Please join us for a special evening Juneteenth, when more than 250,000 enslaved black people in Texas finally received the news, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that they had gained their freedom. Also known as Black Independence Day, Juneteenth is our newest Federal holiday, celebrated on June 19. This will be an opportunity to reflect on how these two events speak to us today.
Our speaker for the evening will be Rev. Bonita Grubbs.
Rev. Bonita Grubbs has been Executive Director of Christian Community Action since December 1988. She has also been ordained to the Christian Ministry within the American Baptist Church since November 1987.
She has served as a board member of the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund; a member of the Judicial Review Council for the State of Connecticut; Interim Pastor of Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Hamden, CT; president of the CT Coalition to End Homelessness; and, Co-Chair, Steering Committee of New Haven's Fighting Back Project. Her present board and voluntary involvements include: Columnist, New Haven Register; member of the Board of Trustees, Hospital of St. Raphael; and board member, CT Voices for Children and CT Center for School Change.
In 2001, Rev. Grubbs received an Honorary Degree from Albertus Magnus College in Humane Letters. Special recognitions received in 2000 include: Public Citizen Award, CT Chapter National Association of Social Workers; Prevention Award, The Consultation Center (New Haven); Women Who Make a Difference Award, CT Women's Education and Legal Fund; and, Good Egg Award, Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund.
We will say the mi shebeirach, read the kaddish list, and recite the mourner’s kaddish. If you wish to add additional names to the mi shebeirach or kaddish list, please email Sarah Legassey by 12pm on Friday.