As we commemorate #Juneteenth, Vista reflects on its profound meaning — it’s not just a date, but a symbol for freedom and a reminder of the journey still ahead. Below, our Founder, Chairman and CEO, Robert F. Smith, reflects on the holiday with a message of hope and progress. At Vista, we are committed to the work that remains, ensuring equitable access to opportunities for all. We stand with our corporate signature partners and over 200 nonprofit and community organizations, united in the mission to foster an environment of equal opportunity and equip future generations with the skills they need to move the digital economy forward.
On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were finally informed of their freedom, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day, which we celebrate as #Juneteenth — or Freedom Day — symbolizes the end of one horrific chapter in American history and the beginning of another ongoing journey toward equality and justice for all Americans. This Juneteenth, I’m humbled by the sacrifices made by countless individuals who fought for the rights and liberties we now enjoy. I’m also inspired by the resilience and contributions of Black Americans to our country in the decades since and feel a renewed commitment to build on this rich history. Barriers to true equality, like the growing wealth gap, a widening digital divide and persistent lack of equal access to broadband, and inequities in #healthcare continue to plague our country, particularly for Black Americans. We all must address these issues, together. I’m grateful for our partners at Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), Southern Communities Initiative (SCI), Fund II Foundation, internXL and the EDISON Alliance — as well as corporate partners like Cisco — who are channeling funding and resources to close these gaps and widen the paths to prosperity for all people. The work of these organizations — alongside many others — gives me great hope for a more equitable and unified nation. In 2021, Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday. I’m proud to honor and celebrate this day in history, and by doing so, we commit to both learning from the injustices of our past and building a more just future. As Ida B. Wells once said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” We cannot heal and improve as a society without recognizing what ails us — without shining the light of truth on the sins of our past and the challenges of our present. I encourage each of you to use tomorrow to reflect on how we can contribute to creating communities that call out injustice and uphold the dignity and rights of every individual.
Vice President at MCA Management Consulting Associates
2wWhat are the Educational, Health, or Economic benefits to the Players and their Families for his participation in any additional “NON-SCHOLARSHIP” private third-party postseason football games that pay the Universities and the Conferences for the use of their free labor to put on these highly profitable Bowl events. These additional 1-5 POSTSEASON games are also over the Players’ 12 game athletic scholarship agreement? The answer is ZERO! Our Proposal offers Major Benefits in all three Categories to the Players and their Families! The roughly 7,800 Bowl eligible Scholarship Football Players are owed Hundreds of Millions of dollars from this year’s Media contract that uses the Players’ Name, Image, and Likeness NIL without any equitable financial consideration to the Players or their Families! This lost Money could have a major impact on these Players lives, the lives of their current and future family members for generations? We do not support, or agree with the House vs NCAA Settlement or the current covert attempts to extend and expand this current Antitrust Cartel exploiting our young mostly minority FB &BB labor that the US Supreme Court and Federal District Court have recently struck down as illegal and implausible.