National Day of Racial Healing event focuses on hope, resilience, and community in Battle Creek

Editor’s note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave’s On the Ground Battle Creek series.

BATTLE CREEK, MI — The work of racial healing is never-ending and challenging, which is why time must be set aside to rest, rejuvenate, and celebrate what has been accomplished while looking ahead to what remains to be done, says Elizabeth Garcia, Co-Executive Director of Battle Creek Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (BCTRHT).

On Tuesday, BCTRHT, with community partners, will offer community members the opportunity to celebrate during the National Day of Racial Healing event at the DoubleTree by Hilton. Admission is free with the doors opening at 5 p.m.

The theme of this year’s local gathering is “Rhythm of Our Humanity.” 

“The theme was created by our planning committee, made up of community members who reflected on what they have loved and felt most deeply about past events,” Garcia says. “In this particular moment, in this time and place, they wanted something that grounded us back in our shared heartbeat.”

“Rhythm of Our Humanity” speaks to the steady pulse of stories, struggles, and hope that connect us all, she says. “It reminds us that we belong to one another. Even in times of uncertainty or division, there is a rhythm of care, courage, and creativity that keeps our communities moving toward healing.”

The accompanying tagline, “In the Midst of It All, Joy Will Be Had,” speaks to the power of joy as a grounding force that brings hope, resilience, and community togetherness even in difficult times, says a press release from BCTRHT.

“National Day of Racial Healing is a space where we can pause, breathe, and remember that we belong to one another,” Garcia, says in the press release.  “This event brings people across race, age, culture, and lived experience into one room to celebrate connection and affirm the humanity we all share.”

The evening will include a community blessing by Pastor Michael Patton, President and CEO of the Southwestern Michigan Urban League, as well as performances by the Sojourner Truth Choir, dinner, and a guided conversation designed to help guests connect across the table, according to a press release from BCTRHT.

About 400 community members from across Battle Creek and the region are expected to gather for the event, which will have cultural performances, community reflections, a shared meal, and guided table conversations designed to help people connect across differences. 

As in years past, the gathering is intentionally interactive.

“It is not just about listening, but about being in relationship with one another. We want people to leave feeling seen, grounded, and connected,” Garcia says.

Given what is being seen at the national level, she says this year’s National Day of Racial Healing has a greater sense of importance

“So many people are feeling tired, disconnected, and overwhelmed. This event creates a space to pause, breathe, and remember we are not alone. It is a reminder that healing happens in community, not in isolation. In moments like this, people need places to feel human again, to feel belonging, and to remember what we are capable of together.”

One of the biggest challenges in this work is sustaining momentum beyond moments and events. 

“Healing is long-term work. It requires patience, trust, and accountability,” Garcia says. “There is also deep fatigue right now. That is why spaces that center care, joy, and connection are essential. Healing cannot live only in struggle. It must also include rest and celebration.”

However, the work is always on BCTRHT’s radar. 

“Racial healing is everyday work, and this gathering is one way we honor the people who do that work year-round,” says Tha Par, Co-Executive Director of BCTRHT.

At the local level, the organization works to build hope through relationships, honest dialogue, and collective action. 

“While we cannot control everything happening nationally, we can choose how we care for our neighbors and how we show up for one another right here in Battle Creek,” Garcia says.

As part of that, people are being invited to become Belonging Ambassadors. This is a new effort created by community members Talia Champlin, a local realtor; Dr. L.E. Johnson, Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion with the Village Network; Jennifer Nottingham, Executive Director for the Binda Foundation; and Par.

”This invitation is about living out the values we say we believe in and helping create spaces of connection and welcome,” Garcia says. “We are also co-hosting an organizing training in March and launching our Embracing Our Shared Humanity cohort, which builds on our racial healing circles and adds learning and skill-building. We believe growth is both personal and collective.”

In addition, BCTRHT is working with nonprofit partners to respond to the defunding of safety nets that support our most vulnerable neighbors. 

“Our hope is to host a legislative breakfast with community leaders and elected officials to share how funding decisions impact real people,” Garcia says.

As a way to gauge the progress being made with the work and events like the one happening on Tuesday, BCTRHT looks at participation, feedback, and the relationships that grow from these gatherings. 

“But the real impact shows up in what happens afterward. People stay connected. Partnerships form. Conversations continue,” Garcia says. “People can further the movement by staying engaged locally, supporting community organizations, practicing empathy, and having courageous conversations in their everyday lives. 

“Racial healing is not a one-day effort. It is a lifelong commitment to connection and justice.”