City Of Fort Worth: Remember Juneteenth With Programs That Leave You Hungering For More

Dallas TX

02 June, 2021

7:58 PM

Description

Press release from City of Fort Worth: June 02, 2021 The City of Fort Worth Diversity & Inclusion Employee Committee is hosting two programs on Thursday, June 17, as a way to honor the spirit of the Juneteenth holiday and a call to action to support local African American-owned restaurants. Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the triumph of the human spirit over slavery. It honors those formerly enslaved African Americans who survived the inhumane institution of chattel slavery and celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. "The importance of continuing to acknowledge and appreciate our collective history and its impact on our present is critical to healing and progress. The D&I Committee's work does both," said Christina Brooks, chief equity officer and director of the city's Diversity & Inclusion Department. "We are providing our community an opportunity to learn about the valuable contributions of African American chefs, caterers and restaurant owners of the past and stimulate our local economy by having a meal or two or three at some of the best local African American-owned eateries today. The best way to honor our past is to make sure our economic future is just and equitable." An employee-planned Juneteenth Celebration is a longstanding tradition at the city, which continues this year under the auspices of the city's Diversity & Inclusion Department. Cannon Henry, a Diversity & Inclusion Employee Committee member and lead for the Juneteenth program work group, said celebration and education go hand in hand, and this year's program reflects that. "Our committees have done a great deal of planning for this year's event and we hope that our educational program will bring out a record number of attendees," he said. "The restaurant aspect is very exciting since it's something all people can relate to." Fort Worth, Texas Magazine has compiled a list that showcases some of the area's most well-known black-owned restaurants. This list covers a variety of different cuisines, including barbecue, coffee and baked goods, Jamaican and African restaurants, and more traditional Southern fare -- so there are plenty of options to choose from, including many establishments located within the Fort Worth city limits. For more information about the city's employee diversity and inclusion efforts or to get involved with planning future diversity programs, email the Diversity & Inclusion Department.   In addition to the city programs, there are several community events and activities planned to celebrate Juneteenth:       Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.   This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author's own.