NYCHA Celebrates Juneteenth
NYCHA residents and partners across the city came together this Juneteenth to celebrate freedom, resilience, and Black culture through community events, education, art, and service.
Juneteenth has been a national holiday since 2021 and a New York State holiday since June 2020. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States when, in 1865, some of the last enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, were freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Events celebrating the holiday were held across the city, including in many NYCHA communities.
On May 30, the Whitman Houses Resident Association held its first ever “Pre-Juneteenth Empowerment Celebration,” in partnership with the Office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Representatives from NYCHA’s NAACP Branch were also in attendance. NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt spoke at the event
“NYCHA is all about building strong, thriving communities; supporting each other, empowering each other to be the best we can be, to live our best lives, is at the heart of our mission,” CEO Bova-Hiatt said. “Whether that means fostering a healthy community through connections to educational and social service opportunities for residents of all ages, fostering a safe home through building and apartment renovations, or simply lending a helping hand to neighbors in need – we are united in our pursuit of advancement, of improving the quality of life in NYCHA communities. When we celebrate Juneteenth, we are commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and their resilience. We are also celebrating the strength and opportunity that community brings, and we are reflecting on the ways that we can move forward together.”
On June 20, Green City Force (GCF) kicked off its annual Juneteenth celebration at six Farms at NYCHA locations at Astoria, Bay View, Forest, Howard, Mariner’s Harbor, and Wagner Houses. It was also the start of the 2026 farmstand season, which lasts from June to November. Residents enjoyed music, games, arts activities, and fresh, organic produce grown by GCF Corps Members.
Residents also gathered for Juneteenth celebrations at NYCHA and PACT developments, including at Karol’s Urban Community Farm at Castle Hill Houses, Harlem River Houses, and Amsterdam Addition, where community members enjoyed live music courtesy of Lincoln Center.