Feel Good Friday - Juneteenth USA

Next week, on June 19th, people in the United States will celebrate a recently recognized federal holiday, Juneteenth. That makes today a great day to learn about the oldest Juneteenth nonprofit advocacy organization in the United States, Juneteenth USA.

Founded in 1985 by the late Hon. Al Edwards Sr. (D-TX), the original purpose of Juneteenth USA (J-USA) was “to raise awareness and advance the Juneteenth holiday to a national one.” Today, their mission is “to fund exceptional projects to bring all Americans to celebrate, support, and continue to elevate the common bond of freedom through the recognition, observance, education, and historic preservation of Juneteenth in America.”

First let’s start with a history lesson from JUNETEENTH.com. “Juneteenth is the oldest internationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863.”

In 1979, legislation recognizing Juneteenth Day was initiated by Senator Edwards. It passed the Texas State Legislature and was signed into law that same year. In 1985, J-USA was founded to raise awareness and advance the Juneteenth holiday to a national one. Sadly, Senator Edwards passed away in 2020 a year before Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

Now J-USA supports several projects such as the Absolute Equality mural at the site where General Granger issued General Order Number 3, and purchasing the OST Theater in Houston to use for Juneteenth related and culturally relevant events. They also offer scholarships for HBCU students and funding for community projects highlighting the arts and education.

If you’d like to support Juneteenth USA in their continued advocacy and education work, there are many ways to do so. Make a donation and raise awareness on social medial by liking their Facebook page and following them on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Feel Good Friday - Canine Companions for Independence

While I was searching for an Independence Day related organization to talk about on this Feel Good Friday, I came across Canine Companions for Independence and decided to highlight them.

As summarized on their website, "Founded in 1975, Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships."

Headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, there are six training centers and multiple chapters around the United States. Canine Companions breeds Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers then volunteer puppy raisers provide 14-18 months of basic obedience training and socialization. Next the dogs return to Canine Companions for specialized training before being partnered with their human companions and completing a final training program together. This 2-minute video gives a good summary of the process. 

There are four types of assistance dogs, all provided to participants free of charge:

• Service dogs - assist adults with physical disabilities by performing daily tasks such as turning on lights, opening doors, pushing elevator buttons and pulling their partners in wheelchairs
• Hearing dogs - alert the deaf and hard of hearing to important sounds like doorbells, alarm clocks and smoke alarms
• Skilled companions - bred to be calm and affectionate, these dogs work with adults and children under the guidance of a facilitator
• Facility dogs - work with a professional in a visitation, education or healthcare setting

Reading through the stories on the website illustrates how life changing a canine companion can be for both the people who train them and the people who rely on them.  If you're in need of an assistance dog, there are online resources to determine which dog is right for you. If you live near a training center and are interested in being a puppy raiser you can learn more about what's required and request an application here.

Whether or not you're able to raise a puppy, you can support Canine Companions in their goal of helping children and adults with disabilities live more independent lives. Make a donation, join a DogFest Walk'n Roll event and show your love on social media by liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @ccicanine.