"I think who really needs to heal are white people…the people who cause the harm are the people who need to do the healing, the reflection, the fixing." -Nikole Hannah-Jones, Kellog National Day of Racial Healing 2023

This event will introduce participants to Reckon With’s two core practices: Acknowledgment and Reparative Action. We welcome people of all racial identities to participate, and note that our practices are designed to be implemented in white affinity spaces.

We will open with a brief grounding exercise and a high level overview of our organization’s history. The event itself will consist of two parts.

In part one, participants will learn about false racial myths of white superiority and Black inferiority. The presenter will offer high level historical context of the false racial myths, how they have been used over time, and how they have evolved. We will discuss these myths briefly as a group in service of noticing them arise in ourselves and our everyday lives. Participants will then be given time to write and reflect about their experiences with a myth of their choice. Finally, they will discuss their experience identifying a myth and interrupting it in breakout groups of three.

In part two, participants will reflect on their influence in their existing familial and institutional relationships. Participants will draw a life map of their families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, or other organizations they are already a part of. They will then consider where racial harm is currently happening and where they have the most influence and resources to engage in reparative action. After completing their lifemaps and reflection, participants will discuss their maps with their trios. Participants will be prompted to consider possible areas in their lives where they can take a small next step.

We will come back together to reflect on the experience as a whole and offer pathways to stay engaged with our work.

The Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) at the University of Pittsburgh for a special program in honor of the National Day of Racial Healing. This year’s theme, "Understanding and Navigating Racial Anxiety: Cultivating Transformative Racial Healing," invites participants to engage in meaningful dialogue and reflection on the personal and collective steps needed to foster racial healing in our communities.

About the Event

The National Day of Racial Healing serves as a moment for individuals, organizations, and communities to come together to recognize our shared humanity, address the wounds caused by racism, and work toward building a more equitable and inclusive society. The program will include:

Insights on the importance of racial healing and its role in fostering societal transformation.
Exploration of the dynamics of racial anxiety, its impact on interpersonal and institutional interactions, and pathways to healing.
Guided reflection opportunities for attendees to reflect on their own experiences and envision actionable steps toward racial healing.
An open space for participants to share perspectives, ask questions, and connect with others committed to racial equity.

The Community Remembrance Project of Greenville, SC, (CRP) will host a National Day of Racial Healing event on January 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM. This free event at First Baptist Greenville will feature keynote speaker Dr. Aparna Polavarapu, Executive Director and Founder of the South Carolina Restorative Justice Initiative. This event will feature a group discussion on restorative justice and a Q&A session. Since 2019, The CRP has honored local victims of racial terror lynchings to acknowledge historical injustices. Recognizing these traumas is essential for healing and building a more equitable society.

The importance of the NDORH and the commitment of the members of Western Illinois University, the city of Macomb, and the citizens of the state of Illinois to the work being done is reinforced by proclamations. All campus and community members are invited to join us as we read proclamations from the Illinois Governor , Macomb Mayor, WIU President, and the Board of Trustees Chair recognizing Jan. 21, 2025 as a National Day of Racial Healing at WIU and in the city of Macomb.

Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Ted Williams III, an experienced actor, speaker, facilitator, host, and former candidate for public office will change the way we discuss sensitive subjects and create a better way to show respect and encourage honest dialogue whether discussing politics, religion, race, etc. We can do better and Mr. Williams though a live on-stage performance will show us how.

The Chaplain and Director of the Western Illinois University Veterans Resource Center will lead an interactive discussion on how we as individuals and ALL members of the community through open and honest dialogue can promote understanding and healing and create a better society. No Hate. No Blame. A step forward for all.

Join the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University for an interactive 90-minute webinar that will change the way you think about racial healing and community building. In honor of the Kellogg Foundation's National Day of Racial Healing on January 21st, 2025, renowned facilitator Susan M. Glisson will share an overview of The Welcome Table™, a community building process she uses for racial healing, reckoning, and repair. Her innovative approach utilizes storytelling and deep listening to foster authentic relationships that create a safe space for acknowledging and reconciling past race-related wounds and facilitate effective collective efforts that transform communities.

Glisson has completed reconciliation projects using The Welcome Table™ in communities with some of the most well-known histories of racial violence and in more than 25 states throughout the U.S. This webinar will introduce several Welcome Table best practices and participants will leave with an awareness of the powerful role storytelling can play in repairing the damage caused by racism and building more equitable communities.

Speaker bio: As the founding executive director of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, Susan M. Glisson guided multiracial groups in grappling with hard history to create a better, shared future in some of Mississippi's most notorious sites of racial violence. With lessons from that work, she assembled The Welcome Table™ community building process, and has used it in over twenty-five states, including most recently in the first reconciliation conversations between the enslaved and enslaver descendants at Arlington House, most well-known as the plantation of Robert E. Lee. Glisson now leads the Welcome Table Collaborative, a network of committed bridge-builders devoted to creating welcoming, equitable, and prosperous communities. In August, she began a partnership with the Carter Center to help build a movement for healing, reckoning, and repair in the former eleven Confederate states. She is based at The BIG We, a non-profit in Memphis, TN.

High Desert Playback and Explora will be hosting an interactive performance with discussions and dinner to follow. This event is for students 16 and older. Spaces are limited and tickets are free!

X Studio and Explora will be hosting a screening of the National Day of Racial Healing Programming and a youth cut version of "Puentes Para Todos" at The Guild Cinema. We will then be having an after-screening community discussion on the film and programming. This is event is free to attend and we encourage everyone interested to come out and participate.

Event Name: Art of Healing: A Creative Journey Toward Racial Unity
Event Overview
Join us on January 21, the National Day of Racial Healing, for a transformative afternoon celebrating the power of art to bridge divides, build empathy, and inspire justice. Through creative activities and meaningful dialogue, participants will explore the role of the arts in fostering racial healing and envisioning a more equitable future.
Event Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: KUF
Audience: Open to individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and artistic abilities.

Agenda
12:00 PM – Welcome & Opening Remarks
Introduction to the National Day of Racial Healing.
Reflection on the role of the arts in fostering understanding and justice.
12:15 – 1:00PM – Lunch & Learn – Shared Reflections Art Cards – This interactive "Lunch & Learn" activity combines discussion and art to foster connections and creativity. Participants will engage in guided dialogue about racial healing and then create small, personal art cards using paint markers to express their reflections and aspirations.
1:00 PM – Art Activities (Concurrent Stations)
Participants can rotate between these art-based workshops:
Affirmation Art with Paint Markers
Participants will use paint markers to create vibrant affirmation art on paper or canvas. This activity combines mindfulness with creativity, empowering participants to express their hopes, values, and commitments to racial healing through positive affirmations and visual symbolism.
Guided by a local artist, participants contribute their unique perspectives to the artwork.
Poetry & Spoken Word Corner?
Write and share poetry reflecting personal experiences and hopes for racial healing.
Optional: Perform your piece during the closing session.
Activity name ?
Details here
2:30 PM – Group Reflection & Sharing
Participants share their creations and insights from the activities.
Discussion: How can these artistic expressions inspire action beyond today?
2:50 PM – Closing Ceremony
Final reflections and a communal affirmation for racial healing.

Activity overviews and steps:
Activity: Shared Reflections Art Cards
Overview:
This interactive "Lunch & Learn" activity combines discussion and art to foster connections and creativity. Participants will engage in guided dialogue about racial healing and then create small, personal art cards using paint markers to express their reflections and aspirations.
Steps:
Introduction (5 minutes):
Welcome participants and briefly introduce the purpose of the activity: to explore racial healing through dialogue and creative expression.
Share a quote or prompt related to the theme, such as “Healing begins when we listen to each other’s stories.”
Guided Reflection & Discussion (15 minutes):
Pose a few guiding questions for small group discussions, such as:
What does racial healing mean to you?
Can you share an experience when art helped you understand or connect with others?
Encourage participants to share thoughts or listen actively.
Art Card Creation (20 minutes):
Provide each participant with small cardstock squares or rectangles (5×7 inches).
Using paint markers, participants will design art cards that reflect their discussion insights or personal thoughts about healing.
Suggestions for designs: symbols of unity, quotes, or abstract representations of emotions.
Sharing & Closing (5-10 minutes):
Invite participants to display their cards and, if comfortable, explain the meaning behind their designs.
Collectively discuss how these reflections can inspire action within their communities.
Why It Works:
This activity is brief enough to fit into a lunch break while offering meaningful engagement. It pairs thoughtful conversation with a creative outlet, leaving participants with a tangible reminder of their commitment to racial healing.
Materials Needed:
Paint markers
Pre-cut cardstock or small canvases
Table coverings for easy cleanup
This activity not only makes lunchtime engaging but also builds community and shared purpose among participants.

Activity: Affirmation Art with Paint Markers
Overview:
Participants will use paint markers to create vibrant affirmation art on paper or canvas. This activity combines mindfulness with creativity, empowering participants to express their hopes, values, and commitments to racial healing through positive affirmations and visual symbolism.
Steps:
Introduction (5 minutes):
Facilitate a brief discussion about the power of affirmations and how positive language fosters change and healing.
Brainstorming (10 minutes):
Have participants reflect on or write down affirmations, quotes, or phrases that resonate with the themes of healing, justice, and unity.
Art Creation (40 minutes):
Using paint markers, participants will design their affirmations on a piece of paper or canvas.
Encourage the incorporation of vibrant colors, patterns, and symbolic imagery (e.g., hearts, intertwined hands, bridges, etc.).
Sharing (15 minutes):
Create a "gallery walk" where participants can view and discuss each other's creations.
Encourage those who feel comfortable to share the meaning behind their designs.
Why It Works:
This activity promotes self-expression while connecting participants to a larger purpose. It fosters creativity and introspection, helping individuals articulate their vision for a healed and just society. The use of paint markers ensures accessibility and simplicity while allowing for bold and colorful designs.
Materials Needed:
Paint markers (variety of colors)
Heavyweight paper or small canvases
Optional: stencils for shapes or designs
This activity is a creative, hands-on way to engage participants while emphasizing themes of racial healing and connection.