AAACE Celebrates 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth
/
Submitted by Kimberly Pettiford
On June 19, the African-American Association of County Employees (AAACE) employee resource group celebrated the 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth at the County Operations Center. Juneteenth is the observance of the abolishment of slavery in the United States. This year’s national Juneteenth theme, "Building Upon Our History, Creating a Brighter Future," was also a call to action for AAACE.
The employee resource group chose to commemorate sesquicentennial celebration by bringing together former San Diego County Supervisor Leon Williams and retired San Diego County executive trailblazer Cecil Steppe with current County executives Marie Brown-Mercadel and Mack Jenkins and Dale Fleming—our connections to the past and future.
The Juneteenth celebration increased people’s knowledge about this historical event and its impact on African American culture. It also brought an enhanced awareness of how current San Diego community members and County leadership have contributed to this rich history. And foremost, the event inspired everyone to continue to grow as individuals. For more information about the event and AAACE visit www.aaace-cosd.org.
CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer, Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins and Deputy Director of HHSA Marie Brown-Mercadel