Jan. 21 designated a Day of Racial Healing
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation declaring Jan. 21, 2025, as a Day of Racial Healing.
The resolution calls upon “all residents to participate in programs and activities that reflect our shared humanity and join ongoing efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive community for everyone.”
The National Day of Racial Healing, observed annually since 2017, is a vital component of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation initiative, which aims to repair the damages caused by racism, promote trust, and create connections for a more equitable society.
Locally, the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) has a longstanding partnership with Northern Virginia Community College’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center.
The partnership works toward racial healing through economic mobility, education, community diversification, and building social capital. It also helps minority adults access higher education by addressing socioeconomic isolation and food insecurity.
In connection with the Day of Racial Healing, NCS staff will host activities on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at community, senior, and teen centers across the county.
On Jan. 25, NCS will host a “Truth in Voice, Truth in Service” event at the Jim Scott Community Center in Fairfax for students in grades 7-12. Teens will take part in youth dialogues and assemble emergency preparedness kits.
“Systemic racism in our institutions and communities remains a challenge, but NCS is resolved to finding solutions,” NCS Director Loyd Tucker said during the Board of Supervisors’ presentation of the proclamation. “NCS is unequivocally committed to equity through Fairfax County’s One Fairfax policy and through our own mission, vision, and values.”
