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

BATTLE CREEK, MI — “What happens when your work becomes illegal?”
 
This was a question posed to representatives with Battle Creek Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (BCTRHT) and their colleagues from throughout the United States who traveled to different cities to learn about the work that coalesces around Collective Liberation. They were intentionally taken to different cities with Indigenous and Black populations to see the various efforts underway.

“Nobody was ready for that question,” says Elizabeth Garcia, Co-Executive Director of BCTRHT. “One of the representatives from Selma (Alabama) said the work ‘I’m doing is already illegal in my state.’ But legal or illegal does not determine whether it’s morally right. This work has always found a way to exist, and it always will — because communities continue to come together and push forward despite these barriers.”
 
Collective Liberation aims for a world free for all

Collective Liberation “acknowledges that multiple oppressions exist, and that we work in solidarity to undo oppression in ourselves, our families, our communities, and our institutions, in order to achieve a world that is truly free,” according to the Center for Racial Justice in Education. “We work collectively because we recognize that each of us has a stake in ending white supremacy and all related systems of oppression. Collective liberation requires that we center the voices and lived experiences of those who have been most marginalized.”

John GrapPosing for a photo at the National Day of Racial Healing event are from left, Tha Par, Laura Williams, Jason Williams, and Amari White.“The reality,” Garcia says, “is that this work has always faced resistance, yet it has always found a way to exist and grow. If you look at laws around the work of Collective Liberation, you see a constant tension between putting people first and prioritizing greed over the collective good. While we’ve faced challenges, we’ve also made real progress. 

"Every time we take steps forward, we see attempts to roll back that progress—but history shows that communities committed to justice continue to push ahead. This isn’t new. It might feel new because we have new leaders in this work, but we are part of a long legacy of those who refuse to be stopped.”

Garcia’s Co-Executive Director Tha Par says, that when the question was asked, she was surprised because, “The idea that this work would become illegal still didn’t register with me and now with everything that’s happening, it’s like a foreshadowing of what’s happening.”

What's next for DEI?
 
The most recent examples that are top-of-mind for those in the TRHT space include President Trump’s signing of three executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). These orders “upend longstanding, bipartisan federal policy meant to open doors that had been unfairly closed, according to a post on the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) website.
 
John GrapLinda and Carey Whitfield pose for a photo taken by V Word during Battle Creek Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation’s (BCTRHT) National Day of Racial Healing event on January 21 at the Battle Creek DoubleTree Hotel.“I think what’s happened is DEI often calls for people to be more mindful of other peoples’ experiences. A lot of people are in survival mode and don’t have the bandwidth to deal with the needs of others,” Par says. “So, for many people, their needs are stuck. We are reframing what people think DEI is and what it does. It’s not about flipping what’s at the top or reverse discrimination.”

“DEI is meant to ensure that everyone is seen, valued, and has a space to participate equally,” Garcia says. “Unfortunately, it has often been misrepresented or weaponized in ways that create further division rather than fostering true inclusion. Our work is about reclaiming its true purpose—building spaces where everyone belongs and thrives.”
 
The term “othering” is defined as, “a set of dynamics, processes, and structures that engender marginality and persistent inequality across any of the full range of human differences based on group identities. In opposition to belonging, othering is a frame that captures the many forms of prejudice and persistent marginality such as race, gender, sexuality, religion, income, and disability,” according to the Othering & Belonging Institute.
 
This has been experienced by different sectors of the population, including immigrants whose immigration status is another major concern for TRHT practitioners, say Garcia and Par.
 
John GrapMembers of the audience listen and some take photos while members of the Sojourner Truth Choir sing during the National Day of Racial Healing event.Trump signed an Executive Order on January 22, that “suspends the physical entry of aliens engaged in an invasion of the United States through the southern border,” according to information on the White House website.

“We’ve been having these conversations since last year, anticipating the shifts in leadership and policy,” Garcia says. “Rather than being reactive, we remain focused on the four pillars of our work — Attainable Housing, Health & Well-Being, Economic Prosperity, and Welcoming Spaces—because they were shaped by our community and reflect what people need to thrive.” 
 
That feedback was collected during last year’s National Day of Racial Healing event hosted by BCTRHT. The event this year, held on January 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, focused on the unveiling of BCTRHT’s five-year strategic plan which incorporates the four pillars: Attainable Housing, Health & Well-Being, Economic Prosperity, and Welcoming Spaces.
 
John GrapFred Jacko of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians sings and plays a drum during Battle Creek Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation’s (BCTRHT) National Day of Racial Healing event.More than 300 attendees representing a wide demographic swath of the community had the opportunity to speak with each other and watch multi-ethnic performances. They also were asked to take pledge cards which signified a call to action to take meaningful steps to create a community where everybody is valued and allowed to thrive.
 
A poem titled “I Need You to Survive” aimed at younger generations was read as the event was concluding.

“With each new Executive Order, we’re reminded that our work isn’t just about the present — it’s about ensuring the next generation has a strong foundation to build on,” Garcia says. “This work has been carried forward by those before us, and it’s our responsibility to keep paving the way for those who will continue it.”
 
She says she was reminded of this during the community’s 2025 Martin Luther King Community Prayer Breakfast on January 18 when a speaker talked about the right leaders at the right time and their work coming from those before them who were paving the way.

John GrapMembers of the Sojourner Truth Choir sing during the National Day of Racial Healing event.“This work has been building upon itself for generations. Knowing that those before us persisted, despite immense challenges, gives us hope that we, too, will find a way,” Garcia says. “Fearmongering and overwhelm are deliberate tactics meant to discourage progress — but we refuse to be derailed. We are committed to moving forward.”
 
Convenor, connector, catalyst
 
In 2023 when Garcia joined BCTRHT, she described her role as being more behind the scenes, but the impact of her work would be seen and felt Public-facing events like the NDRH (National Day of Racial Healing) and the organization’s Racial Healing Circles are impactful and are what most people think of when they think of BCTRHT.

In 2025 and onward, Garica and Par plan to take the work deeper into places where decisions are being made that touch on the four pillars, in collaboration with existing organizations that are already doing the work.

John GrapFred Jacko of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians sings and plays a drum during Battle Creek Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation’s (BCTRHT) National Day of Racial Healing event.“We are part of an ecosystem where real change happens through relationships and collaboration,” Garcia says. “Our work is rooted in the four pillars, and that means being present at decision-making tables, having the tough conversations, and ensuring our communities’ voices are heard. Tha and I will be more intentional to be deeply engaged in these sectors, building the connections necessary to drive lasting impact.”

Healing Agents: Relationships and narrative change
 
At its core, Par says, BCTRHT is really about relationship building and narrative change.
 
“We are creating opportunities for people to connect and think beyond what we think we think we know about people,” she says. “We’ve got to do something about the reality that there are people in survival mode and what can we do as a society. We’ve got to do a lot more policy advocacy.”
 
John GrapJenelle McKenzie directs the Sojourner Truth Choir during the National Day of Racial Healing event.Oftentimes, situations might call for BCTRHT to be the interrupter, Garcia says she and Par know how to hold difficult conversations while maintaining relationships during the tension of disagreements.

“Change happens through relationships,” Garcia says. “When people connect in meaningful ways, we see shifts not just in communities but also in institutions. Even major corporations and investment banks recognize that fostering diversity isn’t just the right thing to do — it strengthens organizations, increases retention, and drives innovation. But at the heart of it, this work is about more than policies or profits; it’s about changing hearts and minds.”