The National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) calls people, organizations and communities across the country to call for racial healing, bring people together in their common humanity, and take collective action to create a more just and equitable world. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF) is celebrating this day by announcing a $825,000 multi-year grant to actively promote racial healing in Flint.
The grant is part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) effort, a national and community-based process to bring about transformational and sustainable change to address the historic effects of racism. Flint is one of four Michigan communities to receive a TRHT grant to actively promote racial healing.
"Flint is one of the country's most segregated cities," said Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. "We are engaging community leaders and residents in healing conversations that help us understand the racial dynamics of our city. In doing this work, we hope to heal and build sustainable progress neighbor by neighbor, community by community, to transform Flint so all children can have a brighter future."
CFGF is marking its 30th anniversary in 2018 with the theme, "Celebrating Our Common Humanity." The Foundation will engage people from all racial, ethnic, religious and identity groups in a genuine effort to increase understanding, communication, caring and respect for one another.
In December, a group of community leaders met at the Foundation to participate in a healing circle and visioning process. Working with other community-based groups, the Foundation will engage others in the visioning process. Community priorities will be identified, and a grant process to fund transformational interventions will be announced.
"We encourage everyone to embrace our common humanity by recognizing the National Day of Racial Healing through social media and the hashtag #NDORH," Oliver added.