Maximus Teams Observe Juneteenth at Sites Across the U.S.

Juneteenth marks an important moment in the history of the United States, commemorating the day in 1865 when Union soldiers came to Galveston, Texas, to announce the freedom of enslaved African Americans. June 19, 1865, marks two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation when enslaved people in Texas were finally able to celebrate their freedom.

The Juneteenth holiday is an important historical event and a current reminder of working together for a more just society. To further dialogue around the holiday, more than 300 employees joined our 4th annual company-wide Community Conversation, facilitated by our Black Alliance Employee Resource Group.

Additionally, ERG members produced an episode of ERGs Unplugged, our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) podcast, where we take a deeper dive into the power of our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). In our fourth episode, Black Alliance members Destinie Harris, Candance Lewis, and Dre Moseley share their personal perspectives on the impact of the ERG, framed by ongoing Juneteenth activities.

Employees across the company honored the significance of the holiday by participating in local Juneteenth events. Maximus Contact Center Operations (CCO) employees in Florida, Arizona, Mississippi, Virginia, and other locations shared how Juneteenth helped them foster a deeper connection in the communities where they live and work.

The CCO team in Tampa, Florida, volunteered at R.O.C. The Block Juneteenth Festival.

“We had a blast,” said Rhonda Echols-Forte, Senior Site Manager. “We had some assignments and shared the workload at the Ticketing, Information Booth/VIP Gifts, and the Media Table.”

Echols-Forte added that attendees also inquired about employment opportunities at Maximus, and they shared the site’s upcoming hiring dates and how to apply.

Ron Townsend, Deputy Senior Site Manager for the CCO team in Phoenix, said he and his team had a great time at the 20th Annual Valley of the Sun Juneteenth Celebration.

“It was a very positive and upbeat day with an incredibly friendly crowd, and it was refreshing to see everyone being happy and supportive of each other,” he said.

“Considering it was 110 degrees outside and no one even complained once, that underscores how pleasant it was. It was great meeting members of the community and representing Maximus.”

Crystal Hurt, Senior Site Manager in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, said the local Juneteenth celebration was a fun, family-friendly event.

“We had a great time at the event on Saturday,” she said. “We helped with the bounce house and water slide. It was great to see the children enjoy themselves.”

On Juneteenth and every day throughout the year, Maximus strives to demonstrate empathy, respect, and understanding.