The National Center for Civil and Human Rights Commemorates Juneteenth with New Performances for the Entire Family
Deluxe partners with The Center to create Juneteenth programming and resources that explore the end of slavery in the U.S. through music, dance, and culinary arts
(June 15, 2021; Atlanta, GA) The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center) will honor Juneteenth with engaging family programming in partnership with financial services company, Deluxe. On Friday, June 18 The Center will feature two programs:
- From Power to Power: A New Day of Freedom, a performance-based piece created in conjunction with Nikki Toombs and performers from her A La Carte Theatre Company
- Jubilee: A Juneteenth Experience, focused on the historical significance of music and recipes to celebrations of the Juneteenth holiday
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The portmanteau “Juneteenth” was created from the words “June” and “nineteenth,” which marks the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to gain control of the state and ensure all enslaved people were freed in 1865, two-and-a-half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The Center’s programs will explore the historical significance of Juneteenth and generate awareness around cultural expression around this day.
Jill Savitt, President & CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights explains the importance of recognizing and celebrating the Juneteenth holiday. “Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery as well as the resilience and solidarity of the Black community. We honor it as one of the most historically consequential days in our country’s history, a day of triumph for human dignity over oppression. We also mark it as a day to recommit ourselves to confronting the legacies of racism in all its forms.”
Deluxe’s support for these programs is part of its renewed focus on contributing to solutions to improve racial equity, says company leaders. On Juneteenth, employees participate in service projects and visit cultural institutions to reflect on the historical contributions of Black Americans, and the ongoing work to eradicate slavery’s legacy of racism in America.
“Juneteenth is a day of celebration, service, and reflection upon what our forefathers and foremothers endured for our freedom,” said Paquel Austin, Vice President, Quality Engineering and Release Management at Deluxe & Lead for the company’s African American Employee Resource Group.
“The Center aligns with our “One Deluxe” values of inclusivity, diversity, and equity. We share The Center’s mission to advance equitable civil and human rights for all people regardless of their differences,” said Austin.
For more information about The Center’s Juneteenth programming and to register, visit this link. Note, The Center will be open on Juneteenth from 10 am-5 pm. For The Center’s up-to-date safety procedures and protocols, visit this link.
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About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta is a cultural institution that connects the American Civil Rights Movement to the struggle for human rights around the world today. The Center features a continuously rotating exhibit from The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, which includes many of Dr. King’s documents and personal items. Visitors will be immersed in experiential exhibits through powerful and authentic stories, historic documents, compelling artifacts, and interactive activities. The Center is a source for ongoing dialogue — hosting educational forums and attracting world-renowned speakers and artists who work on a variety of human rights topics. For more information, visit www.civilandhumanrights.org. Join the conversation on civil and human rights: facebook.com/ctr4chr/ | instagram.com/ctr4chr/ | twitter.com/Ctr4CHR
About Deluxe Corporation
Deluxe, a Trusted Payments and Business Technology™ company, helps businesses pay, get paid, optimize and grow. For more than 100 years, Deluxe has championed businesses so communities thrive at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful solutions support millions of small businesses, thousands of financial institutions and hundreds of the world’s most valuable brands. The company operates at significant scale, processing more than $2.8 trillion in annual payment volume. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp, www.linkedin.com/company/deluxe, or www.twitter.com/deluxe.
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