Celebrate Juneteenth at Work

Organizations can leverage Juneteenth to amplify employee understanding of the Black American experience through fun and engaging Juneteenth celebration ideas like these:

1. Share Interesting Facts about Juneteenth ✍️
   Sharing facts about Juneteenth and African-American leaders with your employees is an excellent way to educate them about the holiday's significance. For instance, did you know that Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States? You can share facts about African-American history, such as the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil Rights Movement, and the contributions of African-American leaders. 
   
   Write these on colorful cards and place them all around the office.

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2. Play Trivia to Do Some Myth Busting 🗂️
   ‍Now that you have interesting facts on colorful cards. You can organize a Juneteenth trivia. Divide your employees into groups and play Trivia Night. It’s a fun, engaging way to learn more about the significance of Juneteenth.

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3. Juneteenth Games 🎯
   ‍Organize games that celebrate Black culture and history, such as Black History Bingo or Juneteenth Jeopardy, to help your employees learn more about Black history while having fun. Alternatively, you can organize team-building games such as tug of war or sack races to create a festive atmosphere. Think about ways to incorporate cultural elements into the games, such as playing African drum music during the games.

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4. Juneteenth Picnic 🧺
   A Juneteenth picnic is a great team-building exercise to unite employees to celebrate the holiday. You can plan a potluck-style lunch or barbecue and encourage employees to bring traditional African-American dishes such as macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, and collard greens. You can also incorporate cultural elements into the picnic, such as playing African music or having a cultural dance performance. A picnic is a great way to connect with colleagues and celebrate the legacy of African-American history.

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5. Make Juneteenth a Paid Holiday 🤝
   Consider making Juneteenth a paid holiday for your employees. This observance demonstrates your commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and enables employees to celebrate the day with their families. It is an investment in your employees and can positively impact employee morale and engagement.

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6. Volunteer day
   Organize a volunteer event for your employees to give back to the community. Volunteering can help your employees connect with their community and contribute to advancing racial justice. Goodera executes impactful and engaging volunteering activities that enable employees to learn, connect, and give back. Explore curated Juneteenth volunteer opportunities that are hosted and managed by us.

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7. Change Your Zoom Background 💻
   Encourage employees to change their Zoom backgrounds to commemorate Juneteenth. You can provide them with Juneteenth-themed backgrounds, such as images of the Emancipation Proclamation or Black cultural icons. By changing your Zoom background, you can create a festive atmosphere and show your support for the holiday. It is an easy and fun way to connect with colleagues virtually.

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8. Invite a Speaker 🎤
   Inviting a Juneteenth speaker to your workplace is an excellent way to educate your employees about the holiday's history and significance. They can provide valuable insights into the holiday’s historical significance in today's society. It is an opportunity to learn from experts and engage in meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion.

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9. Decorate Your Workplace 🏢
   Decorating your workplace with Juneteenth-themed decorations is a great way to create a festive atmosphere and celebrate the holiday. Use red, black, and green colors, or use Juneteenth-themed posters and banners. It is an opportunity to create a welcoming environment for all employees.

Virtual Juneteenth Celebration Ideas

If your workplace is remote or some employees work from home, you can still celebrate Juneteenth. Here are some virtual Juneteenth celebration ideas:
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10. Virtual Team Museum Tour 🖼️
    Take your employees on a virtual team tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. This tour can help your employees learn about Black history and culture.

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11. Virtual Juneteenth Party 🥳
    Organize a virtual Juneteenth party for your employees. This event can feature Black music, food, and games. A virtual Juneteenth party can be an excellent opportunity to celebrate Black culture while fostering community among your remote employees.

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12. Virtual Juneteenth Book Club 📚
    Start a virtual book club for your employees to support Black authors, stories, and culture. You can choose a book that focuses on Black history and the struggles of Black people and discuss it to raise awareness among employees. 

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Your Juneteenth reading list can include

• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• Stony the Road by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

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13. Host a virtual Juneteenth cooking class 🧑🍳
    You can hire a chef or use online resources to teach your team how to cook traditional African-American dishes. Cooking is a fun and interactive way to learn about Juneteenth and African-American culture.

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These were some ways to celebrate Juneteenth at work that will hopefully become a part of your campaign. However, it’s vital that these celebrations also involve giving back to the community to advance overall racial equity and DEI goals. We’ve curated a vetted list of BIPOC and Black nonprofits near you to help employees make a local impact.