In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Wayne State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Multicultural Student Engagement, and Wayne Law’s Detroit Equity Action Lab are collaborating on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 for the National Day of Healing from Racism. We will host a series of virtual events in an effort to heal the wounds created by racial, ethnic and religious bias and build an equitable and just society where everyone can thrive. To heal from and end racism, we need to tell the truth about past and current wrongs and address the consequences created by individual and systemic racism.
Join us as we support each other in how we are impacted by racism, move toward healing from racism, and build inclusion at our campus community and beyond. #HowWeHeal
Various virtual sessions will be held throughout the day, so registrants are encouraged to participate as their schedule allows.
Schedule
10am-10:30am
Morning Guided Meditation by Schantell Puameole Taylor with Healing by Choice!
10:30-10:40am
Welcome
10:40-noon
Fishbowl Discussion
Participants are invited to experience a discussion among a group of Wayne State staff and faculty as they explore the impact of racism in their lives.
12-12:30pm | Break
12:30-1:30pm
Self-Selected Breakout Rooms (Choose 1)
Room 1: Self-Care and Community Care: Approaches to Healing
Description: Join us for a guided discussion on systems-level and organization-level understandings of healing, wellness, and well-being. We'll engage in storytelling around ways our cultures - in organizations, workplaces, and families - shape our individual experiences with self-care practices. Together, participants will draw on our collective wisdom around healing, sharing the ways we have seen our communities understand and support individual well-being.
Room 2: Art Therapy Session
Brief Explanation of Art Therapy
Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art to help individuals express and understand their emotions. As defined by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.
Description: Confronting Our Bias: A Written and Visual Exploration of our Conscious and Unconscious Biases
Examining our biases and developing our conscious awareness we can further the work needed to see beyond our unhealthy biases moving toward mutual respect and appreciation of racial differences. Black Art Poetry & Imagery experiential we be used to examine some of the biases we hold toward other races. Participants will have the opportunity to share out in a supportive space and encourage each and promoting mutual respect and growth.
Materials List
pencil, crayons, colored pencils, pens, black and colored markers
drawing paper, lined or unlined paper (or digital illustration platform of your preference)
Room 3: Managing Your Energy and Reclaiming Joy with Healing by Choice
Description: We experience the systemic impacts in our homes, work, school and daily interactions. We hold the trauma, pain and grief of racism in our bodies. This workshop will focus on individual tools and methods to support healing from the violent, extractive and exhausting impacts of racism. Participants will learn techniques to manage the body’s different energy centers and reclaim joy when it has been denied and stolen.
1:30-2pm | Break
2-3:30pm
Ritual: Balancing Our Left & Right Hands
Description: Ritual is one of the fastest ways to heal a complex wound. It allows us to move from thinking through a problem, into a heart space of healing. Ritual allows us to step into our Highest Selves where all solutions become possible. In this ritual, we will learn how to create a safe space for soul work. We will explore our racial history of imbalanced giving and receiving. We will clear emotional obstacles, including shame, grief, fear, and guilt, and move forward together to restore balance between our sense of giving and taking.
3:30-4pm | Break
4pm – 4:45pm
Theatre Performance & Community Dialogue
Description: Performance by the Freedom Players, an ensemble within the Black Theatre and Dance Collective at Wayne State University. Participants are invited to enjoy a virtual performance.
4:45pm – 5:00pm | Break
5:00-5:30pm
Poetry & Art Showcase
Description: Come enjoy an evening of talent at the National Day of Healing from Racism Poetry Showcase featuring students, staff and the community.
5:30pm – 5:40pm
Closing Remarks & 2023 Save the Date