Today, too many children’s futures are bound by the color of their skin, their families’ circumstances or the limits of opportunity in their communities. There’s immense power when leaders like you join forces with their communities to help bridge divides and promote healing to create a more equitable future for all. At the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), we believe racial healing is essential for advancing racial equity.  

 

We know that racial equity looks differently in communities around the globe. In many of the countries that global fellows call home, colonialism has left a legacy of oppression tied to race, ethnicity, caste and class. How do we create the conditions in which all people can thrive?  

We start with racial healing.   

 

Racial healing helps to build trust among people, so they can work together to change inequitable and harmful systems and structures into ones that affirm the inherent value of all people. It’s about building relationships across differences, honoring our shared humanity and finding shared solutions for everyday problems. In this edition of our newsletter, we’ll explore more about what racial healing and transformation looks like in action and what practical steps you can take in your family, workplace, community and beyond.  

 

In the U.S., the National Day of Racial Healing is an annual observance established by the Kellogg Foundation that occurs on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year, WKKF honored the seventh observance on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, with a set of two live broadcast town halls in partnership with MSNBC and Noticias Telemundo.  

In recognition of WKKF’s National Day of Racial Healing 2023, the Global Fellows Network (GFN) hosted a two-part Global Conversation on Racial Equity, Healing and Social Justice.  

The first virtual gathering was held on Nov. 30, 2022, with the help of simultaneous interpretation, global fellows from Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and the United States were able connect with one another and learn more about the foundation’s racial healing efforts. During the session, Guadalupe Tlopitl Montalvo, KPFL2, Mexico; Mary Hlalele, KILP 1, South Africa; Ainka Jackson, CLN2, United States; each highlighted work going on in their communities and observations about what social justice looks like in their part of the world: 

 

 “You can’t build the beloved community without being the beloved community. It’s impossible” – Ainka Jackson  

 

“I look like everyone else in my country. But we have problems with one another; maybe they are from a different ethnic group; maybe they are from rural or urban settings…from there we are a broken people, a wounded people…the wounds we have from colonialism.” – Mary Hlalele 

 

“In our country [Mexico], the concept of racism is not brought to the table for discussion. Sometimes it’s dressed up as discrimination.” - Guadalupe Tlopitl Montalvo 

 

The second round of conversations on Jan. 26, 2023, gave global fellows the opportunity to spend more time in virtual small groups. An interactive activity gave participants the chance to review a resource tool, The Social Identity Reflection Worksheet, and discuss its potential use, adaptation or challenge for their communities. Here are the questions your peers considered: 

• Is this a tool you can use? If so, how? 
• How might this tool be adapted for use in your community? 
• What challenges might using a tool like this present for your community? 

From these two rich discussions emerged some key takeaways, including: 

• We must recognize that “language matters” whether it is in the same language or being translated, there can be insensitivities, misinterpretations, etc. It’s important to try and establish a common way of communicating that reflects understanding and gives grace.   
• We must examine, “who is having the conversation?” It is important to have the right voices engaged in the conversation; avoid having those most impacted, spoken for by those who are not. 
• This is never simply a conversation. Issues such as power, privilege and class are woven into the fabric of any discussion on racial equity, social justice, sovereignty, colonialism, etc. 

Resources to support your racial equity journey:  

• Racial Equity Outcome Toolkit: A six-step process for your organization, LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill, Pursuant Community Consulting Service  
• Do the Work! An Antiracist Activity Book, W. Kamau Bell & Kate Schatz  
• Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices Pt. 1, Vivian Chavez (video)  

As part of our Guest Speaker Series, we have secured time with Peter Block, a renowned author, trainer and leader in the field of leadership in community inclusion.  

  

This invitation for GFN members will connect you with Peter in an interactive dialogue. You will have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge about collaboration and belonging, and leave with useful insights to put into action.  

  

This virtual gathering will be held on Tuesday, April 4 at 12 p.m. EST/ 11 a.m. CT/6 p.m. GMT. Make sure to secure your place for this event by registering. 

Explore stories of transformative change happening in communities, led by WKKF grantees, fellows and partners, available on our multi-author website – EveryChildThrives.com.  

 

Here’s a few of our recent favorites: 

• WKKF’s 2022 Annual Snapshot: Making systems work for every child, every family, every community.  
• What mattered most to you in 2022  
• WKKF joins UNESCO’s global forum on racism and discrimination  

Don’t forget to join the conversations on Open Change, a private Slack channel for you to stay connected. If you haven’t signed up, please email GlobalFellowsNetwork@wkkf.org to register. 

  

Let us know what you’re up to. Share it on Open Change or email us. 

W.K. Kellogg Foundation
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