Juneteenth. Honoring freedom. Advancing justice. 

Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a powerful reminder that the fight for justice and equality is not just history—it’s ongoing.

Last year, nurses at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma held an ice cream social and urged nurses to sign a petition telling the administration to recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday in their contract. And they won.

This year, the nurses at St. Joe’s will be celebrating their victory with an ice cream celebration hosted by the WSNA Racial Justice Committee for all staff. This victory was the direct result of sustained organizing and a firm belief that recognizing this day matters—not just in symbolism, but in practice.

At WSNA, we believe that honoring Juneteenth means more than a calendar acknowledgment. It means reflecting on our nation’s past, uplifting Black voices, and committing ourselves to anti-racism in our workplace and beyond.

WSNA has secured similar successes in other hospitals and will continue to push for Juneteenth to be a recognized holiday in other facilities.