As John Callahan writes in the introduction to Ralph Ellison’s book Juneteenth, “liberation is the never-ending task of self, group, and nation and that, to endure, liberation must be self-achieved and self-achieving.”

Please join me on Juneteenth as we share an exploration of the significance of this long-standing celebration of Black liberation and new federal holiday might have for our lives.

The Rev. Judith Long has served as the Executive Director of The Free Clinics (Henderson and Polk Counties) for over 17 years and also serves as fiscal agent for HopeRX program (Henderson County’s community collaborative addressing substance misuse).

Judy has a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco and over 28 years experience in nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, San Francisco/Oakland, Boston, and Brooklyn/Manhattan. Her work has focused on housing and homelessness; anti-racism/anti-oppression; community/neighborhood organizing; and empowering adult, teen, and child survivors of domestic, familial, or sexual violence. She has served on several boards, including six years on the NC Association of Free Clinics (two as president).

An ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Judy earned her Masters of Divinity from Harvard and has served as a hospital chaplain and parish minister. She is UUFH’s Affiliate Community Minister, and through that role, was instrumental in launching the interfaith DREAM Scholarship project that bridges the gap be-tween in-and-out-of-state tuition at public institutions for undocumented local Henderson County youth. She is the proud mother of a talented 14+-year-old daughter, Kevyn Mary.

Topics: Juneteenth, Truth-telling, Wisdom