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Celebrating Juneteenth 2021

Dear Engineering and Applied Science community,

This week we celebrate , a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. 

On June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the war had ended and enslaved people were free.

It’s fitting that we recognize this historic moment in our nation’s history with celebration, even as we somberly note the continuing struggle for racial equality and inclusion in our college, university and across the nation. 

If you’re interested in learning more, we invite you to explore this  or attend the system Juneteeth keynote, “Liberatory Love and Freedom: Radical Reenvisionings” at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 16. Boulder Assistant Professor Danielle Hodge, a critical race scholar, will build on African American intellectual traditions to re-envision the relationships between freedom and love in the struggle for liberation. .

Meaningful and lasting change comes when we collectively shift our mindsets and behavior toward patterns that work better for all. This Juneteenth, our hope is that you’ll take a moment to reflect on your own perspectives about race and the ways each of us can contribute to a more just society. 

Keith Molenaar
Interim Dean

Terri Wright
Assistant Dean for Access, Inclusion and Student Programs