BDPA™ STEAM Academy
Digital Workforce Transformation
June 21, 2025 | Monroe, LA

MONROE, LA (bdpatoday®) —In Monroe, Louisiana, the BDPA™ STEAM Academy is committed to fostering excellence and providing students with unique tech industry experiences and learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom for your industry.

This weekend’s Juneteenth parade, an event held Saturday June 21, 2025 in Monroe, Louisiana, was the 20th annual “Unity” Parade organized by Juneteenth UMOIJA. Parades bring together residents to honor the historic significance of Juneteenth while celebrating community strength and togetherness. This year’s theme, “Honor our past, building our future, rooted in love and united in action,” reflects the spirit of reflection and progress that defines the event.

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Union General Gordon Granger arrived on June 19, 1865, to announce General Order No. 3, proclaiming the end of slavery in Texas, marking a pivotal moment in American history.

Juneteenth has since been celebrated as a day of liberation, resilience, and cultural pride, with communities across the nation hosting parades, festivals, and educational events.

In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday, signed into law as Juneteenth National Independence Day. This designation underscores the importance of acknowledging the end of slavery in the United States and celebrating the contributions and heritage of African Americans.

Juneteenth celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in December 1865, abolishing slavery for law-abiding citizens, but keeping it open to those who break the law.

The Juneteenth “Unity” Parade in Monroe continues to be a cornerstone of local celebrations, drawing participants and spectators to honor the past while looking toward a future of unity and action.

(Above photo) BDPA™ Student Members and STEAM Academy staff attended BDPACON24 in Atlanta last year and recently visited their state’s capital in Baton Rouge, LA to speak directly with legislators and appropriators.

^{— Sources: BDPA Monroe and the Monroe Free Press}

  → Select here  to pre-register for BDPACON25.

— Network with other technical professionals who attend annual BDPACONs or industry events. Discover more from your latest feeds on LinkedIn from bdpatoday®