From l to r: Mercy College President Tim Hall; Lana Turner, keynote speaker; Vice President of Mercy's Bronx and Manhattan Campuses Scorpio Rogers; Mercy College Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Eva Fernández.
On June 8, 2023, Mercy College President Tim Hall hosted Mercy community partners, students, faculty, alumni, trustees and staff at the College’s third Juneteenth community celebration. The gathering took place at MercyManhattan, Mercy’s campus located in the heart of New York City. Vice President of Mercy College's Bronx and Manhattan Campuses Scorpio Rogers was master of ceremonies during the evening’s speaking program, with Lana Turner, famed Harlem artist, fashion influencer, author and collector, as the keynote speaker.
As this was Hall’s last community celebration before his retirement as Mercy’s 12th president, Rogers recognized Hall’s leadership in further bridging Mercy College with community leaders and organizations. “It was President Hall’s vision to extend Mercy’s reach beyond campus walls to connect with the communities in which it serves.”
The speakers acknowledged the importance of Juneteenth, paid homage to the many individuals whose triumphs lead to the emancipation of slavery in the United States, and recognized the need for continued support and advancement of Black communities.
“Mercy is on some good ground in terms of institutions who are taking advantage of the freedom that was so hard won and are serving the descendants of those people who gained their freedom in the 1860s,” Hall said. “This is the legacy of Juneteenth. It’s why we do what we do. It’s not to just admit some Black students and then see them not make it to graduation. It is to do the things that are necessary to see that the conditions for their success are present.”
As said by Turner, “It’s important to me that organizations and others continue to celebrate days and moments like Juneteenth, because we tend to have what I think of as a two-second idea about everything. And not enough in depth understanding about some things,” Turner said. “What, I ask you since 1865, after the picnics, sermons, hymns, fireworks and unimaginable joy, is the relevancy of acknowledging Juneteenth to us here and now.”
To view highlights of the Mercy College Juneteenth community celebration, please click here.