Juneteenth commemorates the delayed but undeniable arrival of freedom. Freedom that Black people were owed long before it was ever granted. It is a day that reminds us of what has been stolen, what has been survived, and what we are still building towards. At Clean Water Action and the Clean Water Fund, we mark this day not only by looking back, but also by recommitting to our present and future justice work—both internally and externally.
We’re the co-facilitators of Clean Water’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Caucus, a paid weekly time set aside for BIPOC staff to exhale. To be in community. To be seen. To not explain. To laugh, cry, vent, and just be. It is a space that Clean Water has invested in as part of our commitment to racial equity. And it matters. Especially now.
These times are heavy. And for so many of us, the weight is personal. We carry the impact of national policies, racist rhetoric, and rising fear into our homes, our bodies, and our work.
Not long ago, my (Cynthia's) college-age daughter called home at midnight, worried about her best friend, whose family is undocumented. She and her friends were frozen in fear, unsure how to keep each other safe. This is what college students are staying up at night thinking about not exams or parties, but the deportation of loved ones and survival. I still can’t believe this is their reality. But it is.
And, my (TAj's) sister’s husband was laid off by this Federal administration, just weeks after they welcomed a baby girl. Days later, my other brother-in-law, an Army officer and father of twins, was laid off. And this is just my family's story.
So many of us are holding grief, fear, and anger close to the surface.
And yet we show up every day, with purpose and pride.
The BIPOC Caucus is a space where we don’t have to pretend that’s not happening. It’s a space for breathing room. For connection. For resistance rooted in rest and relationship.
At Clean Water, we believe that our ability to fight for justice in the world is directly tied to how we show up for justice within our organization. Our internal equity practices directly shape our ability to advance justice in the world. No organization that is failing at equity, inclusion, and justice internally is truly succeeding at delivering justice externally. If we want to make a real impact, we have to live our values inside our walls. The connection is direct and real, and that’s why DEIJ work matters.
So this Juneteenth, we invite you not just to celebrate, but to reflect.
Hold space.
Recognize the depth of what this moment means for the people around you.
Understand that showing up for justice means starting here, with the people in our own community, and the spaces we choose to make sacred.
You are not alone. And together, we will keep building.
In strength and solidarity,
Cynthia & TAj
BIPOC Caucus Co-Facilitators
