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Music, spoken word and the sharp cadence of youth-led dance filled the DoubleTree by Hilton ballroom in downtown Battle Creek, Michigan, reverberating through a packed space and prompting multiple standing ovations from community members.
Performances by local poet Deja Excel-Johnson, the Sojourner Truth Gospel Choir, and students from Lakeview High School’s Black Student Union and Burma Club Dance Group set the tone for Battle Creek’s 2026 observance of the National Day of Racial Healing on Jan. 20, an annual gathering centered on storytelling, cultural expression and belonging.
“I am just so touched by the number that are here, from kids as young as 6 to our elders,” said Tha Par, co-executive director of the Battle Creek Coalition of Truth and Racial Healing (BCTRHT), which hosted the event. “Let’s take a moment and absorb it all in and see the beauty of what Battle Creek has to offer us.”
More than 400 community members attended the gathering, themed “The Rhythm of Our Humanity.” The city of Battle Creek and the state of Michigan formally proclaimed Jan. 20, 2026, as the National Day of Racial Healing.
‘We are held by a rhythm’
The evening featured dinner, music and movement designed to reflect the city’s cultural fabric and to foster connection among residents across generations.
“What we just witnessed were not just performances,” said Elizabeth Garcia, co-executive director of BCTRHT. “It was a reminder that we move differently. We express differently. We carry different stories. And still, we are held by a rhythm.”
“That is the heart of this work,” Garcia said. “The work of building a community where all belong, where all can thrive and where all can be free.”
Attendees were invited to respond to conversation prompts and meet someone new — an intentional practice to slow down and listen, organizers said.
“The rhythm of our shared humanity is to invite us to slow down and listen to ourselves, to one another and to the histories and hope that shape our collective story,” Par said.
‘Let’s make tonight a lifestyle’
The evening concluded with calls to action from community leaders and the introduction of BelongBC, a community commitment focused on fostering connection and belonging. Attendees were invited to take a “BelongBC” pin as a public and personal commitment.
“We aren’t an organization,” said Jennifer Nottingham, executive director of the Binda Foundation. “It’s a commitment — it’s more like a movement than anything else.”
“Social connection and feelings of belonging are as essential to survival as food, water and shelter,” Nottingham added, referencing the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Loneliness and Social Connection, which highlights the importance of belonging for health and well-being, noting that social isolation can be as harmful as smoking or obesity.
L.E. Johnson, senior director of diversity and inclusion with the Village Network of Battle Creek, encouraged participants to carry the evening’s message beyond a single day.
“Let’s make tonight a lifestyle,” Johnson said. “Let’s not make this an annual event where we come, say all the things, remember the script, nod and smile and go about our everyday lives. Let’s make this a culture in our community.”
What is the National Day of Racial Healing?
Established by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2017, the National Day of Racial Healing is observed nationwide each January on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It calls on communities to acknowledge shared humanity, address the harms of racism and build relationships that strengthen communities.
In Battle Creek, BCTRHT has honored the day annually since 2020 through gatherings rooted in healing, storytelling and action.
Explore more
- National Day of Racial Healing: https://dayofracialhealing.org/
- Battle Creek TRHT: https://www.bctrht.org/
- Social connection can transform our whole health and well-being, Office of the U.S. Surgeon General: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/connection/index.html
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