The CommuniTree in the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

The CommuniTree in the Los Alamos County Municipal Building has been updated for June in observance of Pride Month and Juneteenth. All community members are welcome to visit the tree and walk away with items that recognize the themes.

In addition to the tokens on the tree, a video montage honoring Juneteenth, officially observed June 19, is playing next to the tree. It was written and composed by Ricardo Lambert, a member of the Gas, Water, and Sewer crew in the Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

Despite being celebrated since 1865, Juneteenth wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021. Many people are still learning about this day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The montage aims to provide a basic overview of the holiday with historical and symbolic references throughout. It can be found on YouTube at https://lacnm.com/1865.

This month’s tree is sponsored by the Los Alamos County Finance Division and Department of Public Utilities. The Finance and Utilities employees are promoting the importance of community, particularly as it pertains to diversity, acceptance, freedom and inclusion.

“Please stop by the CommuniTree to celebrate Pride and Juneteenth with thoughts of “Be kind to every kind,” Utility Manager Philo Shelton said.

The tokens on the CommuniTree include buttons, enamel pins, stickers, candy sticks and butterfly magnets and stakes, as well as small, informational cards. Some of the cards encourage community involvement in give and take related to assistance programs while others include a link to the Juneteenth video. These items will be available throughout the month of June.

The Municipal Building is open to the public 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.