South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, Inc. (SCACAP) OBSERVING JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth is recognized on the 19th day of June. It is a day of liberation recognized by the Black community in the United States. It marks the day 155 years ago when enslaved African-Americans across Texas learned they were free -- months after the Civil War needed, and two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. As an essential turning point for our nation, June 19th is a day for us all to honor and celebrate as Americans.

In light of Juneteenth, South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships, Inc. (SCACAP) held a Racial Injustice and Cultural Awareness Training/Luncheon for their SCACAP employees. The Training/Luncheon served as an educational and networking opportunity for SCACAP employees to discuss Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society and War on Poverty, along with cultural awareness and education, as it impacts the curriculum and learning of Early Head Start/Head Start children and families. SCACAP opened the training with a video providing the History of Juneteenth. SCACAP employees, representing an array of age groups, discussed multigenerational experiences regarding racial injustice. Community Action and Head Start serves the nation's most vulnerable and low-income population that, unfortunately, are those in poverty. It is important that we ensure that every customer, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the opportunity to become vital and productive citizens.

The discussion questions were as follows:  When is the first time you heard about Juneteenth? Why has there been a delay from the Emancipation Proclamation to the Civil Rights Movement to the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020? Why is Black Lives Matters a thing NOW and what is different this time? What is it going to take to move things forward? What can be done as an individual? What is the importance of teaching cultural diversity and ensuring the history of all cultures are taught in our schools beginning with preschool?

SCACAP practiced social distancing by requiring each staff member to wear a face covering, and have each employee spread out across SCACAP’s conference room. The training/luncheon was facilitated by Ms. Jessica McMoore, CEO/Executive Director, and Mr. John Johnson, IT Administrator.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROMISE

Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people, help themselves, and each other.

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ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIPS, INC. (SCACAP)

SCACAP is a statewide nonprofit community-based organization that aims to develop and support programs to promote self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life for income-eligible children, youth, individuals, and families. SCACAP serves as a State clearinghouse or hub for the Community Action, Head Start, and Weatherization Networks that provides various programs and services to meet the needs of our targeted population, such as comprehensive early care, housing, energy assistance and efficiency programs, crisis and case management, employment, income management Nutrition, youth and senior programs, and a myriad of other programs. SCACAP advocates for policies that strengthen program services, coordinates extensive training, professional development, statewide data compilation and analysis, reporting, communication and marketing, resource and partnership development, research and strategic planning, statewide outreach and education, and a plethora of other services to build the capacity to enrich service delivery. SCACAP also implements statewide community based programming and is currently a grantee of an Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Program in nine counties throughout the State of SC.