public Library. The free event will have food trucks, artists, live music, and more.