Kossie Gardner owned a business on Jefferson St. for 70+ years and operated Nashville’s first motorized ambulance service. Today I joined his family, CM @freddieoconnell, @MetroParksNash, and community leaders to open a North Nashville park in his name.
On Juneteenth, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers whose struggle and determination brought us closer to justice.
At Foley Square, Lorenzo Pace's sculpture stands as a powerful tribute to that legacy. Our documentary explores Dr. Pace's life, his work, and his decades-long commitment to the ongoing fight for liberation.
This Juneteenth, let us not forget that pursuit of freedom is not buried in the past. It is the responsibility of our future.
On June 19, 1865, African American communities in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom from slavery — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.
For 161 years, Juneteenth has been a day of remembrance for the freedom that was delayed. It is also a celebration of the joy and resilience that flourished despite that delay.
The contributions of African Americans, whose struggle for freedom shaped our nation, are immeasurable. Yet too many Black families continue to bear the brunt of an affordability crisis that has pushed them out of the neighborhoods and communities they've built.
True freedom has a tangible impact on daily life: the ability to afford housing, earn a living wage, put food on the table, support a family, and create a future for generations to come.
As we celebrate today, we must recommit ourselves to ensuring this freedom is fully realized.
Happy Juneteenth, New York City.
In 2019, we partnered with Tay Keith and @savethemusicfdn to donate instruments and host a master class at a Nashville high school. Tay said he wanted to show students “it’s possible to make things happen with school still in the picture.” We lost an incredible person. 🥀