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Dear Members of the Canisius Community –

We are delighted to announce the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration at Canisius College on June 18, 2021.  All faculty and staff students are invited to come together as we gather for a day of education and solidarity in honor of our African American community.   The event, held on Friday during our summer schedule, begins at 9:00 a.m. and concludes with a campus lunch at 11:30 a.m.  All are welcomed and encouraged to participate.

To participate in this day of education, service and solidarity, click here to RSVP.

It was on June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger along with more than 1,800 federal troops, arrived in Galveston, TX, to take control of the state, nearly two months after the end of the Civil War, confirming the freedom of the last remaining enslaved Americans in the deepest parts of the South. Gen. Granger read President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation to them that day in Galveston. Only through the 13th Amendment ratified six months later in December of 1865 did emancipation put an end to slavery. 

Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the date when news of emancipation finally reached all enslaved Americans, and Canisius is proud to honor this day through acts of solidarity.  In collaboration with Juneteenth Inc. of Buffalo, Canisius will have an opportunity to hear from their organization’s leaders and participate in service projects throughout the city of Buffalo, including clean-up efforts in Hamlin Park and other designated locations identified by Juneteenth.  Following a morning of service, participants will be welcomed back to campus for a lunch and a special program by Tradition Keepers: Black Storytellers of WNY who will share stories behind the history of Juneteenth and the struggle for freedom and liberation among Black Americans. 

Canisius’ Juneteenth celebration hopes to inspire conversation, action and hope in our ongoing work toward anti-racism, diversity and inclusion.  Additional resources on the history and celebrations of Juneteenth are available here:

This marks the start of an important tradition at Canisius and a wonderful opportunity to come together in service and celebration.  Please look for future communications with program details and registration information.

Submitted by: Erica Sammarco, associate vice president, President’s Office