At its June 10, 2025, meeting, the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution officially recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth across the district.
Observed annually, Juneteenth commemorates the moment in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom—two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Often referred to as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is both a historical milestone and a call to continue the pursuit of freedom, justice, and equity for all.
The resolution adopted by MPUSD highlights not only the importance of Juneteenth, but also the resilience and enduring contributions of African Americans to our nation’s progress. It recognizes the continued impact of systemic oppression through sharecropping, segregation, redlining, and other discriminatory systems, and calls for ongoing commitment to dismantling inequities that persist in education and beyond.
“Juneteenth reminds us that the work of equity and liberation is ongoing,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “As an educational institution, we have a responsibility to ensure our curriculum, culture, and policies reflect the truth of history and uplift the voices and experiences of the African American community.”
The resolution affirms MPUSD’s commitment to creating inclusive and affirming environments for Black students, staff, and families. It aligns with the district’s broader goals to improve outcomes for all students, eliminate performance gaps, and recruit and retain a diverse, high-quality staff.
Through this resolution, MPUSD encourages its students, staff, and community to reflect on the significance of Juneteenth, not just as a historic day, but as a powerful opportunity to learn, grow, and take action in pursuit of a more just and equitable society.
