FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — Community members and leaders from across the area gathered at Freeport Public Library for a day of racial healing.
The event featured guest speakers and discussions about why racial healing matters and how to improve Freeport for everyone.
Leaders, activists and residents of Freeport gathered Saturday to hold discussions about how to build trust, relationships and community within the city.
It is all in honor of the national day of racial healing. Though the day is observed in January, NAACP Freeport Branch President Patricia Norman said it is never too late to encourage important conversations.
“It does have to start with each community, you know, and once we work in our own community and then we work with our neighboring communities, that’s how the football gets started. And we’re able to make a difference with an event like this,” said Norman. “It gives us an opportunity to have a conversation about them and to begin to build relationships that will evolve into a relationship based on trust.”
Those conversations included a panel featuring Freeport resident and historian Danario Thomas, who said the day is not just about healing, but helping.
“It’s really a mindset. You know, we’re bringing people of all different races that have the same collective mindset about changing their identity, how we see Freeport, and it’s bringing different races together to do something that’s more healing as opposed to, you know, trying to heal from something,” said Thomas. “It’s really about what can we do to help?”
Norman said the best way to help is just to start a dialogue.
“Get to know your community, get to know people who don’t necessarily look like you, have those conversations. Be welcoming to people who look different from you,” said Norman.
