Why OJO is taking Juneteenth as a day to engage, listen, and learn

As a company, OJO Labs has made Juneteenth a paid company holiday and I wanted to make sure all our employees knew why we were taking the day and its significance. Here's the message I shared with them:

Team -

This Saturday is Juneteenth. The turmoil and strife felt by communities of color likely awakened many people to the significance of this day. It’s been a state holiday in Texas for more than 40 years, and I’m thrilled to see the federal government is finally following suit. We’ve declared Juneteenth a company holiday and are taking Friday away from work. I encourage you to spend that time deepening your understanding of Juneteenth and how it's linked to Texas' own history of racial injustice and the promise of Black dignity and citizenship.

I encourage you all to make it a priority this weekend to listen, learn, and engage in why Juneteenth matters and why its significance to Black Americans has long been ignored in this country.

In the past year, the company has engaged with Dr. Peniel Joseph, an author and one of the preeminent scholars on race and democracy. I’ve built a personal relationship with him and have been inspired by his deep understanding and public voice. Dr. Joseph wrote beautifully on why Juneteenth is not only a “sacred day of memory,” but how making it a national holiday would spur important conversations on current and historical racial and political conflicts. It’s a great starting place for learning more about the day. 

You hear me say often that OJO Labs is a purpose-driven company. It is inarguable that we must live our purpose every day. When we promise that we’re going to help provide everyone the safety and generational financial security that comes with owning a home, we mean it. When we talk about knocking down barriers to homeownership, we need to use clear language in talking about exactly what those barriers are, and how we’re addressing them. And we must keep striving until we’re able to help 100 out of 100 people on their home journey.

I encourage you all to make it a priority this weekend to listen, learn, and engage in why Juneteenth matters and why its significance to Black Americans has long been ignored in this country. For our Austin-based team members, there are a number of local events, both in-person and virtually, taking place this weekend that I encourage you to attend. Your DEI Task Force also put together a list of things going on in both Austin and Minneapolis this weekend so you can plan ahead.

When we return from the long weekend, let’s continue to be energized about our company’s purpose to make housing equitable for all!