NEWSROOM CALENDAR MAP LIBRARY about services grantmaking advocacy contact Share June 19, 2021 Statement on Juneteenth Becoming a Federal Holiday This week, President Joseph Biden signed legislation that establishes June 19, Juneteenth, as a federal holiday. The day commemorates June 19, 1865, the day word of their emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln and months after the formal conclusion of the Civil War. Even though freedom had been achieved by law first through the Emancipation Proclamation and later with the passage of the 13th Amendment in January 1865, in practice, many African Americans continued to fight the oppressive hand of slavery and racism to that point. More than 150 years have passed since those consequential events and yet the effects of systemic racism and the push for equality and equity continues to this day. We at Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. applaud the bipartisan actions taken by the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and President Biden to make this commemoration a reality. This commemoration aligns with our work as an organization guided by a mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God.” We believe that to improve the wellness of the least served and fully live out our mission we must recognize the inequities inherent in our communities that contribute to poor health outcomes. Inequities revolving around maternal and infant health, chronic stress, trauma, education, food security, safe housing and financial wealth have resulted in vast differences in life expectancy and quality of life for people living in the 74 counties we serve. The disenfranchisement of people of color in our community through policies and practices contributing to systemic racial oppression denies individuals the opportunity to reach their full potential for health and life, and does harm to all families, preventing every community from thriving. This Juneteenth, we will celebrate the progress achieved and, in keeping with our Methodist faith, we will continue to honor the gifts that every racial group and culture bring to our total life. We reaffirm our commitment to lead and to stand with our partners, patients, clients, and community in rejecting all expressions of racism and policies and practices that erode inclusion and diminish health equity for all. About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org Comments (0) Name: * Email: * Message: Newsroom Subscribe MEDIA ASSETS Media Library Media Guidelines LATEST NEWS Thanksgiving Holiday Closure Methodist Healthcare Ministries & EnrollSA Mark the Beginning of Open Enrollment for 2022 Methodist Healthcare Ministries Receives Groundbreaking Initial Trauma Informed Care Certification SHARE THIS RELEASE Statement on Juneteenth Becoming a Federal Holiday Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn POPULAR TAGS news blog grant-making legislative update advocacy Legislative Updates Sí Texas Project Grant-making Award Counseling Advocacy News Wesley Nurse Blog news blog media map join our mailing list about Mission, Vision & Values Map Newsroom Leadership Careers Donate services Clinics Community Counseling Community Health Workers Get FIT Parenting Programs Wesley Nurse grantmaking Giving Areas Sí Texas Project 2020 Funded Partners advocacy Legislative Priorities Research & Policy Initiatives 2019 Legislative Agenda contact Calendar Map News Blog Media Download library 4507 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229 Notice of Privacy Practices Website Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Financials ©2014 Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Toll-Free: 800.959.6673 T: 210.692.0234 F: 210.614.7563 Webmaster