Perspectives June 16, 2021

How We Plan to Honor Juneteenth at Perkins&Will this Year

Historic Emancipation Park

Houston, Texas

Since 2020, our firm has recognized Juneteenth, which commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States, with an official paid holiday for all of our U.S. colleagues. Since Juneteenth falls on a Saturday this year, we will observe the holiday a day early.

We asked our team members across the country how they plan to honor Juneteenth over the holiday weekend.

Click through each of the slideshows below to read what they shared:

My wife and I recently purchased a 15-acre homestead in Arkansas, so we're celebrating Juneteenth by hosting a few family members for a long weekend. We're very proud of this land and intend to honor our ancestors by simply thriving and being joyful in land we OWN. :-)

Tiffany J. Conner, Chicago studio

I plan on watching PBS series "Tulsa: The fire and the forgotten" which is about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, hidden from history. There are many other great series to learn about Black history in this country on PBS.

Hoshi Brooks, Dallas studio

I plan to visit the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center at Church Creek, Maryland, and also possibly the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, Maryland.

David Kay, Washington, D.C. studio

Stevens Square Park is a block-long transient park with a playground that provides a leafy spot for picnics and community gatherings. Nestled in a south Minneapolis neighborhood, this park requires on-going TLC from volunteers to keep it safe and healthy for the community. We will be taking the morning to give some care to this frequently used park.

Leah Elsham, Minneapolis studio

I am proud to live in Evanston, Illinois, which led the nation by being the first government in the United States to approve reparations for Black Americans in March 2021. Black citizens will be provided $10 million over a 10-year period to be used toward housing and grants. I will be participating in Evanston's Juneteenth parade and celebration, titled "A Journey Toward Real Reparations" suggesting this is a first step towards healing centuries of injustices. In addition, I plan to watch the film "13th", eat at a black-owned restaurant, eat more at a black-owned bakery, buy gifts at a black-owned chocolate shop, and research more black-owned business I can support in my community.

Chika Sekiguchi, Chicago studio

We will be in Kiawah, South Carolina for vacation over the weekend, and our family plans on exploring the historic heritage of the island and impact to surrounding black communities. And, we have our eyes set on using the google map feature of highlighting black-owned restaurants in surrounding towns for our dining.

Jessica Figenholtz, Chicago studio

I’ll be listening to Dr. Robin DiAngelo discuss her White Fragility book. I’ve also purchased the book to read.

Mike Reinhart, Chicago studio

I plan on attending Denver’s Juneteenth Music Festival, a community event celebrating Black artists and musicians.

Holly Jeannelle, Denver studio

I plan to take my family to the Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Sandy Spring, Maryland, and learn more about the history of underground railroad used during the early to mid-19th century by enslaved African Americans to escape into free states.

Prashant Gongal, Washington, D.C. studio

I will be attending the Dallas Southern Pride Juneteenth Unity Weekend and showing support to our client Abounding Prosperity, Inc., a presenting sponsor and partner of the events.

Ariana Hallenbeck, Dallas studio

I am attending Juneteenth Market at Emancipation Park here in Houston to support local Black-owned businesses. I am looking forward to visiting Kindred Stories HTX! They are a local bookshop and have a wonderful selection of reading materials of all genres written by Black authors. Learn more about them here: linktr.ee/kindredstorieshtx/

Amanda Parker, Houston studio

By continuing to treat all humans equal as we are, there is only one race and that is the "human race." We each were born equal and should live and die the same each day. When I was in the U.S. Marines, we referred to human race as if we were all the green of our uniforms, taking away the color barrier of racism which is a subject with zero tolerance! Semper Fi

Billy Simcox, Durham studio

I plan to continue our family tradition of over 30 years by gathering together around good food and conversations. We will decorate and put on a small parade since we can’t all be together like we normally do pre-COVID to teach our little ones the importance of this day!

Zhetique Gunn, Houston studio

I'll be reading more about the history of Juneteenth and also watching the movie “Miss Juneteenth.”

Aarti Khatter, Dallas studio

I’ll be attending the reopening of the DuSable Museum of African American History—they are also celebrating their 60th anniversary and Juneteenth Day.

Beth Bailey, Chicago studio

I just completed reading The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America and participated in a book discussion. This book is a documented history of how our society used/manipulated the legal system to systematically create and maintain segregation. I’m currently watching “The Underground Railroad,” which is based on the book by Colton Whitehead, and discussing in a small group the story as it unfolds.

Mark Jolicoeur, Chicago studio

My plan involves taking my family to visit the Texas African American History Monument sculpture at the State Capitol grounds and teach my sons about the significance of Juneteenth.

Anacleto Rojas, Austin studio

Going to Galveston with my friends and family to celebrate. Typically the Galveston Historical Society does a great job with a ceremony and this year they will be able to put on a parade and picnic.

Sara Shumbera, Houston studio

I’ll be celebrating the holiday with my parents in Washington, D.C., and hope to visit the Blacksonian (if tickets become available!).

Rupinder Singh, Boston studio

I’ll be attending the Juneteenth Parade in Austin, Texas and festivities on the East Side as usual! Growing up in Wisconsin, I had no awareness of this holiday until I moved to Texas and I've always enjoyed the celebration of this milestone and the perspective it brings.

Paul Ward, Austin studio

How We Plan to Honor Juneteenth at Perkins&Will this Year

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