NOTE: Sign up for the September-October Circle Series has ended. To be added to the waitlist for the next Virtual Racial Healing Series, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnWCYzTlZnk1zXqJzuMxtQHpVh4SdOhpGfrZloIW-U6m1hmg/viewform?usp=sf_link

TRHT Virtual Racial Healing Series (September 21 - October 25, 2020)

Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) is providing opportunities for the greater Chicago community to confront racism and heal from the traumas of racism by participating in racial healing circles.

Personal transformation and a commitment to change does not happen in a two-hour circle. Therefore, TRHT is hosting a four-week recurring circle series. Recurring racial healing circles are an opportunity to create and build trust between participants and communities that will often serve as the foundation for other work related to racial equity and healing – e.g., changing inequitable and systemic laws and policies. Registrants must commit to attend each week to honor the process and respect those who have committed to change with you.

At this time all TRHT racial healing circles are virtual via the Zoom platform. Participants come together at the same time each week for a two-hour circle. The four-week session is from September 21 - October 25, 2020. Each circle consists of both group interactions and smaller, more intimate conversations between two partners. The circles are led by two TRHT trained racial healing practitioners.

Schedule

Black Affinity Circles

- Tuesdays (Sep 22, 29, Oct 6, 13) 11AM-1 PM

- Wednesdays (Sep 23, 30, Oct 7, 14) 6PM-8PM

- Saturdays (Sep 26, Oct 3, 10, 17)10AM-12PM

BIPOC Affinity Circles

- Wednesdays (Sep 23, 30, Oct 7, 14) 11AM-1PM

- Thursdays (Sep 24 Oct 1, 8, 15) 6PM-8PM

- Saturdays (Sep 26, Oct 3, 10, 17) 10AM-12PM

- RETURNING* Saturdays (Sep 26, Oct 3, 10, 17) 1-3PM

White Affinity Circles

- Tuesdays (Sep 22, 29, Oct 6, 13) 6PM-8PM

- Thursdays (Sep 24, Oct 1, 8, 15) 11AM-1PM

- Saturdays (Sep 26, Oct 3, 10, 17)10AM-12PM

- RETURNING* Saturdays (Sep 26, Oct 3,10,17) 1`-3PM

* RETURNING circles are for participants of THREE or more TRHT two-hour circles in the past.

NOTE: Registering for an affinity circle does NOT guarantee your spot. You will receive confirmation on September 17, 2020 if you have a spot.

What Is Racial Healing?

Racial healing recognizes the need to acknowledge and tell the truth about past wrongs created by individual and systemic racism and address the present consequences. We believe it is essential that before transforming systems and structures we must first transform ourselves.

What Is A Racial Healing Circle?

A Racial Healing Circle is a two-hour session led by trained racial healing practitioners consisting of both group interactions and smaller, more intimate conversations between two partners called dyads. The experience relies on intentional listening and opening your heart space to unearth truths and conscious and unconscious biases. Participating in racial healing circles can also raise awareness, consciousness, compassion, and empathy among those who participate. Racial healing practitioners are trained to ensure that the circles are confidential and safe spaces for participants to have truthful conversations with one another.

Affinity Circles

Due to the heightened emotional stress caused by the pandemic and these racially charged times, TRHT decided to offer racial healing circles based on ethnicity to best service all of our communities. Affinity circles are generally facilitated by racial healing practitioners that identify with the same ethnicity as the group. There are three types of affinity circles:

- Solidarity circles for people of Black African descent, and for people who identify as Black to come together and explore their shared humanity and what it means to heal from the traumas of racism.

- Solidarity circles for Blacks, Indigenous/Native, LatinX, Asian, Pacific Islander, mixed race, etc. non-white People of Color (BIPOC) to come together and explore their shared humanity and what it means to heal from the traumas of racism.

- Racial healing circles for White people to gather in truth, explore White privilege and confront the impact of racism.

Who is TRHT?

Launched in 2017, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Greater Chicago is a cross sector, community-driven process to plan for and bring about transformational and sustainable change and to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. TRHT Greater Chicago is one of 14 other sites across the country, catalyzed and supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) as a part of its national TRHT initiative.

Space is limited and is given on a first-come first-served basis. Please note that signing up for this event does not guarantee your spot in a circle. You will receive a confirmation email from TRHT five days before the first event if you have a spot.

Learn more at www.transformchi.com.

Can't make these dates? Fill out our general interest form, and we'll contact you for the next circle series!