The Foundation for the Mid-South’s Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Alliance brought together young people from all over the state for a special two-day celebration of racial healing. In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20), and National Day of Racial Healing (January 21), 65 young leaders took the initiative for community building, engaging care package drives, sharing powerful spoken word poetry, and inspiring hope for the future of Mississippi.
One stand-out moment, according to the Executive Director of the Neshoba Youth Coalition Leroy Clemons, took place during Monday’s racial healing discussion at the Smith-Robinson Museum, which included a powerful discussion between Alexia and Pierre Anthony, a father-daughter duo who took the stage to discuss the intergenerational importance of racial healing efforts in Mississippi.
“The conversation between father and daughter during the racial healing panel discussion really took center stage for our group,” said Clemons. “Seeing that conversation between the father and daughter, their different perspectives on racial healing, and what it did each one of them was powerful.”
The Neshoba Youth Coalition (NYC) is a grassroots nonprofit organization focused on building youth leadership and empowerment in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and across the state. Nearly 60 youth leaders from the coalition attended the special events, with Clemons leading a presentation on community building at the Smith-Robinson Museum right after the empowering discussion between Alexia and Pierre Anthony.
“One person stood up at the end of our presentation and talked about how it really empowered him to feel like he can make a difference in his community,” Clemons said.
In spite of unfavorable weather conditions, Jackson residents took the time to hear from thought leaders like Clemons and the VP of the Foundation, Cassio Batteast, about how racial healing efforts were moving Mississippi forward.
“I was excited to share the vision of the Mississippi Truth and Racial Healing and Transformation Alliance with such a diverse group of community leaders throughout Mississippi,” said Batteast about the events. “There is no healing our communities from racial trauma if everyone is not part of the conversation.”
National Day of Racial Healing is all about uniting communities to build a more equitable future. This week’s events were just one of many examples of the Mississippi TRHT Alliance’s work to boost racial healing across the state, an effort that has been proven necessary by local Mississippians.
According to the latest evaluation report by the Alliance, 47% of the 970 surveyed participants acknowledged the persistence of racial injustices, and a majority of those same participants wanted to take actions against racial injustice in their communities. These findings highlight the important role communities play in dismantling systemic racism, and where organizations can rise to meet this critical need by giving residents the tools they need to act.
The TRHT Alliance is a testament to the impact organizations can have when they work together. Launched with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Alliance is made up of six local organizations, colleges, and universities all collaborating under the shared goal of racial healing.