A t any CTTT-RVA gathering, you can expect great food, awesome folks and a robust serving of personal stories. To ensure that we all leave nourished and acknowledged, we ask that you take a look at our  Touchstones .  These serve as a guide to progressive and constructive conversation. The Touchstones, combined with  Circle Process and the guidance of trained facilitators support the creation of brave and safe space for authentic confidential sharing where intentional listening and vulnerability are valued. When we listen deeply or when we are heard, we feel valued. YOUR STORY, shared in small bites, is like a tasty meal we never want to forget! Thank you for your cooperation and see you at the table! - Danita Rountree Green
Race was intentionally constructed. Come join us and together let's deconstruct it even more intentionally!
Communicating using Zoom
Here is a link  for anyone to sign up for Zoom if you haven’t used it before. To participate by video, you need to sign up (for free) and install the plug-in that makes Zoom run. Then when you click the meeting link we’ll send you, Zoom will open automatically. This requires that your computer has both a video camera and microphone installed and operating. And if the video option doesn’t work for you, simply dial in on your phone.

Here are some additional tips for making the call go well. Conference calls can be challenging, especially with many people on the call, and observing these guidelines can make them much more enjoyable.
 
  • During introductions and group discussion, we will utilize a “Circle Process” so all participants will have an equal opportunity to share and be heard. We encourage you to review the Circle Process and Touchstone guides on the CTTT website before the call.
 
  • Please be patient as we do our best to ensure that the call goes well for all participants. Please be mindful of your participation level so as not to dominate or completely disengage. Do your best to keep your comments within the timeframes established so everyone has a chance to participate within limited time we have scheduled for this call. 
 
  • Try to call from a quiet place where you will be undisturbed and where there is no background noise. Avoid doing things during the call that add background noise like eating, drinking, shuffling papers, and typing
 
  • Please mute yourself when not talking, or at least mute yourself if background noise begins near you. You can press *6 once to mute yourself, and *6 again to unmute yourself. Keep track of whether or not you are muted, so people will hear you when you do speak.
 
  • Identify yourself by name when you first join the call, AND whenever you speak, and please speak clearly.
Volunteering with our CTTT-RVA is a wonderful opportunity to get involved and connect with others. The work you contribute is always valued as we pursue our mission of a just and truthful society that acknowledges and seeks to heal from the racial wounds of the past.
Featured Video And Articles
Check out the featured video and articles below to help further the conversation on racism and its impact.
Sharing History: The ABC's of Black History
Here is a great and entertaining way to uncover history with your children at home during this time. Our challenge to you: why not make your own video sharing the things you are learning as a family or as a "socially distanced" community.   We would love to feature YOUR video in the next newsletter!
Social Distancing Is a Privilege: The idea that this virus is an equal-opportunity killer must itself be killed.
People like to say that the coronavirus is no respecter of race, class or country, that the disease  Covid-19  is mindless and will infect anybody it can. In theory, that is true. But, in practice, in the real world, this virus behaves like others, screeching like a heat-seeking missile toward the most vulnerable in society. And this happens not because it prefers them, but because they are more exposed, more fragile and more ill .. .- READ MORE
" We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will. And we shall continue to love you. "


- Martin Luther King Jr.