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Interviews with news makers and discussion of topics important to Southwest Michigan. Subscribe to the podcast through Apple itunes and Google. Segments of interview are heard in WestSouthwest Brief during Morning Edition and All Things Considered

WSW: Race, Truth And Transformation

WMUK

Lanna Lewis says the problems related to racism won’t be fixed in five years, but Lewis who is Community Investment Officer for the Kalamazoo Community Foundation says a large grant will help in the long run.

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation will receive $865,000 over five years as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s nationwide Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Framework. Three other cities in Michigan, Battle Creek, Flint and Lansing are also receiving grants from the Kellogg Foundation to work on racial healing.

Lewis says part of the money will go to an endowment that the foundation hopes to match in the community and continue addressing racial equity issues in years to come. She says the foundation will work with different groups in the Kalamazoo community to bring a wide variety of perspectives to the table. 

LonnaLewis062917-web.mp3
Interview with Lonna Lewis - web version

Lewis says “narrative change” is an important part of the initiative. She says that means examining stories that have been told and whose stories haven’t. Lewis says communities of color often feel that their story is told for them instead of by them, and that history is incomplete.

In an age of political polarization, Lewis says it’s important to recognize that racism has been round longer than political parties. She says people need to look at each other’s humanity. Lewis says the framework of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Engagement is similar to Truth and Reconciliation Commissions which have been successful in other countries, such as South Africa.

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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