E32 Compassion, Freedom, and the Future: A Juneteenth Reflection

 

In this deeply personal and timely episode of The Compassionate Newsroom, Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon — happiness scholar, former news director, and the great-granddaughter of a slave — reflects on the meaning of Juneteenth through the lens of compassion, resilience, and justice.

From her early reporting days in Houston covering Juneteenth on Galveston Island, to her ongoing work shaping mental health and well-being in journalism, Dr. Lemon invites listeners into a space of remembrance, healing, and leadership. She also honors the legacy of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who appointed Dr. Lemon to the Carter Center's Mental Health Journalism Fellowship advisory board and inspired her with the words:

“Do what you can to show you care about others, and you will make our world a better place.” — Rosalynn Carter

This episode is a call to action for journalists, changemakers, and news leaders who believe in the power of empathy to shape a more just world.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why Juneteenth remains a powerful marker of Black freedom, education, and dignity

• How compassionate leadership challenges systems of harm

• What journalists and newsroom leaders can do to honor Juneteenth with intentionality

• A mindfulness reflection inspired by Self-Compassion author Dr. Kristin Neff

• Why your well-being is your most important job — and how to honor it.