Marking the seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing on January 17, some colleges across the country are hosting events to cultivate an action plan against systemic racism.
“The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism,” stated Ohio State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on their website. “It is an opportunity to bring ALL people together in their common humanity and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world.”
Ohio State University’s itinerary for the day includes a keynote speaker, a group discussion, and a livestream of the event.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities issued a statement on its website calling for “colleges and universities across the country to engage in activities, events, or strategies that promote healing and foster engagement around the issues of racism, bias, inequity, and injustice in our society.”
San Jose State University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Washington State University are among other schools with colleges or offices hosting their own events.
“Here at Washington State University, we intend to leverage the National Day of Racial Healing framework to help us as a university community develop critical and reflexive thinking that directly supports culturally and racially non-harming, compassionate, and ethical practices towards ourselves and towards our collective learning,” issued from the school’s Office of the Provost on their website.
The National Day of Racial Healing was launched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation on January 17, 2017, in partnership with their community-centered initiative Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. Its website features local events around the country honoring the day, hosts a digital series in partnership with NBC Universal highlighting topical themes, and provides organizations interested in creating their own events or hosting a discussion with an action-plan kit to get started.
