Goodman Community Center | From the Desk of Letesha Nelson

From the Desk of Letesha Nelson

In the latest Goodman newsletter, reflecting on Juneteenth and gearing up for summer at Goodman.

June 22, 2023 |
Share
A group of high school students and their instructor stand in a bountiful garden after harvesting vegetables and herbs.

Dear friends & neighbors,

On Monday, we celebrated Juneteenth, a day that was first officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 but has been celebrated in the African American community for generations. As many of you know, slavery ended with President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, but word didn't reach enslaved people in Texas until June 19, 1865 – two and a half years later.

Juneteenth & Goodman Center

Freedom in America is a sticky thing, isn't it? We celebrate the end of slavery on Juneteenth, and we also know that ours is a complicated history. There has been progress for Black folks, and I believe there is cause for hope. We must also continue to work because Black Americans are still not totally free, not when incarcerations among our population are so disproportionately high. Not when we still face daily discrimination based exclusively on the color of our skin.

I appreciate being a part of a community of people who are willing to grapple with the history of our nation, who don't shy away from the difficult conversations and who understand that we are all better off when everyone is treated fairly and equitably.

This week, we welcomed our teens back to the Lussier LOFT, along with a new group of young interns who will share their gifts and grow their knowledge this summer. Next week, our preschool and elementary kiddos return. The young people who come to Goodman bring a burst of energy to our center, and I can't wait to have them back in our buildings.

Wishing you all a warm and relaxing summer, and I hope to see you around Goodman soon.

Take care,

Letesha Nelson, CEO & Executive Director

What's Good at Goodman

This letter was sent with our email newsletter, filled with the latest news about what's happening at the Goodman Community Center.

Read the Newsletter
Previous Next

From the Desk of Letesha Nelson

September 14, 2023

September is Hunger Action Month

Letesha Letters, Letesha Nelson

From the Desk of Letesha Nelson

August 17, 2023

What's good at Goodman? Getting ready for the school year!

Letesha Letters, Letesha Nelson

Goodman Announces Living Wage for All Adult Staff

July 18, 2023

CEO Letesha Nelson announced an internal minimum wage of $20/hour at a press conference on July 18.

Press Release, Letesha Nelson, Neighborhood News, Living Wage Initiative