Vitalia North Royalton Celebrates the Federal Holiday of Juneteenth

One of Arrow Senior Living’s Core Values is “I consistently and firmly advocate for fairness.” This value was born of a belief in the power of a diverse community of people working together and a desire to celebrate our unique differences. Arrow prides itself in always striving for the common goal of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

At Vitalia North Royalton, we stand firmly in the belief that, regardless of individual differences, we all deserve to thrive in a space that values the work we do and the worth of everyone. Our goal is to create a culture that employees can rely on to be equitable and fair. So, to honor that goal, during the week leading up to June 19, 2023, we will be celebrating the Federal Holiday of Juneteenth with our employees and residents. 

Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrive in Galveston, Texas, the last corner of the United States, to ensure all enslaved people be freed. Today, Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States. We will be celebrating through education as we host a guest speaker, drink Juneteenth strawberry soda, support an African American owned bakery, Cookie Society, and acknowledge firsts of African American men and women who changed the world.

The first Juneteenth was celebrated by newly freed people by consuming red foods and drinks, to symbolize the blood spilled by enslaved people across the country. Drinking strawberry soda became an act of empowerment and rebellion because they had been prohibited from drinking it.