Unfinished Freedom: A Juneteenth Conversation with Starletta Renée Washington
Join Excelsior University, the Center for Social Justice, and the Democratic Engagement, Race & Ethnicity, and Women’s Rope Teams in celebrating Juneteenth and our Democratic Engagement Dialogue Series by watching the recording of the keynote and fireside chat “Unfinished Freedom: Truth, Healing, and the Future We’re Building” with Starletta Renée Washington, Chief Executive Office of the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region.
This conversation explored the idea that freedom is not a completed moment, but an ongoing responsibility. Through reflections on history, present-day realities, and the work of building more equitable systems, the discussion centered on truth-telling, trauma-informed approaches, and the role we all play in shaping a future rooted in dignity, access, and collective well-being. Drawing from both personal experience and leadership in community-based work, Washington highlighted what it means to move from awareness to action.
As CEO of the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Starletta Renée Washington leads an organization delivering housing and integrated services to over 150 individuals daily. Washington’s leadership is defined by results- expanding housing access, strengthening systems, and delivering measurable improvements in stability, economic mobility, and dignity for the communities she serves.