Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) is a community-based movement to bring about transformational and sustainable change to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism. The implementation of TRHT began as a separate initiative at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (KZCF) in 2017. Now, it has become one of the frameworks that guides the work across functional areas of KZCF.

The TRHT framework is inspired by truth and reconciliation processes that have taken place around the world, and it addresses issues ranging from cultural to more tangible transformations in institutions and policies. More than 150 individuals and organizations have been engaged locally so far.

The Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Framework

According to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The TRHT framework helps communities heal and produce actionable change. From the beginning, TRHT was designed by community and through collaboration. Community-led collaboration – that is cross-racial, intergenerational and cross-sector – remains the centerpiece of all TRHT efforts.

Through a series of discussions, utilizing the process described in the TRHT Implementation Guidebook, communities and organizations gain an understanding of the predominant factors and conditions that are blocking progress.

Participants then devise plans for transformation within five interrelated areas.

The two foundational areas all TRHT communities address are:

• Narrative change (truth-telling)
• Racial healing (trust & relationship building)

Communities also choose to pursue work around one or all of the following pillars:

• Separation (segregation, colonization, concentrated poverty)
• Law
• Economy

TRHT STORIES: 2017-2020 Impact Report

Learn how TRHT has grown its network, created core programming and catalyzed partners to reimagine a community free of racism. Read the report here.

TRHT SOCIAL MEDIA: Check out our channels below!

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