To empower the voices and experiences of marginalized communities in acknowledgement of truth to promote healing, reconciliation, and justice.
Governor of Virginia recognized the first annual Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week
Dr. Janice Underwood, Ph.D, Commonwealth of Virginia’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer OP-ED, Seeds of Hope Become Trees of Change
Huge thanks to the State Trauma-Informed Community Network for your ally support!
A special thanks to The Truth Telling Project for these guidelines!
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Voices focuses our analysis and advocacy on developing and championing policies and practices that positively impact the health and well-being of Virginia’s children and families. Our approach is data-driven and evidence-based, and targets issues that cross multiple domains and tend to have the greatest impact on child and family success. We cover several core policy topics, and also work broadly to address the multi-faceted and severe effects of child poverty: early childhood education, family economic security, foster care and adoption, health and wellness, mental health, trauma-informed care and resilience. View our work.
Join us for Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week! In addressing and promoting justice for oppressed communities, we recognize art as a form of resilience but also a form of social justice. In honor of Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week, we encouraged artists and advocates to submit pieces that address cultural, historical, and racial trauma in addition to pieces that highlight cultural resilience, truth, reconciliation, and justice. Please take a moment to view their truths and share their work.
Community chats are conversations that educate and engage the community in different topics, such as food insecurity, Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, the impact of racism on mental health, racism in the foster care system, and how do we as a community move past the end of the week to practice intentionality in combatting systemic racism and oppression.
This series is intended to serve as an intergenerational tribute and conversation. Youth participated in a Q&A with the Legislative Black Caucus to learn about their experiences and triumphs in overcoming the plight of oppression. Members had the opportunities to also learn about the experiences of youth and their hopes for the future. We also launched elder chats, a series intended to empower communities intergenerationally by discussing intergenerational tribulations & triumphs. The goal is to acknowledge the work of the previous generation and to discuss the growth of the younger generation.
Politicians and partner organizations will give advocates of color that have been impacted by their platforms or missions the mic. The advocate will have the opportunity to tell their truths, empower their experiences, tell their stories, and raise awareness to promote justice. Advocates with lived experience should inform the solutions and outcomes they wish to see in their communities as they are impacted by them. We hope that, through this series, organizations and community leaders can be thoughtful and intentional about the way in which they do their work and mindful of who informs the solutions and practices they propose.
Politician & Advocate
Delegate Betsy Carr & Bianca Myrick, Pretty Purposed
Delegate Wendy Gooditis & Councilwoman Tina Stevens
Delegate Rodney Willett & Egette Indelele
Partner & Advocate
Family Lifeline & Kenda Sutton-El
Greater Richmond Scan & Egette Indelele
Voices for Virginia’s Children & Sophia Booker
Sophia Booker Discusses Diversity & Inclusion
Sophia Booker Discusses Microaggressions
The Racial Truth & Reconciliation children’s book reading series presents an opportunity to engage children and youth in topics that highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion. The children’s books are also written by authors of color. Children’s book readings provide an opportunities for parents to connect with children on topics that highlight multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion.
Refuel with mindful-based meditation, restorative yoga, faith-based resilience, and more. The restoration presents an opportunity to embed resilience-based practices in order to rejuvenate your mind and body after doing this tough social justice work!
Resources and definitions can be used to bridge an ongoing path of learning individually or in professional and community-based settings. Take a look at our resources and definitions page to get started! Thanks Greater Richmond SCAN for putting this together.
Blogs highlight educational topics ranging from the pandemic as a trauma, racism as a public health crisis, and more. Stories are either creative or a particular story connected to policy. Throughout the year, we will put out a call for submissions around stories, especially as we prepare for advocacy season and finalize policy agendas that may need supporting stories to personalize the items and display a need.
