We kicked off this year’s San Francisco Juneteenth Parade right at Spear and Market streets. The beat of music filled the air, a parade of sounds that celebrated Black joy in every note. Classic muscle cars rolled by, polished and gleaming under the morning sun, as families lined the sidewalks smiling and dancing.

As we made our way down Market Street toward Civic Center, the energy grew. Block parties sprang up along the route, full of children laughing, people lined up dancing, games being played, and live performances echoing the spirit of freedom. Every part of the celebration carried the weight of history and the lightness of joy.

We are proud to be in the heart of it all. Our President and CEO Dr. Gina Fromer rode with Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, standing side by side with us as we celebrated the legacy of Juneteenth.

At one point during the parade, Dr. Fromer was praised over the loudspeaker for her leadership in San Francisco and for guiding GLIDE into its future. Hearing the crowd cheer as her name was called reminded us how deeply this city values the work happening at GLIDE and the people who lead it.

This day marks the moment in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. Being part of this parade means something real for us at GLIDE. It is not just a moment to celebrate, but a reminder of the work we do every day. We stand with our community as we push for justice, dignity, and true liberation for all. This is not just history. It is now.

As we celebrate, we also continue to charge ahead. Liberation is not a day, it’s a movement, and we invite everyone to stand with us as we keep pushing forward.