Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juneteenth Proclamation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board proclaims June 19 as Juneteenth, highlights county investments in racial equity
Summary
The Board of Supervisors unanimously proclaimed June 19 as a day of observance and reaffirmed county commitments including the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice and the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub.
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on June 10 proclaimed June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth — a day to recognize the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States and highlight ongoing work on racial equity.
Supervisor Chanel Scales Preston, who introduced the proclamation, said Juneteenth “is a living symbol of delayed justice, unyielding hope, and the endurance of the human spirit.” She credited community organizers and long‑running advocacy for turning the day into a formal county observance and tied the proclamation to the county’s expansions in services.
Peter Kim, co‑director of the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ), and other community leaders joined the board in presenting the proclamation. Kim said the office and community partners helped draft the board resolution and acknowledged local advocacy groups including NAMI Contra Costa and the East County NAACP.
The board’s resolution notes the county’s 2024 actions to create an African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub and the establishment of ORESJ to coordinate services in health, housing, education and maternal health. Board members credited community advocates and urged continued investment to address systemic disparities and improve public outcomes.
The proclamation passed unanimously and the board invited community leaders to speak and join the presentation.
Why it matters: Supervisors said the proclamation is more than symbolic; it is part of ongoing steps to align county investments and programs with the county’s stated equity goals. Several supervisors and community members emphasized that the work ahead will require concrete policy and program action, not only symbolic recognition.
