Today, Friday, June 18, MAPC will be closed in observance of Juneteenth, which for the first time this year has been designated as an official state and national holiday. Commemorated each year on June 19, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that the last enslaved Black Americans learned of their freedom, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. While 2021 will be the first year that MAPC officially close our offices (and remote work, as well) for a day of contemplation, this important date has long held significance for many of our staff and communities who stand in solidarity against racism. We hope all who live and work in our region take today as an opportunity for reflection and celebration of Black history, culture and community, and that we recommit ourselves to the work of anti-racism in our work and our lives.
Metropolitan Area Planning Council