“Racial healing makes it possible for people from diverse backgrounds to work together in creating lasting change.”

Fairport is proud to participate in the annual Nationa Day of Racial Healing, held this year on January 17, 2023.

The annual observance is hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) and it was launched initially on January 17, 2017. This day is observed every year on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

This observance is a time to contemplate shared values and to bring all people together in their common humanity to inspire action in order to create and sustain a just and equitable world.

The Fairport Central School District is proud to observe the National Day of Racial Healing and we invite the community, parents, staff and students to participate in several events focused on racial healing and action.

• You are invited to sign up for one or more of the sessions described below. 

Light refreshments and child care will be provided.

1) January 17 – Day of Racial Healing Talking Circles 

• Fairport High School, 1 Dave Paddock Way (Library), 6 – 7:30 p.m.
• Talking Circles with Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PiRi). The talking circles will focus on unpacking and moving forward after recent racial harm in our community.

2) January 18 – SEED Session: The Single Story

• Minerva DeLand School, 140 Hulburt Road (LGI – Large Group Instruction Room), 6 – 7:30 p.m.
• The National SEED Project – Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) – is a national peer-led professional development program that promotes change through self-reflection and interpersonal dialogue and builds capacity for more equitable communities.
• It is very easy to fall into a pattern of only seeing/understanding a small part of another person’s story or life experiences. We will talk about expanding our ability to move beyond those “single stories” and see our own community in a more holistic, inclusive way.

3) January 19 – Blackstorytelling League of Rochester Presentation

• Minerva DeLand School, 140 Hulburt Road (LGI – Large Group Instruction Room), 6:30 – 8 p.m. 
• Storytellers from the Blackstorytelling League of Rochester will share a program of stories, legends, tall tales and culture – from their website: “The Blackstorytelling League of Rochester, N.Y. Inc. was formally adopted on December 4, 1994 to represent our resolve to advance appreciation of the art of storytelling and how it serves to enhance the well-being of African American people and bring delight and joy to others.” A time for Q & A will follow the storytelling.