Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation

An engagement with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The National Civic League’s focus on civic engagement and racial equity led to engagement with W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation initiative. Kellogg’s TRHT is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to plan for, and bring about transformational and sustainable change, and to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism.

To raise awareness and engagement around one of our nation’s more critical topics, we are weaving the theme of racial equity into many of our initiatives, including:

• 2018 All-America City Awards: spotlight on promoting equity through inclusive civic engagement
• National Civic Review: research and articles focus on racial equity

The 109th National Conference on Local Governance which will explore issues of racial equity in health, education and community-police relations through the lens of civic engagement

As a partner of the Kellogg Foundation, the National Civic League introduces the TRHT initiative to the All-America City network. We hope to see communities face and embrace an accurate narrative of all residents’ experiences, pursue healing where divisions exist and experience transformation that comes with addressing inequities. Using the TRHT framework, local communities can address segregated and impoverished neighborhoods, provide equitable opportunities in the economy and ensure fair treatment in public policies as well as civil and criminal law.

TRHT was launched in January 2016 with a year-long design phase, and builds upon and complements the foundation’s decades-long commitment to advancing racial healing and racial equity throughout the U.S. In June 2017 WKKF awarded 10 grants for nearly $24 million over the next two to five years to help diverse, multi-sector coalitions in 14 places implement the foundation’s TRHT process and framework.

A primary focus of the TRHT effort is jettisoning the deeply held, and often unconscious beliefs that undergird racism – the main one being the belief in a hierarchy of human value. This belief, which has fueled racism and conscious and unconscious bias throughout American culture, is the perception of a person or group’s inferiority or superiority based on physical characteristics, race, ethnicity or place of origin.

Projects:

• Governing with an Equity Lens: spearheading the Governing with an Equity Lens (GEL) project to help local governments become more inclusive
• Research, Education and Publications on Racial Equity: Issues around racial equity are addressed by the League through our quarterly publication, the National Civic Review, through our Promising Practices Webinars
• Awards and Recognition: Racial equity is a theme throughout our awards and recognition programs, including the RWJF Health Equity award and the All-America City awards.
• Government Policies and Practices: Model executive orders and ordinances are available to government leaders. These examples were selected to advance equity on behalf of communities. In addition, the League is available for customized consultations and community assistance.

Resources:

W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR RACIAL EQUITY
April 2018
The purpose of this report is to highlight the business case for racial equity – stressing the importance of racial equity as both an imperative for social justice and a strategy for economic growth.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s
TRUTH, RACIAL HEALING & TRANSFORMATION IMPLEMENTATION GUIDEBOOK
December 2016
Our vision is to improve our capacity as communities and as a country to see ourselves in each other, so that we can shape a more equitable future with opportunities for every child to thrive.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s
TRUTH, RACIAL HEALING & TRANSFORMATION DESIGN TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS
December 2016
This collection of papers is the work of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) led Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) design teams. The papers summarize the collective work, thoughts, ideas and hopes expressed by representatives of 133 organizations and thought leaders. They are organized around the TRHT framework of narrative change, racial healing, separation, law and economy.

National Civic League
Model Equity Ordinances and Executive Orders
April 2018
The National Civic League has researched executive orders or ordinances designed to secure equity for residents. These items may be used to develop ordinances or other public policies.

Contact  [email protected] on how to get involved