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~ January 2022 Update ~
A Revolutionary Moment of Truth
Holiday food. Holiday stories. Family memories shared. We’ve done a lot of that in the last month. Over the holidays, we often have an opportunity to share memories with loved ones. It's funny how even the most uncomfortable memories can bring a smile to your face, its reflection now woven with wisdom and acceptance. We learn a lot in moments of great discomfort. Happier memories - the history we like to hold on to - can make us feel good, but even in a joyful moment a hard nugget can crystallize into something deeper and life-giving. Happy or hard, we refer to such an instance as a moment of truth. 

Here is one of mine - decades ago, I remember sitting one of my sons down to teach him about “the birds and the bees”. I was nervous and decided to take a very academic approach. I incorporated charts, diagrams, and information from various sources on what to do and what NOT to do. I remember the look on his face as I finished my comprehensive presentation. 
6th Annual National Day of Racial Healing
Crys Matthews
In a Livestreamed Concert
JOIN US! No registration needed.

Coming To The Table - RVA and the Coming To The Table Virginia Consortium of Local Groups as well as The Richmond Pledge To End Racism are honored to announce that we will commemorate the National Day of Racial Healing (NDRH) by hosting CRYS MATTHEWS, inspiring social-justice singer-songwriter for a livestreamed concert!!!

One of our most cherished and long-time partners in the former, healing capital of the Confederacy, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, has offered their newly renovated theater as the site for the free (donations welcome) livestreamed (online only) concert!
Access the livestreamed event via our Facebook public page or our YouTube channel. Click on above hyperlinks or find links on CTTT-RVA website Events Calendar!
Tuesday, January 18th
4:30 pm PT 5:30 pm MT 6:30 pm CT
7:30 - 9:00 pm ET
Photo by Ursula Hoppe
This is a FREE concert and your donation helps to cover our costs and continue the work of CTTT-RVA!

Brown Grove Residents Need Our Help to Save their Community

Brown Grove, like so many black communities, has slowly been destroyed through the practice of Environmental Racism. Wegmans announced its intention to build a distribution center on 217 acres located near the Hanover Airport and adjacent to Brown Grove. Neighboring residents immediately organized to fight the project, citing those environmental concerns, disputed wetlands delineations, and other quality of life issues.
January 11th, 6:00 - 7:30 pm ET
On Zoom
Reading For Change
Book Circle (4th Thursday of the month)

Thursday, January 27th 6:30 pm ET - On Zoom

Crystal Wilkinson's deep love for her rural roots and passion for language is evident in her storytelling in this amazing collection of poetry and prose about girlhood, racism, and political awakening, imbued with vivid imagery of growing up in Southern Appalachia. In Perfect Black, Wilson muses on such topics as motherhood, the politics of her Black body, lost fathers, mental illness, sexual abuse, and religion. It is a captivating conversation about life, love, loss, and pain, interwoven with striking illustrations by her long-time partner, Ronald W. Davis.

Email our co-conveners to be added to our Book Circle mailing list.
Movie Circle
(via Zoom)
Monday, January 31st
6:30 - 8:00 pm ET

Our first movie of the new year is a 2019 American crime film set against the backdrop of 1950s New York. Motherless Brooklyn follows Lionel Essrog (Edward Norton), a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna (Bruce Willis). Watch the movie at home when it's convenient and then join us for our conversation on Zoom!

Email our co-conveners to be added to our Movie Circle mailing list.
Register for Living the Pledge Workshop Series
Learn how to confront racism and bias in everyday encounters. Recognize and challenge systemic racism. Take on a personal leadership role in ending racism in the community.

Our next Living the Pledge workshop will take place Monday evenings, 6:30-8:30 pm ET via Zoom January 24 through March 7 (no meeting on February 14).

Sessions include large group presentations and conversations as well as small group work.  Space is limited and the registration deadline is January 19.
Coming To The Table (national)
Guided Meditation
Sunday, January 9th
4:00 - 5:00 pm ET (On Zoom)
The CTTT Mindfulness Working Group hopes you will register to participate in any or all of the times you are available as dates/times are announced. If you have not tried meditation, we hope these experiences will give you a tool in your own life to help you navigate difficult waters in your personal life as well as in CTTT meetings.
VICPP Advocacy Week
and Day for All People
Day for All People is an annual Advocacy Day where VICPP brings together people of faith and goodwill from across Virginia. In 2022, they are presenting an entire week of ALL VIRTUAL programming throughout the week of January 17-21, with legislative visits by zoom on Wednesday, January 19. It's necessary to register for the whole event and then for individual sessions you choose to attend.

Take the next step! Become a CTTT - RVA volunteer!

Jonathan Davis, Marketing and Communications Manager
Hayat Bain, Coordinator of Communications & Partnerships