The St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute is closed on Monday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth, the federal holiday which commemorates June 19, 1865, the date Union troops spread the news of emancipation to enslaved African Americans in Galveston Texas. The fight for equity and justice for African Americans continues today and that is why it is important that organizations begin to recognize June 19 as a pivotal date in United States history and that diversity, equity, and inclusion become the foundation for all organizations.
To that end, the American Psychoanalytic Association (APSAA) has created the Holmes Commission on Racial Equality. The commission endeavors to investigate systemic racism and its underlying determinants embedded within APSAA and offer remedies to all aspects of identified racism. To learn more about the Holmes Commission, please visit this link https://apsa.org/commission-on-racial-equality
Locally, the Institute has established the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee. Comprised of representatives from all corners of the Institute including staff, Schiele Clinic trainees, Faculty, Board members, candidates, and students, it is our goal to embed equity in all facets of our work.
The NAACP implores all of us to celebrate Juneteenth by taking action to progress policies to give Black Americans equal opportunities. If you would like to learn more information about APSAA’s work, or the Institute’s DEIB committee, please contact the Institute.
Resources:
Institute Board Member Keisha Ross speaks at First Annual Juneteenth Caribbean Heritage Walkathon hosted by Art 2063 on June 19, 2021 HERE
Four African-American Chefs on the Importance of Juneteenth
12 Things You Might Not Know About Juneteenth
Freedom vs: Emancipation: The Celebration of Juneteenth
What is Juneteenth—and what does it celebrate?
A Very Special Juneteenth Episode
Juneteenth Is Now A Federal Holiday
