At Urban Resource Institute (URI), Juneteenth marks a powerful moment in American history—the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their emancipation. It is a celebration of Black resilience, liberation, and the unwavering stand for social justice.
And yet, Juneteenth also reminds us that emancipation did not end injustice. The legacy of systemic racism lives on—in poverty, in displacement, in violence. Today, Black and brown communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by domestic violence and homelessness, facing barriers rooted in the very systems meant to protect them.
URI emerged during a time of crisis, created to serve communities across New York that were underserved and overlooked. That founding purpose continues to guide us. Our values—equity, compassion, and accountability—drive everything we do as we create spaces of safety, healing, and opportunity for all.
We know that freedom must be more than symbolic. It must be felt—in housing, in safety, in economic justice, and in the ability to live without fear. On Juneteenth, we celebrate how far we’ve come—and affirm our commitment to the work still ahead.
We uplift liberation. We stand for justice. We build futures.
This is our legacy. This is our mission. This is URI.
Nathaniel Fields
Chief Executive Officer
Urban Resource Institute
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