Chime Celebrates: Juneteenth

Chime stands in solidarity with the Black community. Juneteenth is a day for all of us to remember, honor, and work towards equality and social justice. It is a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. We have recognized Juneteenth as a company-wide holiday.

We know that ultimate equity will not happen in a short time frame, but each proactive step every individual takes will get us progressively closer. We hope that you use this guide as a starting point to see the variety of ways in which you can take action, and make it a recurring, sustained effort.

On Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the Senate unanimously approved a bill that would make Juneteenth, the day that marks the end of slavery in the U.S., a federal holiday.

At Chime, we made the company-wide decision and designated Juneteenth a Forever Chime Holiday in 2020. “We’ve made Juneteenth a holiday because we want to show our commitment to supporting the Black community as well as our acknowledgement of the meaning of the day,” says Erica Johnson, our Head of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging. “We also recognize that giving the day to Chimers must be backed by more than just a company-wide day off. That’s why we’re reflecting, as a company, on what Juneteenth means.”

Designating Juneteenth a Chime holiday

As a child, not many people talked about Juneteenth to Erica. “My grandmother was the only person who shared the meaning of the holiday with us,” she says. “She wanted us to understand our heritage and history, as well as acknowledge the importance of the Black experience in this country.”

Though Juneteenth has been an important marker in history for one hundred and fifty six years, the decision to designate it a Chime holiday in 2020 came from heightened awareness of the struggles faced by and resilience of the Black community in our country. And while our decision was sparked by the murder of George Floyd and many others, as well as the amplified voices of the Black Lives Matter movement, it stands as a reminder of our ongoing commitment to checking in, every year, on the progress we and our Black communities have made.

It’s more than a Take Care of Yourself Day

“Giving Chimers the day off — last year and every year in the future — is a reminder that what Juneteenth stands for will have resounding effects through time,” Erica says. “We hope that Chimers reflect on the significance of the day and what freedom means to all communities — especially the Black community and others who might not enjoy such liberty.”

That’s why we’re taking extra care to recognize that Juneteenth isn’t simply another Take Care of Yourself Day — Chime-wide days off for Chimers to recharge, catch up on errands, or spend time with family and friends. “Juneteenth, as a holiday, highlights the importance of this day in the history of this country” Erica says. “We are encouraging Chimers to educate themselves around the holiday and celebrate the Black community’s contributions to our nation’s culture.”

To that end, we’re offering Chimers a host of resources to help them reflect, honor, and celebrate Juneteenth in a Juneteenth Resources Guide, which includes:

• Giving and donation suggestions for nonprofits that support racial equity and social justice
• A directory of Black-owned restaurants in the Bay Area, Chicago, and Vancouver for our three offices
• A list of nonprofit organizations to volunteer or partner with, such as:
• 100 Black Men — The mission of the 100 Black Men is to improve the quality of life within our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. ​AfroChime has supported their Bay Area chapter through grants and volunteerism.
• Hack the Hood — Hack the Hood empowers Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities through tech and data literacy skills that support their economic mobility. Through mentorship, culturally relevant knowledge, 21st-century skills, and community partnerships, they believe youth can become creators of change in their communities.
• Collective Impact — Collective Impact’s mission is to provide youth, families, and programs ​with the tools and resources they need to succeed
• Communities United For Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) — CURYJ (pronounced ‘courage’) unlocks the leadership of young people to dream beyond bars. They look to young people to lead the way in transforming our communities by investing in their healing, aspirations, and activism. You can sign petitions or volunteer with them.
• Center for Racial Justice in Education — The Center for Racial Justice in Education’s mission is to train and empower educators to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in our schools and communities. At the Center for Racial Justice in Education, they envision a world where all young people learn and thrive in racially equitable, liberating, and empowering educational spaces.
• Equal Justice Initiative — The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. They have an extensive list of nonprofits (sorted by state) and their volunteer opportunities.
• No New SF Jail Coalition — They are a coalition of local organizations, residents and community members joining together to fight the expansion of imprisonment and criminalization in San Francisco.
• San Francisco No Injunctions Coalition — A campaign to end the gang injunctions in San Francisco.
• Ella Baker Center for Human Rights — They organize with Black, Brown, and low-income people to shift resources away from prisons and punishment, and towards opportunities that make their communities safe, healthy, and strong.
• TGI Justice Project — TGI Justice Project is a group of transgender, gender variant, and intersex people–inside and outside of prisons, jails, and detention centers–creating a united family in the struggle for survival and freedom.
• Transgender Law Center — Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender-nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.
• Critical Resistance — Their mission is to fight against the interlocking systems of policing, imprisonment, and surveillance that make up the prison industrial complex (PIC).
• Anti-racism and awareness resources, including film and TV recommendations, reading lists, and podcasts
• An AfroChime lunch and learn for all Chimers to attend

Not only does designating Juneteenth a company-wide holiday impact Chimers, but it also affects our members. “As we continue to define our community impact work, it’s important for us to consider and acknowledge the experiences of our members. Juneteenth is an opportunity for us to consider our Black members and ensure we are acknowledging and celebrating the things that matter to them,” Erica says.

“I remember listening to my grandmother talk to me about the meaning of Juneteenth,” says Erica. “To be writing messaging for an entire company about the holiday 30 years later is a deeply meaningful moment for me, and a signal of the progress we’ve made. We have a ton of work left to do, but I look forward to hearing how my fellow Chimers reflect, celebrate, and honor Juneteenth this year.”