CapMetro to make Juneteenth a company holiday beginning next year
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. (Source: Galveston Convention & Visitors Bureau)
AUSTIN, Texas - Austin public transit company Capital Metro has made Juneteenth a company holiday, beginning next year.
In a letter addressed to CapMetro employees, CEO Randy Clarke announced that Juneteenth will be a designated company holiday for all employees beginning in 2021.
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"Please join me in recommitting ourselves every day to fulfill our mission of providing accessible and equitable access to opportunity for everyone in our community. As a concrete action to mark this commitment, our leadership team is designating Juneteenth as a holiday for all members of the Capital Metro family, including service provider employees, beginning in 2021," wrote Clarke.
In his letter, Clarke touched upon the recent nationwide protests that have erupted over the death of George Floyd, stating that changes need to be made for the Black community.
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"The protests and marches that have occurred here, throughout the country and around the world have been a clear call to all of us to be part of the drive for change needed to guarantee 'absolute equality of rights' for the Black community," Clarke wrote. "Due to historic policy and investment decisions, access to transportation has had inequitable outcomes that have specifically impacted people of color in our community and country."
Clarke also stated that the company created a "Diversity and Inclusion Council" in February with a goal of fostering a "culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity that respects individual differences and supports our role as a community servant." He stated that the changes begin with leadership roles including himself.
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Moving forward, Clarke states that one of the company's first actions will be to form internal and external subcommittees to help spearhead conversations about racism and biases and what the company can do to better "eradicate them."
"Transit is a powerful tool that can ensure everyone has access to opportunity, and it is our responsibility to see that it does," Clarke wrote.
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Read Clarke's full letter addressed to employees below:
To the Capital Metro Family,
Today is the 155th anniversary of this message reaching Texas: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and right of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.”
— Major General Gordon Grainger, Order No. 3, June 19, 1865, Galveston, Texas
This year’s Juneteenth celebration emphasizes not only the timeless themes of freedom and perseverance, but also recognizes the unprecedented times we’re currently living through.
The protests and marches that have occurred here, throughout the country and around the world have been a clear call to all of us to be part of the drive for change needed to guarantee “absolute equality of rights” for the Black community.
Due to historic policy and investment decisions, access to transportation has had inequitable outcomes that have specifically impacted people of color in our community and country.
I am proud to serve you and take seriously the role Capital Metro plays in building the city we call home. Transit is a powerful tool that can ensure everyone has access to opportunity, and it is our responsibility to see that it does. In voting for the Project Connect Plan, members of the City Council put it better than I can:
Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison said “transit can improve social and racial justice. Black people are 1 in 5 riders despite being less than 1 in 10 residents. Project Connect could help give people of color alternatives to racialized traffic stops, which tie into police brutality and poverty.”
Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Capital Metro board member said, “there are so few things in life where you meet so many different people and meet people of different backgrounds as transit. We need to come together and get to know each other.”
In February, Capital Metro created a Diversity and Inclusion Council with the goal of fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity that respects individual differences and supports our role as a community servant. This starts at the top with me and the leadership team. One of our first action items will be to form internal and external subcommittees to help us spearhead courageous conversations about racism and biases and what Capital Metro can do better to eradicate them.
This is an opportune time to gain insight through the virtual Juneteenth celebrations happening in Austin. See the links below for information on joining the celebrations and events. The raffle will feature donations from local businesses and creatives, and proceeds will benefit the Greater East Austin Youth Association and Six Square.
Please join me in recommitting ourselves every day to fulfill our mission of providing accessible and equitable access to opportunity for everyone in our community. As a concrete action to mark this commitment, our leadership team is designating Juneteenth as a holiday for all members of the Capital Metro family, including service provider employees, beginning in 2021.
I am honored to lead Capital Metro as an organization that has the courage, conviction, and commitment to be a driver for change.
Sincerely,
Randy Clarke
President & CEO