PHOTOS

A culture of belonging and caring for each other starts with each one of us. In honor of Juneteenth, on Friday, June 18, we are inviting you to acknowledge and celebrate an important moment in U.S. history.

Juneteenth is an annual celebration on June 19 marking the end of slavery in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, freedom would not come for many enslaved African Americans until years later.

My Brothers and Sisters,

Now an International event, Earth Day has been celebrated since April 22, 1970 and its origins are here in the United States. In fact, this annual celebration wouldn’t exist without legendary UAW leader Walter Reuther.

Detroit — I watched in horror last week and this weekend, along with the rest of our nation, as the headlines rolled in once again with reports of bloodshed, terror, tragedy and senseless loss of lives.