RTRW 2021 Full Schedule
This year’s Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week features 4 different focus tracks:
- community-centered,
- advocacy and action,
- diversity, equity, and inclusion,
- as well as policy, equity and data analysis.
Event Dates:
- Sunday, August 22, 2021
- Monday, August 23, 2021
- Tuesday, August 24, 2021
- Wednesday, August 25, 2021
- Thursday, August 26, 2021
- Friday, August 27, 2021
- Saturday, August 28, 2021
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Virginia’s 2nd Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week Opening Address
9:00AM-9:30AM
Join us as we reflect upon the history and the birth of the Racial Truth & Reconciliation (RTR) Virginia Campaign, which is the evolution of the Campaign for a Trauma-Informed Virginia. The state’s first Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week (RTRW) in 2020 was a direct response to the inadvertent impact of cultural, racial, and historical trauma. As a result, RTR responds to two pandemics, COVID-19 and racism as a public health crisis. The campaign prioritizes state policy investments in trauma-informed care, equity, and justice. We invite you to join us as we reflect upon Voices for Virginia’s Children’s journey of truth, reconciliation, and healing and further shed light on the work that has been achieved and the work that is left to be done as it relates to the RTR mission of empowering communities impacted by marginalization in acknowledgment of truth to promote healing, reconciliation and justice for children, youth, and families in Virginia.
Community Virtual Self-Guided Walking Tour
11:00AM-12:30PM
Join us for a virtual driving tour hosted by The Valentine. This is a broader tour of the city that includes the neighborhoods surrounding downtown, Barton Heights, Jackson Ward, Maymont, Oregon Hill, and parts of Southside. The virtual experience includes both current photographs and historic images of the neighborhoods. The tour will highlight some of the demographic and social changes that these areas of the city have and are experiencing and to explore the historic origins of these changes. Register here. If you are interested in exploring the city on foot and want to learn more about specific Richmond neighborhoods, please find self-guided walking tours here.
Exploring Patterns, Rhythm, Music, & Dance
3:00PM-3:45PM
Join the Children’s Museum of Richmond and Richmond Performing Arts Alliance Wolf Trap program in an artistic educational outlet for kids. Through dramatic play, children will learn to identify patterns in literature, art, and music! They are able to create visual and musical patterns of their own, while deepening their understanding of interactive storytelling through movement and music! The event will take place in Granolis Room. Registration will be capped at 40 total per event. One adult per child to register due to social distancing. Adults and children 5 and up must wear a mask.
Exploring Patterns, Rhythm, Music, & Dance
Join the Children’s Museum of Richmond and Richmond Performing Arts Alliance Wolf Trap program in an artistic educational outlet for kids. Through dramatic play, children will learn to identify patterns in literature, art, and music! They are able to create visual and musical patterns of their own, while deepening their understanding of interactive storytelling through movement and music! The event will take place in Granolis Room. Registration will be capped at 40 total per event. One adult per child to register due to social distancing. Adults and children 5 and up must wear a mask.
Coming to the Table (CTTT) Community Dinner: Truth & Reconciliation for Children & Families
7:00-8:00PM
Join organizations referred to as Coming to the Table (CTTT) across the state as they explore the challenges of reaching across racial, political and societal lines at the dinner table – breaking down barriers and building bridges. Engage in a conversation over dinner to uncover the four legs of their table – (1) uncovering history, (2) making connections, (3) working toward healing and (4) taking action to dismantle systems of oppression. This will be a virtual event. Chapters participating include Charlottesville, Eastern Shore, Historic Triangle, and Richmond.
Monday, August 23, 2021
CEO Give Us the Mic
9:00-10:30AM
Join us for a discussion about an intentional journey to address racial equity within nonprofit organizations as we acknowledge the impact organizations have on children and families. As a Black female leader, Katina Williams will share with Amy Strite her personal experiences, highlight the importance of relationship and allyship, and offer guidance and support to emerging leaders of color. With the purpose of developing a thoughtful transition of power, together, they will share missteps and opportunities on their way to creating a space that is safe, vulnerable, and brave.
Cultural Pride & Familiarity- Creating Positive Mental Health Outcomes for Children, Youth & Young Adults
11:00AM-12:30PM
Can you think back to a time where you felt hurt or felt different because of who you are? Research has shown a strong sense of cultural identity can lead to improved mental health, greater resilience even and serve as a protective factor for discrimination. Youth serving organizations have an opportunity to support the mental wellbeing of their communities and develop culturally appropriate mental health interventions by increasing their pride and familiarity with youth’s racial and ethnic identities. Listen to this presentation and roundtable discussion as we gain insight on:
Policy interventions and community interventions that encourage culturally and linguistically relevant mental healthcare services.
- The power of building cultural familiarity & pride and how it supports your mental well-being
- Helping youth navigate the everyday impact of racism, xenophobia and other prejudices
- How behavioral health care professionals can help youth understand their racial trauma
- Supporting youth to challenge systemic inequities, white-centering environments and microaggressions
- Policy interventions and community interventions that encourage culturally and linguistically relevant mental healthcare services.
The Power in Racial Equity Impact Statements
2:00-3:30PM
Racial equity impact statements could be a resourceful tool for lawmakers to analyze a bill’s potential impact on economic, social, physical, or health outcomes for specific groups. At the heart of racial equity impact statements they answer the question, “who benefits and who is burdened?” by proposed policy changes. Advocates will share best practices for conducting equity impact statements to identify disparate impacts. Several states, including Virginia, have passed bills requiring legislatures to conduct racial equity impact statements. Learn more about using equity impact statements and opportunities to advocate for wider adoption of racial equity impact statements.
We’re Talking Generations: A Virtual Living Room Chat
6:30-8:00PM
This series is intended to empower communities across generations 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 and the work that is left to be done. Leave with an empowering message of overcoming adversity through cultural empowerment and resilience. Join us for this powerful conversation between the elders, young adults, and youth. Join us from your living room sofa for this intergenerational chat. Zoom backgrounds will be provided for this event.
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Exposing Disparities during COVID-19 & the Impact on Virginia’s Children, Youth, and Families
9:00AM-9:30AM
COVID-19 has caused inequities and exposed long-standing racial disparities among children, youth, and families across the Commonwealth. Data for cases and vaccines as well as feedback from parents during the pandemic point to greater number in cases, lower vaccine rates, and substantial financial, emotional, and housing struggles for Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Asian populations. As vaccine distribution continues and moves to younger age groups, it is important that decision makers understand how to create interventions and provide resources that reach all of Virginia’s children and families.
Virginia Leads on a Just Future for Children and Families in Virginia – State Policy Panel
11:00AM-12:30PM
The Commonwealth is growing increasingly diverse, racially, ethnically, and linguistically and represent different backgrounds and identities. Every person has a critical role to play in ensuring the truths and experiences of communities of color are reconciled. Furthermore, Virginians in a variety of roles, including state government, must actively work towards changing systems of oppression to ensure that a just future for children and families in Virginia is guaranteed. Listen in on this conversation addressing the progress the state has made towards this goal and the work that is left to be done to advancing trauma-informed and equity-informed policies that promote justice.
Virginia’s 2nd Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week Opening Address
4:00-5:30PM
Join us as we reflect upon the history and the birth of the Racial Truth & Reconciliation (RTR) Virginia Campaign, which is the evolution of the Campaign for a Trauma-Informed Virginia. The state’s first Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week (RTRW) in 2020 was a direct response to the inadvertent impact of cultural, racial, and historical trauma. As a result, RTR responds to two pandemics, COVID-19 and racism as a public health crisis. The campaign prioritizes state policy investments in trauma-informed care, equity, and justice. We invite you to join us as we reflect upon Voices for Virginia’s Children’s journey of truth, reconciliation, and healing and further shed light on the work that has been achieved and the work that is left to be done as it relates to the RTR mission of empowering communities impacted by marginalization in acknowledgment of truth to promote healing, reconciliation and justice for children, youth, and families in Virginia.
Community Voice at the Table- Virginia Trauma-Informed Community Network Town Hall
6:30-8:00PM
Virginia has close to 30 trauma-informed community networks serving children, families, and community members across the state. Some of these are well established with regular meetings and leadership structures. Others are just beginning the conversations. In each of these communities, these networks share common characteristics: spreading awareness, conducting training, jumpstarting new practices in schools, courts, and community services, advocacy and much more. Join us for a town hall centered around engaging and ensuring community voice is at the table and an opportunity to engage with your local network directly. Networks will leave with resources and input from the community on actionable steps for authentic community-centered engagement.
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Trauma-Informed Care and Community-Centered Healing
9:00AM-9:30AM
This workshop is presented as part Racial Truth and Reconciliation Week in Virginia. Learn more about the week and its events, as well as the work of Racial Truth and Reconciliation Virginia here. Join John Richardson-Lauve from ChildSavers for this workshop which will give an overview of trauma-informed care (TIC) and the healing centered engagement (HCE), and the inherent resilience-building approaches of each.Trauma-Informed Care was conceived of in the 1990’s after the creation of the diagnosis of PTSD and the acknowledgement of the impact that traumatic events can have on a person’s brain and behavior. Healing-Centered Engagement is a term originally coined by Shawn Ginwright in 2018 which is an asset-based and culturally rooted approach to healing and well-being, especially focused on support for individuals of color. They will start with the basics of each approach, take a journey into the latest neurobiology, dive into the similarities of these two approaches, and lastly explore how these two can work together to help us serve others.
Impact of Racial Trauma & Resilience on Children & Families 101
11:00AM-12:30PM
Peel back the complex layers of the historical implications of the real-world examples of the impact racism has had on children and families in United States History. Through this series, we will collectively analyze definitions related to cultural, racial, and historical trauma and equity. Following, we will end the workshop with key solutions concentrated in advocating for justice.
Trauma-Informed Care & Equity in the Workplace
2:00-3:30PM
Voices for Virginia’s Children is focused on championing public policies that improve the lives of Virginia’s children. Voices has been on a journey to become more trauma-informed and equity centered in our approach to policy and advocacy efforts externally and internally within our own workplace. Join us to hear more about the journey of becoming a trauma-informed workplace and learn practical tools and practices you can implement to do the same.
Hike the City – Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals YP Fit Series
5:30-6:30PM
Get fit with the Urban League of Greater Richmond Young Professionals and discover Richmond Virginia’s beautiful trail and park system on a guided 45-minute hike every Wednesday through September first. This is in partnership with Fit4Kids, an organization dedicated to children’s health and reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity through encouraging physical activity, healthy eating in schools, community engagement, and advocacy and action. Join us for a hike in the city, in particular, Byrd Park, owned by William Byrd II in Richmond, Virginia. Please note that William Byrd II’s view of Black people during the time period in which the park was founded is that he believed they were property and treated his slaves as such. Through Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week, we continue to dismantle systems of oppression and disrupt spaces to further promote an equitable and just society for all.
A Community That Heals Together- Soul Strong Heroes of Trauma
7:00-8:00PM
Author of the brave new children’s book SoulStrong: Heroes of Trauma, James masterfully facilitates youth adult partnership through literacy with the interactive discussion guide located in the book. This timeless illustration celebrates the power of youth voice, acknowledges the impact of childhood trauma, and encourages readers to journey through resilience in-order to discover their purpose and activate their power. In this session James will facilitate a book reading and then open the space for a community conversation. Purchase the book here.
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Equity, Social Justice & Community-Centric Fundraising
9:00-10:30AM
Equity and social justice are often not associated with non-profit fundraising. Yet, these values are important as non-profits often make a wide impact on children, youth, and families in VA. Join us for a conversation around Community-Centric Fundraising – a fundraising model that focuses on the community being served versus the traditional focus on donors. Participation in this model means building people power through philanthropy and advocacy and an opportunity to break down the barriers that maintain institutions of privilege, such as the non-profit industrial complex. Join us to learn tactical tools and strategies to build strong and respectful relationships with donors to authentically empower the children and families served.
Racism in the Child Welfare System- Where do we go from here?
11:00AM-12:30PM
This community chat will delve into modern racism that persists in the foster care system that contributes to children of color being disproportionately represented in the foster care system. Speakers will discuss how marijuana use is treated in the child welfare system as well as mothers being tested in hospitals. In addition, this panel will discuss the differential response to poverty historically versus during the pandemic when other groups experienced economic challenges. The group will share their policy recommendations to move forward.
Justice Advocacy Training
2:00-3:30PM
Systemic equity is a complex combination of interrelated elements consciously designed to create, support, and sustain social justice. It reinforces and replicates equitable ideas, power, resources, strategies, conditions, habits, and outcomes. Justice is the systematic fair treatment of people of all races that results in equitable opportunities and outcomes for everyone so that all people can achieve their full potential in life, regardless of race, ethnicity, or the community in which they live. This training will examine the social justice impacts on the legislative process and provide tips for advocates to influence lawmakers’ priorities. It will cover topics ranging from voter suppression, advocacy strategies, and sharing stories.
Family Mindfulness Journaling for Busy Moms & Kids
7:00-8:00PM
Busy day? The 5-Minute Mindfulness Journal for Kids helps children understand brain science, identify their emotions, embrace challenges, persevere, and manage their emotions through mindful breathing and awareness. The 5-Minute Mindfulness Journal for Busy Moms helps readers understand brain science, identify their emotions, embrace challenges, persevere, and manage their emotions through mindful breathing and awareness. Packed with exercises and scripts, this session offers an opportunity for attendees, kids and moms, to exercise mindfulness together with author and mindfulness expert, Amanda Lynch. Purchase the book here.
Friday, August 27, 2021
Are you informing or are you engaging youth and young adults authentically?
9:00AM-9:30AM
Are you engaging youth and young adults authentically? Learn the difference between outreach and engagement. Join Voices Advocacy & Engagement Manager and Racial Truth & Reconciliation Virginia Coalition Chair and Engagement Committee Co-Chairs for a roundtable conversation between young leaders around the topic of authentic youth and young adult engagement. Join to listen to hear the diverse voices in a space curated explicitly for engagement. Walk away with resources designed on how to engage individuals with lived experience in an intentional and ethical way.
Racism Is A Public Health Crisis Town Hall- Part of the Webinar Series
11:00AM-12:30PM
Please join us for the third webinar of the ‘Racism is a Public Health Crisis’ series. Building upon the second session, which provided perspectives on similar resolutions passed across the nation and the next steps for Virginia, this webinar will discuss the YWCA’s national effort to recognize racism as a public health crisis and further unpack local-level and community-level engagement in action. In February of this year, Virginia became the first southern state to declare racism a public health crisis. This resolution, sponsored by Delegate Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg), is a significant step for a state built on the legacy of the Confederacy and segregationist policy. Virginia joins 181 cities and counties and 7 states in declaring racism a public health crisis. Join us to learn more! Advocates interested in proposing a local resolution can learn more about how to take action at the local level.
Moving Beyond Survival to Economic Stability and Mobility
2:00-3:30PM
Prior to the pandemic families of color were more likely to experience economic hardship and to receive public assistance. New economic relief and benefits have been implemented in the American Rescue Plan that promise to help families achieve economic stability. Yet navigating the eligibility systems can be complex and often offer short-term assistance. Long term economic stability will require a shift in thinking to help families navigate resources and to create economic inclines instead of benefit cliffs. Join us as we share examples that help families overcome barriers and receive economic relief.
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Virginia’s 2nd Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week Opening Address
3:00-4:00PM
YOGA JOY hosts Play Yoga experience for kids ages 2-12. Take a journey dancing, learning new poses and ways to adjust to the upcoming school year! With big changes in our world, this is our chance to learn how to adjust to those changes focusing on mind & body.
Virginia’s 2nd Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week Opening Address
6:30-8:00PM
While you may hear phrases, such as “returning to normal” or “from the pandemic,” some may argue that we must not return to the same practices we used before the pandemic. New challenges still arise as we witness exacerbated mental health and behavioral health symptoms in children, youth, and young adults and the compassion fatigue caregivers experience during this time. This presents an opportunity to think more imaginatively in ensuring children, youth, young adults, and families have access to mental health and behavioral health services in their communities and schools. Join us for this listening session as we explore challenges and opportunities as we approach post-pandemic recovery in order to inform state policy.