RTRW 2021 Full Schedule

9:00AM-9:30AM

Virginia’s 2nd Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week Opening Address

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.

11:00AM-12:30PM

Community Virtual Self-Guided Walking Tour

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.

7:00-8:00PM

9:00-10:30AM

CEO Give Us the Mic

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.

11:00AM-12:30PM

Cultural Pride & Familiarity- Creating Positive Mental Health Outcomes for Children, Youth & Young Adults

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:

• 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. 

2:00-3:30PM

The Power in Racial Equity Impact Statements

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.

9:00-10:30AM

Exposing Disparities during COVID-19 & the Impact on Virginia’s Children, Youth, and Families

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.

11:00AM-12:30PM

Virginia Leads on a Just Future for Children and Families in Virginia – State Policy Panel

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.

4:00-5:30PM

We’re Talking Generations: Diversity & Representation in Literature

It is important that the voices of children from all backgrounds are represented in the literature that they read. Recent estimates show that for children’s books, only 10% represent Black children and only 5% represent Latinx children. Seeing diversity in books is critical to reinforcing positive and accurate depictions of underrepresented children. The Library of Virginia will facilitate a conversation comparing reader experiences of cultural representation in literature from perspectives across generations and backgrounds.

Community Voice at the Table- Virginia Trauma-Informed Community Network Town Hall

9:00-10:30AM

Trauma-Informed Care and Community-Centered Healing

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.

11:00AM-12:30PM

Impact of Racial Trauma & Resilience on Children & Families 101

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.

2:00-3:30PM

Trauma-Informed Care & Equity in the Workplace

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

7:00-8:00PM

9:00-10:30AM

Equity, Social Justice & Community-Centric Fundraising

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.

11:00AM-12:30PM

Racism in the Child Welfare System- Where do we go from here?

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.

2:00-3:30PM

Justice Advocacy Training

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.

9:00-10:30AM

Are you informing or are you engaging youth and young adults authentically?

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.

11:00AM-12:30PM

Racism Is A Public Health Crisis Town Hall- Part of the Webinar Series

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.

2:00-3:30PM

Moving Beyond Survival to Economic Stability and Mobility

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.

3:00-4:00PM

Back to School YOGA!

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.   

6:30-8:00PM

Post-Pandemic Recovery: Improving Youth & Young Adult Community-Based & School-Based Mental Health

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.