Juneteenth 2025 Statement from Virginia “Ginger” Pryor, Chief Strategy Officer, Covenant House International

Today, on Juneteenth, we pause to honor the date in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day is more than a historical milestone. It is a living reminder of how long justice can take to arrive, and how fiercely we must continue to fight for it.

At Covenant House, our mission calls us to serve young people facing homelessness with absolute respect and unconditional love. And while their stories are as diverse as their dreams, far too many of our youth, especially Black youth, are navigating not just housing insecurity but the enduring legacy of systemic injustice. For them, freedom is not simply a concept from the past. It is an urgent demand of the present.

As we commemorate Juneteenth this year, we do so not only in reflection, but in deep recognition of the strength, brilliance, and resilience of the young people we serve. Their courage reminds us that liberation is not a one-time event. It is a daily commitment to equity, dignity, and belonging.

We understand the world they are stepping into. We see the barriers. But we also see the beauty in their becoming, and we are unwavering in our belief that they deserve not just safety, but opportunity. Not just shelter, but possibility. Not just survival, but joy.

Let this day renew our promise: to listen more closely, act more boldly, and build a future where no young person is forgotten. That is how we honor Juneteenth. That is how we move forward, together.

With hope and resolve,

Virginia “Ginger” Pryor

Chief Strategy Officer

Covenant House International