Four years ago, at the height of a global pandemic and global protests against anti-Black racism and police brutality, our region responded to the community’s call to action with resolutions declaring racism a public health crisis. Nine Lansing regional municipal entities joined over 250 municipalities across the country in taking an important first step to advancing racial equity and justice. On June 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. leadership from all nine regional municipalities are invited to take the next step together in Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation as we launch a regional racial equity accountability process (REAP). The meeting will be held via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87882172696
The June 3 convening will consist of a virtual roundtable to review the progress our region has made since 2020 and to invite recommitments to the crucial milestones necessary for Black, Indigenous and other children of color to thrive. We invite leaders to share the journey they and their colleagues have taken including highlights of what is most promising and opportunities for collaboration. Leaders have also been invited to share what is most challenging so that we can learn and grow together as we move forward. The following leaders were invited to join the roundtable and racial equity accountability process:
Ryan Sebolt, Board Chair - Ingham County Board of Commissioners; Andy Schor, Mayor - City of Lansing; George Brookover, Mayor - City of East Lansing; Ben Shuldiner, Superintendent - Lansing School District; Roxanne Case, Executive Director - Ingham County Land Bank; Tim Schmitt, Interim Township Manager/Community Planning and Development Director - Meridian Township; Brian T. Reed, Township Manager - Delta Township; Joseph C. Brehler, District 8, Chair, Eaton County Board of Commissioners; Robert Showers, Board Chair - Clinton County Board of Commissioners
A copy of the invitation is included in its entirety:
Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do. Four years ago, at the height of a global pandemic and global protests against anti-Black racism and police brutality, our region responded to the community’s call to action with resolutions declaring racism a public health crisis. The City of East Lansing joined over 250 municipalities across the country in taking this important first step to advancing racial equity and justice. On June 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. you are invited to take the next step together in Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation as we launch a regional racial equity accountability process.
The pandemic and protests exposed glaring inequities in life outcomes across all systems and sectors, especially for young people. The June 3 convening will consist of a virtual media roundtable to review the progress our region has made since 2020 and to invite recommitments to the crucial milestones necessary for Black, Indigenous and other children of color to thrive. We invite you to share the journey you and your colleagues have taken including highlights of what is most promising and opportunities for collaboration. We also hope you will share what is most challenging so that we can learn and grow together as we move forward.
Healing Through Policy: Creating Pathways to Racial Justice was an initiative of the American Public Health Association, the de Beaumont Foundation, and the National Collaborative for Health Equity, in collaboration with Results for America.supporting city, county, and state governments and communities in moving from commitment to action for health, racial equity, and justice. Using the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation™ framework, Healing Through Policy offered local leaders a suite of policies and practices being implemented nationwide to effect meaningful change.
Ingham Healing Through Policy Team Members offered the following reflections on the work over the past year:
“Racism is a threat to public health. It damages the relationships needed to advance well-being and contributes to policies that disproportionately harm people of color and under-resourced communities. This important coalition represents the alignment of voices committed to eliminating the damaging effects of racism in our community. MPHI is honored to be at this table.’ - Renée Branch Canady, PhD, MPA
Working together on the Healing Through Policy initiative has been invaluable. We adjusted together to expand our understanding of processes and what role we can have in advocacy. Working together was strengthening, as we continue to recognize the value of community partner leadership. - Nike Shoyinka MD MPH FIDSA
The Healing Through Policy initiative ensures that Ingham County moves from proclamation to practical action. I am grateful to have the opportunity to imagine, create, and implement life affirming healing justice practices with the support of our team members and in service of the people most impacted by racial inequity. - Tashmica Torok
“When we organized the team, we hadn’t fully appreciated how significant the need to create a safe space for some of the most challenging conversations I have had in over three decades of racial equity and justice work. As a grassroots organizer, it is enlightening to understand how institutions navigate a community-driven policy response to the resolutions. - Angela Waters Austin
In the next phase, Ingham Healing Through Policy partner organizations will convene and support municipalities and agencies that have declared racism a public health crisis to collaborate with the community in meaningful and measurable policy transformation.
The Racial Equity Accountability Process will create spaces to share stories and to see our common humanity in one another. These healing circles are designed to prepare our hearts and minds for the work of policy and systems transformation. We are asking for a one-year commitment that would be extended for subsequent years as the process is adopted across municipalities and agencies. The schedule of convenings will be determined by the partnership.