On Tuesday, January 16, communities in Michigan and across the country are coming together for the second annual National Day of Racial Healing, as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s (WKKF) Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) effort.

The national day began last year, WKKF shares it's aimed at taking action at structural racism by:

• Finding ways to reinforce and honor our common humanity and create space to celebrate the distinct differences that make our communities vibrant.

• Acknowledging that there are still deep racial divisions in America that must be overcome and healed.

• Committing to engaging people from all racial, ethnic, religious and identity groups in genuine efforts to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another.

WKKF shares there are concerts, museum events, storytelling and public proclamations and more planned nationwide as hundreds of WKKF grantees, partners and communities are answering the call for racial healing, to celebrate their common humanity and take action for a more equitable future.

CMF is supporting the Michigan TRHT effort, through a $4.2 million grant from WKKF, which is currently underway in four Michigan communities, Battle Creek, Flint, Kalamazoo and Lansing. 

The four TRHT communities have been deeply working in the TRHT community-based process and have events planned for their communities on the National Day of Racial Healing.

Highlights of the events and activities in Michigan include:

Battle Creek:

• Community members will line key intersections of the city in a collective demonstration of love. Each of them will hold large heart-shaped signs.

• More than 1,200 local high school students will experience an interactive afternoon including a blessing by Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi tribal members and musical performances by national and local artists including J.PERIOD, Isabel Delgado and Kinetic Effect, as well as a presentation by La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO, WKKF, as she shares the need for racial healing work.

• Battle Creek’s mayor will share a proclamation for the National Day of Racial Healing

Flint:

• Monday afternoon, ahead of the National Day of Racial Healing, Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO, Greater Flint Community Foundation will be speaking about the TRHT work and the National Day of Racial Healing with the community during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration at the Flint Public Library.

• Staff of the Greater Flint Community Foundation will also be engaged in internal trainings focused on preparation for the important work ahead. 

Lansing:

• An affordable housing luncheon will engage realtors in dialogue about making fair and affordable housing accessible to all

• One Lansing Dinner & Dialogue invites the community to share stories with their neighbors on topics designed to challenge us to think critically and tap into compassion for our neighbors

Kalamazoo:

• Reclaiming Native History and Culture discussion and short documentary viewing will take place

• A workshop centered around healing internalized oppressions is planned for the evening to explore the connections between healing generational trauma, violence in our communities and internalized oppression

• The mayor of Kalamazoo has also signed a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Racial Healing

CMF facilitated Governor Rick Snyder’s proclamation recognizing the National Day of Racial Healing in Michigan. You can learn more about the Michigan-based events and events happening across the country here.

These events demonstrate how the National Day of Racial Healing is sparking authentic dialogue in communities to begin dismantling structural racism.

Tabron told NPR there are many other components of the TRHT framework which includes addressing the existence of separated societies and the lack of connections, saying in part, “separation and segregation are some of the key structures that allows racial inequality to exist.”

“For us, it starts with the belief of a hierarchy based on human value. And what we believe is this belief has been rooted in all of us - is conscious and unconscious,” Tabron told NPR. “And what we believe is, through dialogue, you can shift that belief. And once you eliminate this belief in the hierarchy of human value, then you can begin to treat all of us as one humanity and create policies and systems that support everyone in the country.”

For those who can’t make it to a planned event, WKKF has shared a list of activities you can do on your own which include:

• Reading books to children in your life that affirm identities and backgrounds of all children

• Inviting friends to participate in an activity or on social

• Showing your support by using the hashtags #NDORH (National Day of Racial Healing) or #TRHT (Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation) in all your social media.

• Create a short video addressing why racial healing is important to you and post it on your social networks and use the hashtag #NDORH.

Want more?

Explore the TRHT Framework.

Learn more about the National Day of Racial Healing.

Read Reflections for the National Day of Racial Healing.

Check out how you can get involved.