At Episcopal Retirement Services, we believe in building communities where everyone feels they truly belong. That’s why, throughout the month of June, we came together across our offices, programs, and senior living communities—including Marjorie P. Lee and Deupree House in Cincinnati, Episcopal Church Home in Louisville, and our Affordable Living communities across the region—to celebrate Juneteenth in ways that were meaningful, reflective, and full of joy.

Observed each year on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. For us at ERS, it is not only a powerful piece of history but also a call to action. It reminds us of the resilience of African American communities and renews our commitment to our value of inclusion.

ERS residents and staff marked the holiday in meaningful ways. We invited speakers and educators who helped us learn more about the origins and significance of Juneteenth. We listened, reflected, and celebrated with storytelling, dancing, and meals rooted in African American culinary traditions. These moments of learning and joy brought us closer together as residents, staff, and neighbors.

A particularly moving moment came when Jimmy Wilson, our vice president of Affordable Living, shared a special “Prayer for Juneteenth” he had written. It encouraged thoughtful reflection on freedom, resilience, and unity—values that resonate deeply within our mission and the work we do every day.

We’re especially grateful to our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Affinity Group and our Health Services Administrators for organizing this year’s Juneteenth events. Their leadership, along with the participation and contributions of so many team members and residents, created an atmosphere of respect, understanding, and celebration.

One especially meaningful event took place at The Manse Apartments, an ERS Affordable Living community that provides housing for senior adults and has deep roots in Cincinnati’s African American history. The building was once the Manse Hotel—a vital destination during segregation that offered dignity, comfort, and hospitality to African American community members and travelers, including renowned musicians, athletes, and civil rights leaders. Shortly after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed racial discrimination in public accommodations, the Manse Hotel ceased operations. Today, The Manse Apartments honors that meaningful legacy by offering affordable housing for older adults while preserving the spirit of resilience, pride, and belonging that the original hotel represented. This year, residents and staff came together to create handmade Juneteenth flags in the community’s popular communal area, once the historic hotel’s grand ballroom.

“We don’t just mark Juneteenth as a historical event—we embrace it as a reminder to stay committed to building communities where everyone feels they belong,” said Jimmy. “Whether you’re a resident, team member, or neighbor, that sense of belonging matters. That’s the culture we’re dedicated to strengthening every day.”

Our President and CEO Laura Lamb echoed this sentiment, stating, “As a celebration of African American freedom and achievement, Juneteenth is a time for reflection, growth, and respect. It’s also a moment to ask how we can do better—not only as a society, but as organizations and individuals.”

That commitment to growth is at the heart of ERS’ We Can Do Better initiative, launched in 2020. This ongoing effort guides our work to listen, learn, and grow together through dedicated committees and affinity groups, educational programs, inclusive hiring practices, open dialogue, and more. We strive to make every community a place where all residents and team members feel welcomed, respected, and valued.

Recently, ERS expanded our We Can Do Better work in several important ways:

• ERS’ Lauren Brown Empowerment Fund, formed in memory of a beloved team member, grew to over $400,000, supporting racial minorities with non-traditional career advancement resources.
• We hosted a four-part resident book series on What If I Say the Wrong Thing? To foster cross-generational dialogue on inclusion.
• A team member “~ism” survey helped identify concerns such as racism, sexism, and ageism in our workplace culture.
• We developed a new training program to help team members respond to “~isms.”
• Board and senior leadership diversity has increased over the past four years to better reflect those we serve.

One of ERS’ core values is inclusion. We define inclusion as valuing collaboration and the diversity of thought, experiences, and perspectives—recognizing that we are better together when we leverage our collective strengths and differences. By setting annual goals and measuring our outcomes, we hold ourselves accountable and ensure our values are lived out in meaningful, measurable ways.

Related Blog: We Are Stronger Together: ERS' 4th Annual We Can Do Better Scorecard

“We’re thankful for everything our board, our servant leadership team, our team members, and our residents do to support these important efforts,” Laura added. “By listening, learning, and holding ourselves accountable, we can continue creating an even stronger community where everyone belongs—because we know we are stronger together.”

Related Blog: We Can Do Better: A Letter From ERS President and CEO, Laura Lamb