A Look Back at POWER’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration + Community Impact Event

Culture

Since it’s inception in 2022, POWER’s multi-day Juneteenth initiative has not only provided a fulfilling experience for employees but has also served the communities of the cities that host the celebration each year.

This Juneteenth, POWER’s home turf of Philadelphia served as host city, where 42 employees and allies belonging to the company’s Black Empowerment Resource Group (also known as B.E.R.G.) gathered for a weekend of education, advocacy, and community service.

We’re recapping what went down and reflecting on the impact of it all with some of the event attendees.

Where it All Started

The idea for our Juneteenth Initiative started with an idea from B.E.R.G. members. While POWER also observes Juneteenth as a company holiday (something B.E.R.G also lobbied for), they wanted to be more intentional about recognizing the pivotal moment in Black history by creating an experience that would positively impact both employees and the communities we live and work in.

Celebrations and Building Connection

Attendees of POWER's Juneteenth event pose for a group photo at the Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival. — *_{B.E.R.G. members build connection with one another and the Philadelphia community at the city’s annual Juneteenth Festival.}*

First and foremost, POWER’s Juneteenth event is meant to provide a fulfilling experience for attendees, and that means not only creating moments for fun and celebration, but also providing time and space to share experiences and deepen connections with one another.

The three-day event included a Black Tie reception, a journaling breakout session to share and connect in a more intimate setting, and attending Philadelphia’s Juneteenth Parade and Festival to celebrate with one another and our fellow neighbors.

Deshaun Smith, a Customer Development Mentor in Atlanta, was inspired by those moments of connection, as he shares the eye-opening experience he had at the Juneteenth parade:

“My favorite part was the Juneteenth festival in West Philly on Sunday. It was so beautiful to be able to see our community peaceful and truly happy celebrating how far we’ve come, but also how far we will continue to go. It was so inspiring seeing so many successful and thriving black-owned businesses. I loved that the event was in our own neighborhoods with the youth that need our support and guidance the most. It felt like a full circle moment for me and pushed me to continue to elevate and increase the impact I’m making personally to those around me.”

Learning and Education

Four employees pose for a photo outside the Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, PA during POWER's Juneteenth event. — *_{Calvary Baptist Church Reverend, XX welcomes POWER employees to Calvary Baptist Church.}*

Education is a major part of POWER’s Juneteenth weekend. Black History walking tours and museum visits have all been a part of the event in year’s past, but B.E.R.G. did something a little different this year.

With our 2024 Juneteenth event hosting more new employees, shadows of our headquarter (HQ) departments were organized, giving these individuals an opportunity to learn more about the business and build new relationships with employees they don’t get to interact with often.

Day one of the event also included a trip to Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, PA — where POWER’s headquarters are located. Attendees listened in on a special sermon from the reverend and took a tour of the church which has a rich history. Fun fact — it’s where Martin Luther King Jr. studied and mistered for three years.

Giving Back to Our Communities

Two POWER B.E.R.G. members sit across a table from a recent high school graduate, providing career advice.

Two employees part of POWER's B.E.R.G participate in a speed-networking session for young high school scholars part of The Urban League's Scholarship Program.

Advocacy and community engagement are major pillars of not only our Juneteenth event, but all employee resource group-organized events at POWER.

In addition to outings and activities that support Black-owned businesses around Philadelphia, B.E.R.G. also teamed up with one of their long time partners, The Urban League of Philadelphia, to host a professional development day for Urban League scholarship winning scholars. The day included a professional speed-networking session and career development workshops offering resume reviews and interviewing advice, hosted by B.E.R.G. members. The groups also put together care packages to hand out to fellow community members during the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival.

Smith reflects on his experience from the weekend — particularly his mission in positively impacting the next generation. “With B.E.R.G.’s 2024 motto ‘We Are the New Ancestors’ this past weekend celebrating Juneteenth with everyone really opened my eyes and reminded me of the importance that it is our responsibility to not only guide and mentor the next generation, but also be a living example that they can aspire to become so we can continue our growth and impact as a free community. We need to send the elevator back down and bring as many people as we can up with us.”

A Lasting Impact

“One of the biggest take aways I had was the impact and responsibility I have as a Black female in life and also in our company. I have so much gratitude to the company and also for the opportunities that I have working at HQ, that not everyone has. This weekend helped me understand other departments and what their process is, and how they all work together, and also the responsibility I have to make sure that I am taking care of my end of things so that we can ALL win.”

POWER is committed to creating meaningful shared experiences for our employees and change within our communities. If you’re looking to work for a company that truly cares, explore our open positions here.

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