The Wayne State campus and surrounding communities are invited to celebrate our common humanity and engage in an ongoing discussion about creating a more just and equitable world as part of the National Day of Healing from Racism on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Wayne State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement, and Wayne Law’s Detroit Equity Action Lab will host a series of events on campus following the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute, which will be hosted by the Division of Government and Community Affairs.

All National Day of Healing from Racism events, which are free and open to the public, will be held in the ballroom of the Student Center Building, located at 5221 Gullen Mall on Wanye State’s main campus. Be sure to follow the dialogue on social media with #howweheal.

The day’s events include:

• 2 p.m.: Introduction and fishbowl discussion, led by Marquita Chamblee, associate provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at Wayne State University
  • Participants are invited to experience a discussion among a group of Wayne State staff and faculty as they explore the impact of racism in their lives.
• 4 p.m.: “Mindfulness, Self Compassion and Shame Resilience," led by mental health practitioner and educator Violeta Donawa
  • Participants are invited to join in at this interactive presentation.
• 6 p.m.: Community dialogue and dinner, facilitated by Namira Islam Anani, co-founder and community engagement director, Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative
  • Participants are invited to join in a self-directed conversation about racial healing. 
• 7: Performance by the Freedom Players, an ensemble within the Black Theatre and Dance program at Wayne State University
  • Participants are invited to enjoy a performance and engage in a #howweheal activity, as well as a T-shirt giveaway
• 8: Closing remarks, Marquita Chamblee

“Diversity and inclusion are among Wayne State’s core guiding values,” said Chamblee. “It’s important to be able to proactively engage in thoughtful, honest conversation about the wounds created by racism and what healing might look like on our campus and in the community.”

Held annually in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the National Day of Healing from Racism focuses on encouraging a community-based process of transformative, sustainable change while addressing historic and contemporary effects of racism. The event — now in its fourth year — is part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort, which unites thousands of people across the country through local events and discussions.

“Now more than ever, people need a space to engage in open, thoughtful conversations and to share their thoughts and feelings,” Chamblee said. “Having opportunities such as this to speak —  and to listen — brings us closer together and moves us closer to creating the beloved community Dr. King envisioned.”

To learn more about the National Day of Healing from Racism at Wayne State, contact Leonard Savala at 313-577-2311 or fz7786@wayne.edu.