4th annual Community Healing Day aims to foster unity

JAMES CITY — The fourth annual Heal Greater Williamsburg/Heal the Nation Community Day will be held Oct. 21.

The event, from 1-4 p.m. at Legacy Hall in New Town, is designed to foster “unity in the community” by providing workshops, food, arts and crafts, a drumming circle, storytelling and a community forum that focuses on the effects of racism on health care, education and housing as well as strategies for moving forward.

Panelists for the forum include the Rev. Reginald Davis, senior pastor of Historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg; the Rev. Fred Liggins, one of the pastors at Williamsburg Christian Church and founder of 3e Restoration; Crystal Lassiter Haskins, director of equality, assessment and strategic operations with Newport News Public Schools; and Prell Gross, a counselor and co-owner of Peace’In’It Counseling.

“Racism is always a concern of people, both economically and psychologically,” Davis said. “It is important that we treat them with dignity and human respect. People have been miseducated on both sides, Black and white.”

Today, racism is about “most of the worst and least of the best,” he added. “That needs to change. It is incumbent on us to work for corrections. The No. 1 priority in the country” should be the elimination of racism in every facet of life.

The community day is organized by the racial reconciliation organization Coming to the Table-Historic Triangle, a program of the Virginia Racial Healing Institute. Sentara Health and the Williamsburg Community Foundation are both supporting the event.

“We are looking forward to bringing the Greater Williamsburg community together for a day of good food, good music and good vibes,” said Laura Hill, executive director of the Virginia Racial Healing Institute.

The event is free, but registration is required through eventbrite at bit.ly/3LZx1ue. Email cttt.historictriangle@gmail.com for more information.