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Find Child Care Oregon (Search programs by Zipcode and City Name. Check "Licensed Center" and scroll down and check "ERDC Subsidy" to view all ERDC accepting programs in a zipcode.)
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Eugene Parks and Recreation - Child Care and Summer Camp
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Juneteenth
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Prominent Black Historical Figures
The fight for freedom has always been led by courageous individuals who dared to challenge injustice. From Harriet Tubman and William Still to Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, their efforts laid the foundation for the freedoms Juneteenth celebrates. Read about their individual contributions below:
HARRIET TUBMAN (c. 1822–1913)
Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad who helped hundreds of enslaved people escape to freedom. During the Civil War, she served as a Union spy, scout and nurse. Her lifelong fight against slavery and for Black freedom paved the way for the emancipation that Juneteenth commemorates. Tubman’s courage and leadership continue to symbolize the spirit of liberation that defines this holiday.
FRANCES THOMPSON (c. 1840–1876)
Frances Thompson was a Black transgender woman and survivor of slavery who lived in Memphis at the time of Juneteenth. A year later, she testified before Congress about the Memphis riots of 1866, becoming one of the first public figures to link state-sanctioned racial violence and gender-based oppression. Her bold testimony challenges us to recognize the intersections of race, gender and justice in the ongoing pursuit of freedom.
WILLIAM DORSEY SWANN (1858–1925)
Born just after Juneteenth, William Dorsey Swann was a formerly enslaved person who became the first known American to publicly identify as a drag queen. He organized drag balls in defiance of police harassment and social norms, asserting the right to Black queer joy and self-expression. Swann’s legacy reminds us that liberation must include freedom of identity, community and celebration.
WILLIAM STILL (1821–1902)
William Still was a key conductor on the Underground Railroad and documented hundreds of freedom stories. Known as the “father of the Underground Railroad,” he helped many reach safety before and after emancipation. His work supported the practical fight for freedom and preserved the history of resistance that Juneteenth uplifts.
W.E.B. DU BOIS (1868–1963)
W.E.B. Du Bois was a scholar, sociologist and co-founder of the NAACP. He dedicated his life to challenging systemic racism, promoting Black education and elevating Black voices in history. Born just three years after Juneteenth, Du Bois recognized the holiday’s significance and fought to ensure the promises of emancipation would not remain unfulfilled.
BAYARD RUSTIN (1912–1987)
Bayard Rustin was a gay civil rights strategist best known for organizing the 1963 March on Washington. A longtime advocate for nonviolence, labor rights and international peace, Rustin linked civil rights to broader human rights. His life reminds us that the fight for Black freedom, as celebrated on Juneteenth, must also be inclusive of LGBTQ+ justice.
JAMES BALDWIN (1924–1987)
James Baldwin was a powerful writer and speaker whose work explored race, sexuality and American identity. As a gay Black man, Baldwin exposed the moral failures of a country that promised freedom while perpetuating racial injustice. His voice continues to echo through Juneteenth commemorations, demanding we reckon with the past and build a more truthful future.
AUDRE LORDE (1934–1992)
Audre Lorde was a Black lesbian poet and activist who wrote about the complexities of identity, power and liberation. Her work called on communities to confront difference not as division but as a source of strength. Lorde’s vision of freedom expands the meaning of Juneteenth, urging us to make liberation fully inclusive.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR (1929–1968)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and the most prominent leader of the civil rights movement. Through nonviolent protest and eloquent advocacy, he challenged segregation and fought for the fulfillment of the promises made at emancipation. Juneteenth echoes King’s dream of freedom, equality and dignity for all people.
MALCOLM X (1925–1965)
Malcolm X was a Muslim minister and human rights activist who championed Black self-determination and resistance to oppression. He reframed the civil rights conversation to include global liberation and was a fierce critic of systemic racism. His legacy deepens Juneteenth’s meaning by reminding us that freedom must be paired with justice and power.
ROSA PARKS(1913–2005)
Rosa Parks is often called the “mother of the civil rights movement” for her role in sparking the Montgomery bus boycott. Her quiet refusal to give up her seat was a powerful act of resistance that helped dismantle segregation. Juneteenth celebrates acts like hers that brought the promise of emancipation closer to reality for future generations.
LGBTQIA+
Mental Health Help
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BeThe1To
Crisis Lines by County
Suicide Prevention Lane County
Why We Build - Stories of survivors of suicide attempts
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. En español: 1-888-628-9454. Deaf & hard of hearing access: Chat: 1-800-799-4889.
Veteran Crisis Line Call 1-800-273-8255 and then press “1” or text 838255) and the Military Helpline (Call 1-888-457-4838 anytime; text MIL1 to 839863 Monday – Friday from 2-6pm PST).
YouthLine 1-877-968-8491 OR text teen2teen to 839863
Seniors/Older Adults
Suicide
Veteran's/Military
Youth & Family Resources
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Lane County Resource Directory - Early Childhood Hub of Lane County (United Way)
Behavioral Health and Crisis Community Resilience Tool Kit
Community Resources - Relief Nursery
Early Childhood Mental / Behavioral Resources
Oregon Family Support Network
Resources for Families (ParentingNow)
Trauma Healing Project
HOOTS - referral & information page
For more information, email youth@eugeneymca.org.
