Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center

HISTORY

The Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Center at Rutgers University – Newark (RU-N) is one of 28 national, comprehensive, and community-based initiatives developed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) with initial funding from the W. K. Kellogg, Newman’s Own, and Papa John’s Foundations. The overarching goal of the TRHT Centers are to “jettison the myth of a belief in a hierarchy of human value”. The TRHT Center @ RU-N was one of ten inaugural centers selected to jettison and dispel the belief of racial hierarchy within post-secondary institutions. The Center launched its inaugural event during Black History Month 2018.

VISION

The TRHT Campus Center at Rutgers University – Newark (RU-N) will foster and strengthen the collective knowledge and wisdom of the diverse communities in and of the City of Newark, throughout the state of New Jersey and the Northeast Corridor. Drawing on the methodologies and strategies of the humanities and the arts within a social justice framework, RU-N and our community partners will engage in an arc of interactive programming designed to change the narrative about race and race relations in Newark and beyond. The Center will also leverage and support new and existing RU-N and city-wide initiatives to effectively respond to economic and social disparities in our communities and promote equitable growth.

MISSION

The Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center at Rutgers University-Newark pursues community engagement and democratic collaboration focused on changing the dominant narrative/perception all marginalized communities in and of the city of Newark and beyond by:

Connecting our citywide partner network through initiatives that leverage existing and emerging resources to promote equity, access, and transformative positive narratives about the City of Newark and its peoples.
Exhibiting positive change reflected in measurable outcomes.

GOALS OF THE TRHT CENTER @ RU-N

Increase Understanding about the Importance of Positive Narratives about Newark.
Increase positive engagement and perceptions of Newark amongst RU-N administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Increase the number of specialized on and off-campus activities utilizing dialogue and dialogic techniques around issues of truth, racial healing, and relationship building.
Decrease segregation and increase access and equity for Newark Residents by leveraging RU-N resources to reduce poverty and unemployment and strengthen the city’s economy by the beginning of the next decade.
To embed TRHT framework into the ethos, culture, and environment of anchor institutions and other community-based organizations.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sharon Stroye, Director, TRHT Center, RU-N
Gary Santos Mendoza, Director, Intercultural Resource Center, RU-N
Dale Colston, Senior Librarian, Newark Public Library
Sharon Owens, Branch Manager, Newark Public Library
Tyreek Rolon, Lead Racial Healing Circle Facilitator, MPA Student, SPAA and NJ-STEP Academic Counselor
Christopher Lynch, TRHT Fellow, RBS Undergraduate Student and NJ STEP Scholar
Josie Gonsalves, TRHT Community Partner, Executive Director, Public Square
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
- Sherri Ann Butterfield, Executive Vice Chancellor
- Shante Palmer, Vice Chancellor for External and Government Relations

CONTACT

Sharon Stroye, MBA, MPA, Director Sharon.stroye@rutgers.edu

NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING 2023

SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, January 17, 2023

RACIAL HEALING CIRCLES

One of the most impactful aspects of the TRHT Centers is Racial Healing Circles (RHC). A Racial Healing Circle is an opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to share their stories in a safe, brave, and responsible space. The Racial Healing Circles are facilitated by trained RHC Practitioners. Each circle is designed for specialized audiences and particular goals based on the group, organization, and/or institution.

2022 – 2023 Racial Healing Circle Schedule

9/14/2022 - Virtual Racial Healing Circle with Social Justice Matters & Jewish Community Center - https://go.rutgers.edu/sjmjcc2022 (2^nd Wednesday of each month until December 2022

9/15/2022 - Virtual Racial Healing Circle with TRHT Center @ RU-N - https://go.rutgers.edu/rhc2223 (15^th of each month until April 2023)

9/26/2022 - In-person Racial Healing Circle @ NJPAC - https://go.rutgers.edu/njpacrhc926

9/27/2022 - In-person Racial Healing Circle with the Joint TRHT Committee of Scotch Plains/Fanwood - https://go.rutgers.edu/spfrhc22all (4^th Tuesday of each month until November 2022)

Training:

If you are interested in becoming a Racial Healing Circle Facilitator, you can attend a 3-hour workshop after participating in a Racial Healing Circle.

Attend one (1) virtual workshop session:

Friday, October 28, 2022 – 9:00am – 12:00pm
Friday, December 16, 2022 – 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Friday, February 24, 2023 – 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Friday, April 28, 2023 – 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Facebook - @NewarkTRHT
Twitter - @TRHTNewark
YouTube – TRHT Newark
Instagram - @trhtcampuscenternewark

RACIAL HEALING CIRCLES

PROGRAMS

Racial Healing Circles

Healing Sounds of Newark

National Day of Racial Healing

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Workshops and Training

Mountainview Community - NJSTEP

Racial Healing Circle New Practitioner Training

OUR PARTNERS

Newark Public Library

New Jersey Institute for Social Justice

Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences Anti-Racism Taskforce

EXTERNAL PROGRAMMING

THE SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD JOINT COMMITTEE FOR TRUTH, RACIAL HEALING, AND TRANSFORMATION

The SPF Joint Committee for TRHT was created in 2019 by resolution passed by both the municipalities of Scotch Plains and Fanwood partnership with the Board of Education and Social Justice Matters, a local organization founded 11 years ago to advance discussions on race. The committee is comprised of both Mayors from Scotch Plains and Fanwood, the Superintendent for the shared school district, council and community members, nonprofit leaders, and representatives from the TRHT Center at RU-N to address an increase of racist incidents in both communities.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

The TRHT Center @ RU-N has an integrated partnership with the Newark Public Library. The 7 branches of the Newark Public Library serve as the physical locations for the TRHT Center to represent the “not just in Newark, but of Newark” to engage Newark residents in collaborative programming. Newark residents have engaged in racial healing circles, Black Lives Matter symposiums, and integrative cultural programming for the ethnically diverse wards in the city of Newark. The TRHT Center had its library launch in November 2018.

TRHT @ RU-N committee members have engaged and facilitated programming in other public libraries throughout the state of New Jersey and Connecticut. Staff members and patrons have participated in racial healing circles at the Elizabeth, New Brunswick, and Montclair, NJ and Danbury, CT public libraries.

Somerset County Municipal Employees - the Somerset County Diversity Steering Committee contacted the TRHT Center @ RU-N to develop a series of virtual town hall meetings in a safe and responsible space for county employees to discuss their feelings related to the death of George Floyd. The goal of the sessions is to build empathy for those who have experienced first-hand accounts of racism and learn how to reach individuals who don’t understand the pain of racism.

ReThink Theatrical – is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free and accessible storytelling through theatrical performances to local communities located in New Brunswick, NJ. The organizational leadership are all volunteers with 95% of their exective board and staff members identify as Caucasian/White. In April 2020, the organization was planning to convert all shows to a virtual format. In June 2020, they released a statement in support of Black Lives Matter. In July, the Executive Board and Trustees decided to cancel the 2020 virtual season and spend the remainder of 2020 “to undergo a strategic look at values, policies, and practices for equity and inclusion” to become an antiracist organization.

As the beginning process of their strategic review, the TRHT Center engage the Board of Trustees and staff members in a 3-part series which included a Racial Healing Circle, Deconstructing the Myth of Whiteness interactive workshop, and a next step planning session. The interactive workshop included Black artists from Newark and Elizabeth.

Douglas Residential College, Rutgers University – New Brunswick - the chair of the Douglas Residential College DEI Program contacted the center to host brave space/healing circles for the undergraduate women. After discussion with the chair and staff members, it was decided to host a racial healing circle for the staff advisors (Ethnicity – 60%-Caucasian, 20%-Hispanic, 13%-Biracial, 7%-other) of the diverse undergraduate student population. The students did not feel the staff advisors provided a safe space to discuss academic and personal issues. The TRHT Center facilitated a virtual racial healing circle for 25 staff advisors. A Racial Healing Circle for the DEI Student Ambassadors is scheduled for 11/20/2020 @ 2:30 pm.

Avanzer (formerly The Women Center) – nonprofit organization founded in the 1970’s provides support and resources to women, children and men suffering from sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. The Executive Board and President approved a social justice focus for policies, procedures, and staff training. There are approximately 75 employees (Gender - 83%-female, 12%-male, 4%-LGBTQIA; Ethnicity – 40%-Black/AA, 32%-Caucasian, 15%-Hispanic, 13%-Other) The employees participate in two Caucuses (White Caucus and People of Color Caucus) to discuss and implement strategies of change within the organization. However, the Director of Social Justice, felt the efforts were being hampered by implicit and explicit biases.