Last Juneteenth, Crossroads was honored to host a community cookout while serving as a Red Cross shelter following the devastating tornado that impacted North St. Louis.⁠
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Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. It is a reminder that rights on paper and realities on the ground are not always the same.⁠
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That lesson still resonates today. Freedom, safety, and opportunity are not always equally delivered to every community. One year after the tornado, many North St. Louis residents are still waiting for the resources and support needed to fully recover.⁠
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As we reflect on this day, we honor the resilience, achievements, and enduring contributions of Black communities at Crossroads, throughout St. Louis, and across the country. We also recognize the power of neighbors showing up for one another. Whether through supporting ongoing tornado recovery efforts, investing in our communities, or simply caring for those around us, lasting change is built through collective action, mutual support, and a commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind.⁠
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Today, we celebrate freedom, resilience, community, and our shared responsibility to care for one another.⁠
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#Juneteenth