Effective immediately, Lingraphica will honor Juneteenth as a company holiday for all employees. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have long been present in our decision-making at Lingraphica. Sometimes we’ve done well. Many times we’ve fallen short. In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and the murder of George Floyd, we have been reflecting on how we embody institutional racism. We are examining our culture and the way we do training, hiring, and marketing; as well as having candid internal discussions about race, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
By adopting Juneteenth as a company holiday, Lingraphica is taking another step to hold ourselves accountable in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What Is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is an annual holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States. The holiday dates back to June 19, 1865, when the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, were informed that the Civil War had ended and that they were free — two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had outlawed slavery.
Today, June 17, President Biden signed legislation that makes Juneteenth a federal holiday. It is the first federal holiday approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Previous efforts to make it a national holiday had fallen short, though many states have been recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday since 1980.
“We know we have much work ahead of us to achieve our goals in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Lingraphica CEO, Andrew Gomory. “Honoring Juneteenth allows us to recognize the importance of that day and place our values in line with our business decisions.”
Juneteenth celebrations often include parades, cookouts, musical performances, church services, and other community events. Lingraphica employees are encouraged to take the day off for reflection and celebration.
About Lingraphica
Lingraphica helps people with speech and language impairments improve their communication, speech, and quality of life.
