Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, commemorates the emancipation of all enslaved Black Americans in the U.S. Officially recognized as a federal holiday, it marks the day in 1865 when news of emancipation reached enslaved individuals in Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
For the Detroit Region, Juneteenth’s significance is closely linked to its role as a beacon of progress for Black Americans. Detroit became a key stop on the Underground Railroad and a hub for civil rights activism. Today, the city and Region honors its legacy by celebrating Juneteenth with events, parades, and initiatives highlighting the progress made and the work still to be done.
As a business and community leader, acknowledging and understanding this history is an essential first step in celebrating Juneteenth.
Engage With Detroit’s Juneteenth Community Celebrations
One impactful way to celebrate Juneteenth is by engaging with community events in the Region. Local celebrations provide your business with the chance to connect with residents, support grassroots efforts, and demonstrate your company’s commitment to economic equity.
Ideas for engagement include:
- Sponsor or participate in events: Seek out parades, festivals, or Juneteenth markets like those held all around the Region. Consider sponsoring an event or hosting a booth to showcase your business.
- Volunteer as a team: Encourage employees to volunteer at organizations or activities supporting Juneteenth.
- Attend workshops or panel discussions: Many organizations host educational sessions during Juneteenth. By attending these events, you and your team can deepen your understanding of this day and learn how you can effect change.
Related: View Juneteenth Events in the Detroit Region to Attend in 2025
Foster Awareness and Inclusion Within Your Business
Celebrating Juneteenth starts at home—with your team and within your organization. Use the holiday as an opportunity to educate your employees and foster a culture of inclusion.
Here’s how:
- Host internal workshops: Partner with local educators or experts to lead discussions about Juneteenth’s significance and broader equity issues.
- Create employee-driven initiatives: Encourage employees to form Employee and Business resource groups or lead cultural awareness projects. Their perspectives and initiatives can help shape meaningful and lasting programs to retain and attract talent.
- Offer Juneteenth as a paid holiday: Leading businesses are increasingly recognizing Juneteenth as a time for reflection and community engagement. Providing it as a paid holiday showcases your commitment to equity.
Support Local Black-owned Businesses
Juneteenth is also a great time to amplify economic equity by supporting Black-owned businesses in your community. Encourage your company and employees to direct their spending toward these organizations on Juneteenth and year-round.
Ways to do this include:
- Highlight Black-owned suppliers and vendors: Assess your supply chain and seek opportunities to work with Black-owned businesses. The Region has a vibrant ecosystem of companies, from tech firms to restaurants, that could benefit from your partnership.
- Promote Black-owned businesses to your network: Use your platform to highlight Black entrepreneurs. Share their stories and products on your social media channels and newsletters.
- Host a business showcase: Organize an event where local Black-owned businesses can showcase their products and services to your employees and network. Even better? See if any of your internal team members have their own ventures and support them.
Investing in these businesses contributes to the economic empowerment of underrepresented groups while fostering goodwill within the community.
Make Long-Lasting Commitments
Juneteenth is just one day, but its spirit should inform your business practices year-round. Leading with allyship means embedding inclusive and belonging practices into the core of your operations.
Consider adopting these long-term initiatives:
- Develop mentorship programs: Offer mentorship, resources, or training to create opportunities for Black professionals and entrepreneurs. Programs like these can have a lasting impact on aspiring leaders.
- Conduct diversity audits: Regularly assess your company’s hiring practices, leadership composition, and supplier diversity to ensure progress toward inclusivity.
- Collaborate with local organizations: Partner with local nonprofits, advocacy groups, or businesses that drive systemic change. Long-term partnerships enable you to contribute to sustained efforts within the community. Some examples in the Detroit Region include The Skillman Foundation, New Detroit Inc., the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Michigan Women Forward.
Business leaders hold powerful influence when it comes to fostering change. This Juneteenth, seize the opportunity to lead, educate your team, and strengthen ties within Detroit’s community.
By celebrating and committing to ongoing action, you are not only honoring a pivotal moment in history but also contributing to a more equitable future.