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Fairfax City Councilmember Stacey Hardy-Chandler received the 2025 Legacy of Freedom award during the city’s Juneteenth ceremony on June 14, earning recognition for breaking barriers and championing inclusion.

Juneteenth Celebration Committee member Amini Bonane presented the honor, describing Hardy-Chandler as a leader who embodies the holiday’s spirit by uplifting others and advancing justice and freedom.

Hardy-Chandler made history as the first Black woman elected to the Fairfax City Council in its more than 50-year history. Bonane praised her commitment to equity and community service while also highlighting her life beyond public office as a bassist, Steelers fan and dog owner.

Accepting the award, Hardy-Chandler said Juneteenth offers not only a reason to celebrate but also an opportunity for people to challenge themselves to keep doing what is right. Drawing on her work as a social worker and councilmember, she acknowledged that the right course can be complicated, but said releasing the pursuit of perfection and remaining grounded in personal values can help.

She emphasized the importance of bringing others along, recalling her mother’s teaching that success means little unless it is shared. Hardy-Chandler connected that lesson to “ubuntu,” a concept of human interdependence commonly expressed as, “I am because you are.”

“No one should be left behind as you climb,” she said, encouraging attendees to think about the people who inspire them and add positivity to their lives. For her, that person is her husband.

Hardy-Chandler also urged people to recognize their connection even to those who frustrate them. She expressed gratitude for earlier generations who stepped outside their comfort zones and did difficult or inconvenient things so she and others would not be left behind.

Her remarks then turned to Jermantown Cemetery, a historically Black burial ground about 1½ miles from the ceremony. Hardy-Chandler said the segregated cemetery reflects a time when Black and white residents could not be together even in death.

She announced that the cemetery had recently been found eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. While approximately 51 burials were previously known, ground-penetrating radar identified another 499 Black people buried there without names or acknowledgment.

Hardy-Chandler connected that discovery to people who remain overlooked in daily life, including neighbors and co-workers. She thanked the Jermantown Cemetery Preservation Society for caring for what she called one of Fairfax City’s sacred spaces.

After looking toward what is right, ensuring no one is left behind and acknowledging history, Hardy-Chandler said the community must now look forward together. She thanked the Juneteenth Committee for organizing the event and said that, beyond receiving the award, she was grateful to live in a city that holds a Juneteenth celebration.