The Heersink School of Medicine invites all faculty, staff, students, residents, and trainees to join the 2025 Juneteenth Commemoration on Tuesday, June 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the new Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building.
This year's program will feature food, music, and reflections on the meaning of Juneteenth. Attendees will hear remarks from Dean and Senior Vice President for Medicine Anupam Agarwal, M.D., as well as Mona Fouad, M.D., senior associate dean for Access & Engagement, and three of the school’s senior faculty members. The event highlights both education and celebration, offering opportunities to reflect on shared values and explore the significance of the day in the context of community and progress.
An observance rooted in reflection
Juneteenth is a day that brings people together in remembrance, gratitude, and hope. Officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, it marks the moment in 1865 when news of emancipation reached Galveston, Texas. Since then, Juneteenth has evolved into a national observance, uniting Americans through shared traditions of music, food, storytelling, and learning.
The holiday’s earliest commemorations began in Texas in 1866 and were filled with joy and ceremony, including parades featuring horse-drawn carriages adorned with flowers, people dressed in their finest clothing, and bands playing lively music. Meals were central to these gatherings, often including barbecues, fresh fruit, and homemade desserts. Over time, the celebrations spread across the country, incorporating educational forums, cultural events, and panel discussions, all grounded in a spirit of togetherness.
2025 Juneteenth Commemoration at UAB: Poetry, purpose, and shared stories
This year’s program will welcome Birmingham’s poet laureate, Salaam Green, who will present an original piece, “Revival on the Front Porch,” from her collection, The Other Revival: Poems and Reckonings, set to be released the week of Juneteenth.
Rooted in historical research and personal storytelling, her poetry draws from interviews with individuals whose lives have been shaped by the legacy of Juneteenth, offering reflections on healing, connection, and shared humanity.
“This poem is special to me because it symbolizes the importance of our relationships with people, place, and humanity,” Green shares. “It reminds us all that healing is a way forward—and one way toward that healing is constructing our own personal revivals, connected to land, memory, and one another.”
Continuing the tradition
The Heersink School of Medicine Juneteenth Commemoration reflects the school’s continued commitment to shared reflection, learning, and celebration. UAB recognizes Juneteenth as a designated holiday, and this event offers a meaningful opportunity for the school to come together in that spirit. It is free and open to all Heersink faculty, staff, students, residents, and trainees.
As Associate Dean of Access & Engagement Reagan Durant, M.D., notes, “Juneteenth is representative of many turning points in history that have opened doors to greater access, opportunity, and resources. In the Heersink School of Medicine, we’re proud to carry that tradition forward by helping students, trainees, and faculty tackle complex health challenges and create healthier futures for all.”