New Perspectives on Collective Healing, Social Justice and Well-Being is an exciting international webinar series, jointly hosted by The UNESCO Routes of Enslaved Peoples Project and the Global Humanity for Peace Institute, University of Wales Trinity St David (UWTSD). These webinars are supported by AfroSpectives and Spirit of Humanity Forum.
In this 6th webinar, Dr. Gail Christopher and Rob Corcoran presented their practical experiences and perspectives drawn from decades of work for narrative change, racial healing, trust building, and systemic shift in the USA and internationally. While coming from very different backgrounds, they share common visions and values that inform their work. They both believe in a holistic approach to racial equity, and emphasise that empathy, relationships and legislation are required for envisioning an equitable future.
During this event, they highlighted that only through multi-dimensional efforts and collaborative processes can traumatised communities embark on collective journeys aimed at transcending structural barriers while fostering true transformation.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Gail Christopher is an award-winning social change agent with expertise in the social determinants of health and well-being and in related public policies. She is known for her pioneering work to infuse holistic health and diversity concepts into public sector programs and policy discourse. Dr. Christopher recently retired from her role as Senior Advisor and Vice President at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she was the driving force behind the America Healing initiative and the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation effort. Dr. Christopher also served as Kellogg’s Vice President for Program Strategy and worked on place-based programming in New Orleans and New Mexico. In 1996 she was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. In 2015 she received the Terrance Keenan Award from Grantmakers in Health. She chaired the Board of the Trust for America’s Health from 2012-2022. In 2019, she became a Senior Scholar with George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Dr. Gail Christopher also became the Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity in 2019. In 2021, Dr. Christopher was elected by the APHA Governing Council to serve as the APHA Honorary Vice President for the United States. Her latest book is entitled: Rx Racial Healing: A Guide to Embracing Our Humanity.
Rob Corcoran is a trainer, facilitator, writer, and racial healing practitioner. He has led workshops and spoken on building trust across racial, class, political and religious divides in many US communities and in Asia, Africa and Latin America. He lived in Richmond, VA for 40 years and founded the nationally and internationally recognized program for racial healing Hope in the Cities. He served as the US national director for Initiatives of Change (IofC), a global network that inspires, equips, and connects people to address world needs starting with changes in their own lives He is the training consultant for its Trustbuilding program active in 12 countries. His book, Trustbuilding: An Honest Conversation on Race, Reconciliation, and Responsibility, has been described as a “visionary, compelling account of healing and change.” He and his wife, Susan, have three sons, and four grandchildren. They now live in Austin, Texas. Learn more about Rob’s activities and read his other writings from here: https://www.robcorcoran.org/