Community Day set for Saturday in JCC
The local chapter of a national racial reconciliation group will hold a Community Day event in James City County on Saturday.
“Heal Greater Williamsburg, Heal the Nation Community Day” is organized by Coming to the Table - Historic Triangle, a program of the nonprofit Virginia Racial Healing Institute, the group announced in a news release.
The event will be held from 1-4 p.m. on the lawn of the Amblers House at Jamestown Beach Event Park, 2205 Jamestown Road. The Amblers House is a 19th century home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that is being restored by James City County.
“This event started in 2020 as a Colonial Williamsburg rally to bring local leaders together to discuss what their organizations were doing to facilitate racial healing during a climate of national social unrest,” Laura Hill, founder and director of Coming to the Table - Historic Triangle, said in the statement. “We changed the format to make the event more interactive, educational and family-oriented. And the location change to James City County reflects our commitment to serving the entire Historic Triangle region.”
“James City County is pleased to support Coming to the Table’s Community Day event. We have a very special community, and we appreciate every opportunity to come together to learn from one another,” Rachel Smith, operations manager for James City County Parks and Recreation, said in the statement.
“We are planning a relaxing day to bring people together to enjoy family-friendly activities and to participate in community discussions and workshops that focus on local history, mental health, parenting and tools to have civil conversations about race,” said VRHI founding board member Fred Liggin, who will lead a workshop on mental health strategies.
Storyteller Dylan Pritchett will share children’s stories that celebrate cultural differences. Pritchett’s “Freedom Stories” have been presented by James City County Parks and Recreation annually since 2014.
To get free tickets, register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-day-heal-greater-williamsburg-heal-the-nation-tickets-426631856367?fbclid=IwAR3dDqp7teDgiMrIIYc1Hk0_AZdkz9r0PtaLBbNCoadP9COeD7xbD1SMxLQ
