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.

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