racial healing

The Center for Racial Healing serves as a brave space where people can tell the truth.

In this episode, Dr. Meeks and Chelsi gather to host a special guest, Barbara Brown Taylor,  a best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest. In this 2-part episode, we will discuss Barbara Brown Taylors’ journey, audacity to leave the church for a life in academia, and courage to spread the love of Christ without limitations. Our conversation explores the following questions: “What does it mean to be brave?” And, “What is the cost of bravery?”

Barbara Brown Taylor is a best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest.  Her first memoir, Leaving Church, won an Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers Association in 2006.  Her next three books earned places on the New York Times bestseller list.  Taylor has served on the faculties of Piedmont College, Emory University, Mercer University, Columbia Seminary, Oblate School of Theology, and the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia. Her latest book, Always a Guest, was released in October 2020 from Westminster John Knox Press.

In this episode, Dr. Meeks and Chelsi continue the enriching conversation with The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers about the African-American woman’s journey to liberation and what it teaches us about self-care, beloved community and wellness. 

Canon Stephanie serves on the Presiding Bishop’s Staff as the Canon for Evangelism, Racial Reconciliation, and Creation Care and is the author of a groundbreaking book, "The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community."

Get your copy of "The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community" at Church Publishing. 

In this episode Dr. Catherine Meeks and Chelsi sit down with the serene storm, The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers. 

This conversation explores what it means to be African American, a woman, and free in America today. As we aim to live into God’s dream, we must learn from one another. Tune in to discover what the world can learn from African-American women—their plight, their fight, and their liberation.

Canon Spellers serves on the Presiding Bishop’s Staff as the Canon for Evangelism, Racial Reconciliation, and Creation Care and is the author of a must-read book, "The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community."

Get your copy of "The Church Cracked Open: Disruption, Decline, and New Hope for Beloved Community" at Church Publishing. 

The pandemic memoirs began almost immediately, and now comes another kind of offering — a searching look at the meaning of the racial catharsis to which the pandemic in some sense gave birth and voice and life. Tracy K. Smith co-edited the stunning book, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis, a collection of 40 pieces that span an array of BIPOC voices from Edwidge Danticat to Reginald Dwayne Betts, from Layli Long Soldier to Ross Gay to Julia Alvarez. Tracy and Michael Kleber-Diggs, who also contributed an essay, join Krista for a conversation that is quiet and fierce and wise. They reflect inward and outward, backwards and forwards, from inside the Black experience of this pivotal time to be alive.

Tracy K. Smith — is a professor of creative writing at Princeton University and the former Poet Laureate of the United States. Her poetry collections include Life on Mars, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Duende, and Wade in the Water. Her memoir is Ordinary Light. She’s the co-editor of the book, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis.

Michael Kleber-Diggs — teaches creative writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at colleges and high schools in Minnesota. He’s a contributor to the book, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis. His debut collection, Worldly Things, has been awarded the 2021 Max Ritvo Poetry Prize.

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

The pandemic memoirs began almost immediately, and now comes another kind of offering — a searching look at the meaning of the racial catharsis to which the pandemic in some sense gave birth and voice and life. Tracy K. Smith co-edited the stunning book, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis, a collection of 40 pieces that span an array of BIPOC voices from Edwidge Danticat to Reginald Dwayne Betts, from Layli Long Soldier to Ross Gay to Julia Alvarez. Tracy and Michael Kleber-Diggs, who also contributed an essay, join Krista for a conversation that is quiet and fierce and wise. They reflect inward and outward, backwards and forwards, from inside the Black experience of this pivotal time to be alive.

Tracy K. Smith — is a professor of creative writing at Princeton University and the former Poet Laureate of the United States. Her poetry collections include Life on Mars, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Duende, and Wade in the Water. Her memoir is Ordinary Light. She’s the co-editor of the book, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis.

Michael Kleber-Diggs — teaches creative writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at colleges and high schools in Minnesota. He’s a contributor to the book, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis. His debut collection, Worldly Things, has been awarded the 2021 Max Ritvo Poetry Prize.

This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Tracy K. Smith and Michael Kleber-Diggs — ‘History is upon us... its hand against our back.’

Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? The Center for Racial Healing is focused on engaging conversations about wellness and in this insightful episode, Chelsi and Dr. Meeks continue the conversation with special guest Dr. Jennifer Gander, a Clinical Epidemiologist. 

In part 2 of this conversation, they explore the intersections of mental health and physical health, the healthcare industry, and ways to advocate for your personal wellness as a patient. 

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? The Center for Racial Healing is focused on engaging conversations about wellness and in this insightful episode, Chelsi and Dr. Meeks invited a special guest and friend of the center to share her wisdom and experience with mental health in the pandemic. Dr. Jennifer Gander, PhD, is a Clinical Epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente Georgia Regional. 

Listen in to hear how Dr. Jennifer’s expertise enriched our discussion about the relationship between mental health and physical health, policies and practices in the healthcare industry that may adversely affect minority groups, and much more. 

“Though we have instructions and a map buried in our hearts when we enter this world,” the extraordinary Joy Harjo has written, “nothing quite prepares us for the abrupt shift to the breathing realm.” She is a saxophone player and performer, a visual artist, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, and the 23rd Poet Lau­re­ate of the Unit­ed States. She opens up with Krista about her life, dreaming as a way of relating to time and place, and the story matrix that connects us all. 

Joy Harjo — is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and the 23rd Poet Lau­re­ate of the Unit­ed States. She is the author of nine books of poet­ry, including An American Sunrise and She Had Some Horses, and a memoir, Crazy Brave. She has also produced several award-winning music albums, including her most recent, I Pray for My Ene­mies. Her new memoir, coming out in September 2021, is called, Poet Warrior.

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

“Though we have instructions and a map buried in our hearts when we enter this world,” the extraordinary Joy Harjo has written, “nothing quite prepares us for the abrupt shift to the breathing realm.” She is a saxophone player and performer, a visual artist, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, and the 23rd Poet Lau­re­ate of the Unit­ed States. She opens up with Krista about her life, dreaming as a way of relating to time and place, and the story matrix that connects us all. 

Joy Harjo — is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and the 23rd Poet Lau­re­ate of the Unit­ed States. She is the author of nine books of poet­ry, including An American Sunrise and She Had Some Horses, and a memoir, Crazy Brave. She has also produced several award-winning music albums, including her most recent, I Pray for My Ene­mies. Her new memoir, coming out in September 2021, is called, Poet Warrior.

This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Joy Harjo — The Whole of Time." Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.

Lately, the Center of Racial Healing has been receiving questions about how people can respond to racism and increase the capacity to dismantle racism both individually and as organizations. 

In this episode, Chelsi and Dr. Meeks discuss this question and give concrete examples of ways people can answer the call to stand for justice and fight racism. 

What is a model minority? It is a term the media is using often in conversations of the AAPI community. One thing we must always be mindful of is the way oppression works. Because if you keep the folks you are oppressing fighting one another, perhaps they will miss that the real enemy is the oppressor!

In this episode, Chelsi and Dr. Catherine Meeks discuss these questions and truths around minorities and the passive acceptance that is a part of their social cultures.

Racial identity is a major topic. It might come up in conversation, on a job application, or in speaking with young people. How and why does it seem to always surface?

This is a falsity around race. We are all human beings. We are members of a human family. 

In this episode, Chelsi and Dr. Catherine Meeks wrestle with these tough questions and it includes Dr. Meeks' story of how she identifies with her racial identity and the journey it took her to get there.