Well over 100 Race Amity Day celebrations were held around the country in 2023. Some included city or county proclamations, some involved local government or community leaders from many backgrounds. Some people focused on leaders and held symposiums, some focused on families and held picnics, some focused on service and found ways to center it around Race Amity. Whatever people did, they did it with intention, passion and dedication. The following brief reports give a glimpse of the diversity and creativity of this year’s celebrations.
Northern Virginia Baha’i Center, Sterling, VA
The Northern Virginia Baha’i Center hosted its second annual Race Amity Day event, “A Celebration of Diversity and Mutual Understanding,” with representatives of Loudoun County government and public schools, as well as the county NAACP and interfaith organization.
Lombard, IL
In DuPage County, IL, more than 70 people from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ages came together on June 10, 2023, at the Sheldon Peck Homestead museum in Lombard, IL, a location chosen for its historical importance as a way-station on the Underground Railroad.
The event was developed by several local grassroots organizations dedicated to social justice and building community, including Illinois Citizens for Race Amity, ComeUnity, Pizza and Social Justice, Backyard Caucus of Elmhurst (IL), One Community, the Amos Project of First Church of Lombard, and Immigrant Solidarity DuPage. The DuPage County (IL) Board issued a Proclamation of June 11, 2023, as Race Amity Day in DuPage County.
Naperville, IL
More than 40 people celebrated Race Amity Day with a picnic at Central Park in downtown Naperville, IL. The day included music as well as an art project making a banner with everyone’s handprint. Lunch was provided along with time for fellowship and discussions of next steps in the community building process.
Mashpee, MA
The town of Mashpee, MA held a joyful Race Amity Day celebration hosted by the Mashpee Inclusion & Diversity Committee featuring Native American traditions, uplifting speakers and musical performances. The town’s Select Board issued a Race Amity day proclamation.
Dublin, CA
A Race Amity Day event was held at Las Positas College in Livermore CA, part of the Tri-Valley within the San Francisco Bay Area in Alameda County. The event featured the reading of Race Amity Day proclamations from the city of Dublin and from Alameda County, as well as art by Metoyer Mullon, aka JAMM the Artist, a multi-media artist in the SF Bay Area with Afro Creole roots, who spoke about how art can bridge our differences and bring us together.
Teaneck, NJ
A Race Amity Day event was held in Teaneck, NJ with more than 75 people in attendance, including Teaneck Mayor Michael Pagan and Deputy Mayor Danielle Gee. The Township of Teaneck issued a proclamation designating the second Sunday in June as Race Amity Day in perpetuity.
Cranston, RI
A small gathering of friends marked Race Amity Day by visiting the gravesite of Dorothy Champ, a member of the Baha’i Faith who moved to Providence in 1969 and spent her life practicing race amity. The cemetery had been abandoned and her gravesite lost. With support from the city and Pastor Russell Farmer of Gateway Pentecostal Fellowship Church, volunteers have cleaned up the cemetery and a new temporary gravestone was placed and dedicated for Ms. Champ. Pastor Farmer spoke about Biblical references to the oneness of mankind, gave a brief history of the cemetery cleaning project and thanked all the participants. The event concluded with the assembly singing the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” by James Weldon Johnson.
Needham, MA held their 2023 Race Amity Day Celebration at Amity Path at Needham Reservoir. It was co-sponsored by the Needham Diversity Initiative and the Needham Human Rights Committee. Activities included coloring window-cling mandalas, music by Tascha Jeunet and her band, comments from state and local politicians, reading the Massachusetts Proclamation, and people coming forward to the microphone to say “Welcome to Race Amity (friendship) Day” in many world languages, The Needham Channel covered the event –
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uuHOn8M8yxI&pp=ygUKUmFjZSBhbWl0eQ%3D%3D .
Don’t see anyone else who did what we did. Connected 90 participants over 4 cities in Alabama via a zoom program which I sent you. Another way to connect.
We wanted to send a report to you but was not sure if you had a form to use and who we would send it to.
Five of us planned our RAD, I will forward the email so others can register.
Dear Ms. Ellis,
Please use this form to share your Race Amity Day activities: 2023 Race Amity Day Report Form
Thank you!
NCRA Team