Juneteenth: Living our culture of belonging

Each year, communities across the nation come together through festivals, parades, music and connection, to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth.

The federal holiday gets its name from the combination of June and 19th. It recognizes the day in 1865 when the final enslaved community in the United States (more than 250,000 Texas residents) were liberated with the ending of the American Civil War.

MultiCare is proud to participate in Juneteenth events across the state. It’s an opportunity for people of all backgrounds, beliefs and cultures to acknowledge the nation’s past and honor the freedom, history, culture and value of Black Americans.

“Participating in Yakima’s Juneteenth celebration is essential for us to honor our shared history and promote health equity,” says Omar Gambito, MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital director of community health partnerships. “It strengthens our ties to the community and ensures that all individuals are seen and supported in their health care journey.”

Across the state, MultiCare employees and volunteers are staffing booths at community Juneteenth events, including Yakima’s celebration last weekend (June 14) and today (June 19) in both Spokane and Tacoma. Volunteers will hand out swag and share information on accessing health care, pursuing a career in health care and about MultiCare’s health equity and wellness programs.

Join your colleagues in recognizing Juneteenth

How to get involved

“Really this comes down to showing how MultiCare is committed to creating a culture of belonging, whether you’re a patient, employee or community member,” says Leah Butters, recruitment marketing team leader, MultiCare talent acquisition.

Whether you’re at a MultiCare facility or out in the community, Katie Van Deusen, MultiCare human potential recruiter, hopes that everyone feels like they belong.

“I hope the community sees our presence at an event like Juneteenth and walks away feeling that they can trust MultiCare either as a health care provider or as an employer,” Van Deusen says.

For many of the MultiCare employees volunteering at Juneteenth, that desire to achieve a feeling of belonging is personal.

MultiCare Yakima region employees volunteer at the city’s Juneteenth celebration on June 14, 2025

“Recognizing and participating in Juneteenth is more than a celebration — it’s a powerful opportunity for our workforce to connect with the history, resilience and contributions of our community members,” says Shareka Fortier, MultiCare chief workforce development officer. “When employees engage meaningfully in this observance, we contribute to fostering and sustaining a genuine culture of belonging where everyone feels seen, valued and empowered to thrive. That’s how we strengthen our culture — and our system of health.”

It’s one thing to say there’s a culture of belonging, but participating in events like this shows how we’re actively trying, getting involved and supporting our community no matter what, explains Cassi Ericson, MultiCare talent acquisition specialist.

“I’m half Native American, so I’m very passionate about this, even outside of work. We’ve seen the struggle and it’s about that camaraderie to me,” Ericson says. “Regardless of who I work for, it’s important for me to show up and say, ‘What can I do?'”

For Butters, her drive to volunteer at Juneteenth comes down to the energy and excitement created by the community coming together.

“We get to meet people from all different backgrounds and experiences and connect, listen and share those differences,” she says. “I always walk away from these events feeling very fulfilled to be working here and being able to participate in important events like this.”