Additional time info:

You are welcome to attend any or all sessions of this one-day event.

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Groundwater Training and Conversation Across Cities
Led by the Racial Equity Institute (REI), this training uses stories and data to present a perspective that racism is fundamentally structural in nature. Organizers introduce participants to an analysis that is not only helpful and relevant, but that also allows them to develop tools to challenge power patterns and grow equity.

9-10:30 a.m. - Foundations for Racial Healing
Social justice advocates discuss critical concepts for racial healing and their social justice work in local communities. Participants will gain foundational knowledge for developing and implementing community-based programs focused on advancing social justice issues, racial inequity and healing.

Jennifer Ingram of Calibrated Lens will lead the discussion with local social justice advocates Iris Roley of the Cincinnati Black United Front, Janaya Bratton, J.D.,  Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge, and  Rickell Howard Smith, J.D., of the Center for Social Justice at the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio.

10:30 a.m. to noon - Racism: A Public Health Crisis
Black women are up to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women. Black men are more than twice as likely to be killed by police as white men. And the average life expectancy of African Americans is four years less than the U.S. population. This panel explores racism as a public health issue and offers information on policies, healthcare systems, and self-care strategies designed to mitigate the effects of racism in their lives.

Meredith Shockley-Smith of Queen’s Village leads a discussion with Vanessa Lopez-Littleton, Ph.D., associate professor of health, human services and public policy, California State University – Monterey Bay, Mike Scruggs, D.Min., pastor of Light of the World Church, and Dr. Camille Jones, Public Health Advocate.

Noon to 1 p.m. - Meditations and Yoga Lunch Break 
Lizzie Ngwenya-Scoburgh, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Let us be in community, unwind, and deepen our mindfulness with a yoga and meditation session.

1-2:30 p.m. - Keynote Address:  Gail Christopher, D.N, N.D.
Gail Christopher is an award-winning change agent with expertise in the social determinants of health, well-being and related public policies. She is the visionary for and architect of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation effort led by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Dr. Christopher will discuss her pioneering work to infuse holistic health and diversity concepts into public sector programs and policy discourse. She will be accompanied by Mr. Ramsey Ford of Design Impact, an incredibly talented artist who will help us visualize a change in our community, and Lauren Eylise, a soulful vocalist who recently won the NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

2:30-3:30 p.m. - Using Radical Empathy to Break Down Walls & Build Connections
This interactive discussion serves to mend racial bonds through radical empathy. You will hear about research on race and inequity, and you will learn ways to approach difficult race-based situations and conversations with radical empathy. You will also learn tools in radical empathy that help racial healing for all.

​Akua D. Wilson and Lonnie Jennings, students at the University of Cincinnati, and Naimah Bilal of the Urban Consulate will lead your experience in radical empathy. You will leave with tools that decrease and mend racial tension and inequity in your community.

3:30-5 p.m. - Manhattan Beach Ted Talk Discussion
On a typical night in February 2015, the Clinton family home was firebombed in Manhattan Beach, CA. In her poignant and emotional Ted Talk, Malissia Clinton shares the heartbreak of what followed and how a community came together to restore hope for the future.

Tynisha Worthy of Intersections and  Angelica Hardee of the American Heart Association will facilitate a panel conversation with Shawn Jeffers, Rashida Manuel, Yasmeen Porter and David Weaver. Attendees will join breakout groups to discuss how similar initiatives could be implemented in Cincinnati neighborhoods.

5-6 p.m. - Healing in the Community: A Call to Action
What is your call to action? How will you engage in your racial healing journey? Moderated by Jan Michele Lemon-Kearney, a City of Cincinnati Councilor and chair of the Neighborhood Committee, Leslie Jones, pastor of Truth and Destiny Church, Sarah Baldauf, communications consultant of Community Resilience Center, and Daronce Daniels of the Lincoln Heights Movement will engage you in your racial healing journey.

Through this dialog, you will learn to bring individuals, organizations and communities together in their common humanity and explore ways to engage in collective action to create a more just and equitable world.

6-7 p.m. - A Musical Celebration for Healing with DJ Vader
Dance the hour away in celebration of the National Day of Racial Healing. DJ Vader takes us on a journey toward healing through music and dance.