Civic Saturday is a civic analogue to a faith gathering designed to rebuild belief in our civic institutions and in each other by bringing friends and strangers together to nurture a spirit of shared purpose. It is a place to connect around the values and practices of being an active citizen, to reckon with and reflect on our nation’s creed, to build relationships that create new civic traditions that are joyful and communal.

There aren’t many places for us to come together and reflect our faith in democracy. So, in 2016 in Seattle, WA, we created one of our own. Now, in 2023, Arkansas with have its own, with its first observance featuring:

Mayor Lisa Hicks Gilbert of Elaine, AR (the city’s first Black & first female mayor)

Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle, AR (America’s youngest mayor)

Student State Representative Naomi Polanski (District 84)

Shana Chaplin & Starr Crow of EngageAR

Dr. Ronnie Williams of University of Central Arkansas (author of “Markham Street: The Haunting Truth Behind the Murder of My Brother, Marvin Leonard Williams”)

Brittney Dawn Jeffrey

Joshua Asante & Osyrus Bolly with Monique “Encore” Benson & DJ Prophet

Kwami Abdul-Bey, civic seminarian (first Civic Saturday Fellow in Arkansas)

We will also announce the four winners of the statewide NDORH-AR 2023 Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) High School Art & Poetry Contest.

*** PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO ACCESS REGISTRATION FOR ALL EVENTS: https://APJMM.news/NDORHAR2023 ***

All in-person participants will receive a FREE copy of the Civic Saturday Arkansas civic scripture & hymnal book and FREE copies of “Markham Street: The Haunting Truth Behind the Murder of My Brother, Marvin Leonard Williams” by Ronnie Williams and “Hip Hop and Policing” by Donald F. Tibbs, andre douglas pond cummings, Zachary Crow, Caleb Conrad, Todd J. Clark, Kwami Abdul-Bey, and Zoe Harris.

***THIS EVENT WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE LATER ON THE APJMM YOUTUBE PAGE.***

ABOUT THE NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING:

The National Day of Racial Healing is a time to contemplate our shared values and create the blueprint together for #HowWeHeal from the effects of racism. Launched on Jan. 17, 2017, it is an opportunity to bring ALL people together in their common humanity and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world.

This annual observance is hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) and was created with and builds on the work and learnings of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) community partners. Fundamental to this day is a clear understanding that racial healing is at the core of racial equity. This day is observed every year on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.