As the National Day of Racial Healing approaches on January 20th, metro counties and cities across the region are gearing up to acknowledge and celebrate the occasion. Ramsey County, alongside its counterparts Hennepin County and cities such as Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, and New Brighton, aims to highlight "The Heart of Equity" through coordinated events. Ramsey County's official website delineates the plans, noting the day as an opportunity for individuals to connect and listen, and to commit to earnestly striving for a more inclusive society.
Initiated in 2017 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the National Day of Racial Healing has become a time when people from diverse backgrounds come together to engage in thoughtful reflection and conversation. It serves as a framework to build the common ground necessary to foster a more equitable world for ourselves and the subsequent generations. Individuals are welcome to attend a special 90-minute event featuring two prominent advocates for racial equity – former Minneapolis mayor and city council member Betsy Hodges and former Minnesota State Senator Mee Moua – who now dedicate themselves to the advocacy of racial healing.
This year's principal event will be held at The Landmark Center in Saint Paul, a location steeped in historical relevance and a fitting backdrop to conversations centered on healing and progress. Additionally, for those unable to join in person, the event organizers have made it possible to virtually participate through a Microsoft Teams session. The inclusive nature of the event's format underlines the core message of the day – healing and understanding are to reach across all barriers.
For locals eager to engage, the event details are as follows: Tuesday, January 20th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at The Landmark Center, 75 W 5th St #224, Saint Paul, MN 55102. To join virtually, interested parties are encouraged to register in advance. Highlighting the caliber of the keynote speakers, Ramsey County's announcement describes both Hodges and Moua as individuals having devoted their post-public-service careers to passionately work towards the tenets of racial equity and healing, evidencing the depth of commitment behind the national observance.
