A Statement on Juneteenth from Jeff Kennedy, CEO

Juneteenth, June 19th, is a celebration of the end of slavery in our country. On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, TX, were freed by Union troops. This happened two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 and two months after the end of the Civil War. TwinStar will be closing our branches on June 18-19th to encourage our employees to observe Juneteenth and celebrate Black culture.

Although free, Black Americans continue to face racial discrimination and inequality. As the past year have shown, Black and solidarity voices have been growing and calling for the end to racial injustice. This is a call for us to be active in creating a more just society. Building safe and welcoming spaces for our employees, members, and communities is an important part of our mission at TwinStar. 

On Juneteenth, I encourage you to reflect and contemplate on how we can do our part to eliminate racism and discrimination in our communities and beyond. Learn about Black history, support your local Black-owned businesses, and take the time to celebrate with your Black neighbors. This is the beginning of the many proactive steps we can all take to build a culture of togetherness.

Let’s celebrate the steps we’ve taken toward racial equality and acknowledge the work yet to be done. Champion civil rights and advocate against social injustice by becoming better allies. Juneteenth may only be one day, but we can carry the spirit of Juneteenth year-round to spur us to action for sustainable change.