Covenant House Newsroom

Today we come together to celebrate and recognize Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It was June 19, 1865, that Union Major General Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3 requiring that the remaining enslaved people in Texas were to be set free. Juneteenth is a pivotal moment in American history where the last 250,000 slaves proclaimed their freedom, which set into motion an era of great hope, inspiring and empowering African Americans to transform their lives and their country. Over 150 years later, we honor those whose bondage prevented them from flourishing and achieving their dreams, and we are in service and support of new generations of dreamers.

On Juneteenth, we celebrate our collective history and the beauty of the African American community and their contributions to the fabric of our country. Remembering those before us, whose sacrifices, bravery, and perseverance have shaped our present day and on whose shoulders we stand. At Covenant House, we come together as a federation to celebrate by sharing stories of our youth and staff and inviting our partners and supporters to recognize the historical significance of Juneteenth as a reminder to never give up hope! Hope and a belief that Black and brown youth deserve to pave their path forward where racism, discrimination, and racial inequities are not traumas that define their future.

Today, we lift up the powerful voice of Dash Togi, a youth task force coordinator and former resident of Covenant House Alaska who is an active leader in our DEI work. “I believe it is important for Covenant House to recognize Juneteenth because even though the significance of this day is independence, we know there's a lot more focused work and advocacy that needs to be done. We need to educate, celebrate the small wins, and bring awareness," Dash says. 

It is such an honor to fill the role of chief for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Covenant House International, a role that grew out of the important discourse that happened across our federation this past year. I am proud of the work we are doing as an organization and the commitment of leadership to ensure that we are an inclusive, diverse, anti-racist organization that is representative of the communities that we serve.  And, as I personally reflect on Juneteenth, I am reminded of how far we have come, but also acknowledge that the road towards a world where race-based violence and discrimination are a thing of the past is long and there is much work to be done! This past year we have seen a rise in unity and the power of community and collaboration. The impact of Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate, the current iterations of a civil rights movement, have been monumental in bringing people together to be voices for change. Covenant House stands in solidarity with the movement towards racial justice with a commitment to lift up the voices and stories of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC youth) and to address the root causes of racial inequities advocating for systemic change.