Voices for Virginia’s Children announced on Thursday that the organization will host its 2nd Annual Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week (RTRW) from August 22-28. The event is set to feature many experts and policy-makers including Governor Ralph Northam and Dr. Janice Underwood, Virginia’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.

According to a press release, Voices for Virginia’s Children is a nonprofit advocacy organization committed to improving and protecting the lives of Virginia’s children, youth, and families. The group believes children across the Commonwealth deserve access to the resources, services, and opportunities needed to thrive. The group advocates for policy changes and works to educate and mobilize the public to address issues facing children. Voices for Virginia’s Children also pushes to ensure that racial justice is considered and prioritized in policy-making. 

RTRW is a free virtual conference aimed at empowering marginalized communities through healing, reconciliation, and justice for Virginia’s children and families. Those interested in attending can register online.

“We created Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week last year due to a need to address the public health crisis of the pandemic, racial inequities, and the modern civil rights movement many of our children are facing in Virginia,” said Chlo’e Edwards, policy analyst for Voices for Virginia’s Children. “Thanks to the work of this conference, and ultimately the coalition we brought together in the last year, we are seeing progress taking shape on many fronts to prioritize trauma-informed care, equity, and justice in policy.  

“I’m excited we have more organizations, localities, and elected officials coming together this year to address historic challenges and to co-create change in our communities,” Edwards added. 

Nearly 60 organizations, executives, policymakers, advocates, and activists from around the commonwealth are scheduled to present and facilitate discussions on key issues impacting Virginia’s children. Also participating are all 26 of Virginia’s local trauma-informed community networks (TICN). 

Governor Ralph Northam will deliver opening remarks and a keynote address for the state policy panel: “Virginia Leads on a Justice Future for Children and Families in Virginia.” Joining the governor will be: 

• Dr. Janice Underwood, Virginia’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer;  
• Chidimma Jenkins, Trauma-informed Care & Resiliency Advisor, Office of the Governor of Virginia;  
• Elissa Milanowski, Senior Program Consultant, Office of Newcomer Americans; and 
• Cecilia Barbosa, Member of the Virginia Latino Advisory Board and the Health Equity Workgroup. 

Northam and Dr. Underwood declared August 2-8, 2020 as Virginia’s inaugural Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week. It served as the launch of Racial Truth & Reconciliation Virginia, a coalition campaign composed of TICNs, state organizations, localities, and community partners committed to advancing policies that dismantle systems that perpetuate racial trauma, oppression, and inequity.  

“The past year has challenged us in many ways as an organization and how we advocate for children,” said Amy Strite, CEO of Voices for Virginia’s Children. “It’s not enough to look at the data and see the gaps across our systems without calling out the systemic racism that has led to many failures. As a leader and champion for children, I believe it’s imperative that other leaders – whether it’s in the government, nonprofit or private sector – take action to prioritize investments that promote care, equity, and justice internally and externally.” 

RTRW consists of 30 events, panels, and discussions with four different tracks around community-centered engagement, advocacy and action, policy, equity, and data analysis as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion. The week will end with “Rallying Towards the Future: Living Dr. King’s Dream” on Saturday, August 28, commemorating the 1963 March on Washington on its 58th anniversary. 

“We must pursue this work intentionally and with a holistic approach that recognizes the many forms in which truth, healing, and reconciliation might occur,” said Edwards. “That’s why we have a range of events covering an array of interests. Whether it’s yoga and mindfulness activities or community-centric fundraising, we created a week that aims to reach a lot of people of all ages to advance racial equity.”  

RTRW is free to the public with registration. Events will be broadcast on Voices for Virginia’s Children’s Facebook and YouTube channels. View the full program at vakids.org/rtrwconference.