Austin Community College District (ACC) invites faculty, staff, students, and the community to a weeklong series of events for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (THRT) week, Monday, January 18, through Friday, January 22. The 2021 theme is Social Justice and Collaborative Change: The Time is Now.

“We all have a responsibility to be engaged in our own personal development as it relates to equity, justice, and inclusion,” says Dr. Khayree Williams, ACC’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center director. “We can be the change we want to see in our organizations, institutions, and the community.”

The events begin Monday, January 18, and include virtual workshops, dialogues, panel discussions, speakers, and racial healing circles led by students, faculty, staff, and community guests. 

Monday, January 18 | Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Participants will join discussions, short reflective readings, excerpts of some of Dr. King's speeches, and a question-and-answer period.

Tuesday, January 19 | Commemorating National Day of Racial Healing
Events are part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort – a national, community-based initiative to address historic and contemporary effects of racism. ACC will host two events:

• 10:30 a.m. | National Day of Racial Healing: Social Justice in Policing
  • Panel discussion will feature ACC students and the ACC Police Department to share individual experiences of how social justice is addressed and implemented in policing.
• 1 p.m. | National Day of Racial Healing: Performances of Artistic Expression
  • Students, staff, and community artists, musicians, dancers, poets, and spoken word artists will perform to engage the ACC community on equity and justice.

In addition to the National Day of Racial Healing, the THRT continues to host events throughout the week to raise awareness on equity and racial bias.

• 1 p.m., Wednesday, January 20 | TRHT & TLED Presents: Jane Elliot - “Moving Beyond Implicit Bias to a Welcoming and Inclusive Campus Community”
  • Jane Elliott, world-renowned speaker, educator, and justice advocate, delivers a keynote address providing insights and best practices for moving past implicit biases to create a more equitable ACC campus climate.
• 2 p.m., Wednesday, January 20 | Faculty-only: Moving Beyond Implicit Bias in the Classroom to Foster a Welcoming Environment
  • Elliot delivers a keynote address providing insights and best practices to moving past implicit biases to create a welcoming classroom environment.
• 3 p.m., Wednesday, January 20 | Woman Crush Wednesday: “Once you make her your WCW, now what?”
  • A diverse group of local women leaders hosts a panel discussion in honor of the historic inauguration of Sen. Kamala Harris as vice president of the United States of America.
• 11 a.m., Thursday, January 21 | The Power of Solidarity: Unity of Austin Latinx Communities
  • Address the power of solidarity within Austin’s Latinx communities, as well as with other historically disenfranchised populations.
• 12 p.m., Thursday, January 21 | Staff/Faculty only: Virtual RX Racial Healing Circle
  • Racial Healing Circles are the centerpiece of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation framework. 20 faculty/staff will be engaged in various elements of sharing personal truths and hearing that of others to help begin the process of transforming hearts and minds in the quest for equity and justice.
• 2 p.m, Thursday, January 21 | BRASS and MLP Presents: Men of Color, How Are You Doing in 2021?
  • A panel of men of color representing ACC will candidly discuss education, social justice, activism, restorative practices, and equity and inclusion. This event will include small group breakout sessions for further discussion.
• 11 a.m., Friday, January 22 | Mind Your Mental Health as a Social Justice Activist
  • Licensed Master Social Worker Shayne McNichols provides practical strategies to ensure we are maintaining health while doing important work of equity and social justice advocacy.

Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center

The TRHT Campus Center’s mission is to eliminate barriers that reinforce differential outcomes by race and to build cross-racial relationships that lead to racial healing and an exploration of ways to transform while creating narratives that can influence people's perspectives, perceptions, and behaviors about and toward one another. 

ACC is one of only 10 institutions nationwide, and the only college in Texas, selected to establish a TRHT Campus Center by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. 

THRT week also includes racial healing circles and additional discussions. For a complete list of events and to register, visit austincc.edu/trht.