Message from the President
June 19, 2020
Dear UTRGV Family:
Today we come together to proudly celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States.
The state holiday is especially meaningful this year, as we continue to stand in solidarity with our Black community to end racism and injustices in our communities.
Rest assured that at UTRGV, Black Lives Matter.
While we still can’t gather in large groups because of the pandemic, I encourage you to partake in these virtual Juneteenth celebrations hosted by the university:
- Today and Saturday: Leadership & Social Change is hosting a Netflix watch party for the viewing of three movies: “13TH” (5 p.m. today); “Let It All Fall” (7 p.m. today); and “Mudbound” (4 p.m. Saturday). Click here to RSVP.
- 3 p.m. Monday, June 22: Campus Activities Board will host a Spoken Poetry Session with Jaylene Clark Owens, a nationally renowned spoken word poet. She will read some of her poetry and participate in a Q&A. Click here to participate.
- 3-4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24: Civic Engagement Alliance will host Coffee & Conversations Safety & Justice. Click here to participate.
- 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, June 24: Civic Engagement Alliance and Campus Activities Board will co-host a Netflix watch party for the viewing of the movie “Freedom Writers.” Click here to participate.
In addition, today is ideal to remind everyone that the Underground Railroad passed through the Rio Grande Valley, and that different families in the region helped slaves escape and find freedom in Mexico. UTRGV researchers, who are part of the university’s Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS), helped to uncover this history. You can find more information about their research in this press release and documentary.
Sincerely,
Guy Bailey
President