TO: Campus Community
FR: Karen Moranski, Ph.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost; Jerlena Griffin-Desta, Ph.D., Chief of Staff & Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Diversity
Dear Campus Community,
We are excited to announce that the City of Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University are partnering to host the Second Annual Juneteenth Luncheon: Celebrating Freedom and Honoring Progress, Wednesday, June 19, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Rohnert Park Community Center. All Sonoma State employees and students working and living on campus are invited to attend this free event.
Juneteenth commemorates the freedom of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas in 1865, which came two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Come hear from SSU Alumnus Kirstyne Lange, President of the Santa Rosa- Sonoma County Branch of the NAACP, briefly speak on the significance of Juneteenth and its importance for the Black community in Sonoma County.
We will also acknowledge the achievements and contributions of African Americans in Sonoma County by honoring two distinguished individuals who have made a significant impact in our community: SSU retired staff member Andre Bailey and local business owner Marilyn Hutcheson. As a CSU holiday, this event is a good way to honor and celebrate Juneteenth with our colleagues, neighbors, and friends.
We believe in making this celebration accessible to all, which is why admission to the Juneteenth event is entirely free. However, due to limited seating, advanced registration is required at https://bit.ly/rpjuneteenth24.
This year, we are excited to offer a free childcare option for children ages 3-10 years.Childcare will occur on-site and will include lunch. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/rpjuneteenth24.
To register, simply click on the "Book Now" button in the link. If you haven't created an account with the City of Rohnert Park, you will be prompted to create one during the registration process. This will enable us to keep you updated on future community events and initiatives.
While Juneteenth is an official CSU holiday, we want to acknowledge that Black Americans have been celebrating this day for many decades. We encourage all students, faculty, staff, and alumni to learn more about Juneteenth and to participate in one of the Juneteenth events listed on the DEI website. We look forward to seeing you as we celebrate the history, culture and legacy of Black Americans, and the impact they have had in shaping our state and our region.