The importance of June 19 as a way to honor the abolishment of slavery in the United States is just as important today as it was nearly 160 years ago.
This date’s significance underscores the long and unfinished journey toward justice, said Leesfield & Partners’ Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield.
“Through our work in the courtroom and our continued investment in education, housing and access to opportunity via The Leesfield Family Foundation, we honor this day not just in words, but in action,” he said. “Equality must be more than a principle — it must be a lived reality in every community we serve.”
The struggle to end slavery in the United States did not end with the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863. That executive order, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, declared enslaved people in Confederate-controlled states to be free — but in many areas, it could not be enforced without military intervention. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, when over 2,000 Union troops marched through Galveston Bay, Texas, to enforce the emancipation that the more than 250,000 Black people still enslaved in the state were freed. This marked the end of about 200 years of enslavement in the U.S.
To commemorate this “day of freedom,” June 19 became known as “Juneteenth,” a day that today serves both as a celebration and a solemn reminder of the struggle for true liberation. What followed was an era of hope and a fight to rebuild a nation that had been divided. Families worked to reunite with their loved ones, schools were established, and some slaveholders were even sued for compensation.
For the first time in our nation’s history, Black people were given the opportunity to seek formal education and chase the coveted promise of an “American Dream.” Over the decades, the nation has taken steps toward greater equality — though not without immense struggle. Thanks to generations of activists and advocates, legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, reshaping the country’s social landscape.
These pivotal moments — and the people who risked everything to achieve them — remain critical lessons in resistance and the enduring pursuit of liberty, justice and freedom for all. And while progress has been made, the work is far from over.
Leesfield & Partners and The Leesfield Family Foundation stand for equity and equal opportunity.
“Juneteenth reminds us that freedom must be protected through action,” Mr. Leesfield said. “It’s a call to keep building a future rooted in justice and opportunity for all.”
About The Leesfield Family Foundation
The Leesfield Family Foundation was established in the 1990s by Mr. Leesfield and his family as a way to give back to their community. At its core, the Foundation was created to support students in need — reflecting the generosity Mr. Leesfield himself received from community members during his academic journey.
“I put a heavy emphasis on scholarships because that is what helped me most growing up,” he said.
The Foundation’s motto, “generosity, warmth, and reassurance,” echoes the spirit of those who once supported him and embodies Mr. Leesfield’s commitment to paying it forward.
Over the decades, The Foundation has expanded to support various scholarships, disaster relief, and focuses on women’s and children’s initiatives, supporting numerous organizations and essential services for those who need them most. Past partnerships include the Overtown Youth Center, Lotus House/Sundari Foundation, Kristi House, Voices for Children Foundation, the Fatherhood Task Force of South Florida, local food banks, and many other agencies dedicated to helping those in need.
