Thursday, October 1, 2026
The City of Olympia is going to host a community conversation in observance of the National Day of Racial Healing at The Olympia Center from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17.
The free event, which requires no preregistration, will bring together community members for dialogue, activities, and reflection on racial healing and building a more equitable society.
Mayor Dontae Payne will welcome attendees and read a children’s story focused on racial healing themes.
The event will feature presentations from speakers Larry Jefferson, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Thurston County chapter, and Kyeshia Likely from the South Sound YMCA.
Attendees will learn about Olympia’s Juneteenth celebration tradition and participate in guided conversations at a racial healing community café.
Participants will also have opportunities to create their own art and poetry, and view an on-site exhibit exploring how Olympia envisions feeling safe, respected and included.
Recognizing that discussions about race can be emotionally challenging, organizers have arranged for a quiet room to be available for attendees who may need moments of respite.
Alongside the main event, community art installations will be displayed at two locations from Jan. 15 through Feb. 28.
The exhibits, visible at Olympia City Hall and The Olympia Center, feature works exploring themes of racial and community inclusion.
Olympia observes the National Day of Racial Healing annually. It is held the day after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The observance aims to bring people together to acknowledge common humanity and inspire collective action for a more just and equitable world.
Olympia began participating in the National Day of Racial Healing in 2023, recognizing the importance of racial healing in restoring individuals and communities, repairing damage caused by racism, and transforming societal structures to affirm the inherent value of all people.
This year’s event is made possible through a grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, in partnership with the South Sound YMCA and the Olympia Timberland Regional Libraries.
The Olympia Center is located at 222 Columbia St. NW. All community members are invited to participate in the dialogue about racial healing and community building.
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Honestyandrealityguy
My Canadian relatives don't believe we teach history right in this country. Of course, we know we had indentured servitude, mostly individuals from the Barbary Coast and Africa. All colors. Once they worked off their servitude, they would be given a plot of land and off they went. And of course, there is slavery all over the world, even here again (illegal immigrants with nothing else to do).
However, the first legal slave owner was a black man, Anthony Johnson (also a former indentured servant). He was from the liberal south. One of his indentured servants tried to leave him and he went to court and the court ruled he owned the servant for life; hence, slavery. Johnson began selling black slaves (even though he was black) to his friends and relatives, then to others: such as the native Indians, and all other colors.
The north (conservatives) only allowed slavery for 10 years. When a white Republican freed the slaves, the black families owned thousands of slaves, the natives owned tens of thousands of slaves, and the others (hispanics, whites, Asians, etc.) owned slaves.
About 300,000 whites and 20,000 blacks from the north gave their lives to get rid of slavery in this country.
And one more thing - who had more orgies: MLK, JFK or Wilt Chamberlain?
Let's move on please. Common sense please.
Monday, January 12 Report this
Snevets
Thank you for this important event to being our community together. I look forward to attending.
Monday, January 12 Report this
USA_Ronin
"a conversation" "dialogue"
What could possibly go wrong?
Is this going to devolve into what's owed to who and from whom? Is this going to devolve into cliche remarks on "colonialism" and the evil Europeans that came before us?
I don't owe anyone anything but civility, and sometimes, not even that.
Do you want to help lessen racism? Then stop obsessing and talking about it. You're welcome, fellow American citizens.
Monday, January 12 Report this
JW
"Recognizing that discussions about race can be emotionally challenging, organizers have arranged for a quiet room to be available for attendees who may need moments of respite."
Could they get any more self-indulgent? Give me a break.
Stop endlessly ruminating about past wrongs and get on with your lives.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
HumanBeing
Considering we have a current wannabe dictator running our country and using race and race baiting to disassemble our democracy it's no surprise to see these deeply offensive and propaganda filled comments at this time. The war mongering military Hegseth is renaming bases with openly racist generals and putting up statues to these disgusting racist people yet some of yall want to pretend that black people should just get over it. We have a supreme court that has allowed "Kavanagh stops" based on brown skin and foreign sounding names and accents yet people should just get over it. Our country is what it is because of immigrants and black people. It was built on white people's money that was build from the labor of black people. The reason why we are being looted from the white house and your life sucks isn't because of the black people. It's because you have been fooled into thinking you're better then others because of the color of your skin. And the fool doesn't see the true theft happening right in front of their face.
I'm proud to be living in a community that isn't afraid to have conversations around the dark parts of our history. Denying the reality around us doesn't move the country forward. These pathetic loosers down there might not ever get it. But there are more of us that do.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
Southsoundguy
LOLOLOL!!! Libs holding little get togethers as their worldview goes through the process of self-termination.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
DesertMedic
Why are white liberals so focused on race? People that are not white are not as concerned. The insanity of the garbage is what is driving you all crazy on your own.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
TheGreatAnon
Wow, I believed the loud & proud KKK contingent in Olympia was negatable but this comment section has proven me wrong.
The Crackers doth protest too much, methinks.
FYI, I'm a white man
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
@HumanBeing, im with you Friend! And DANNY its not at all a service to Delete Comments we all have a voice! Deleting Comments only serves the Haters, the rest of Us Are Adults and can manage words.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
@Southsound guy, you ONLY hear what you want to Hear. But we've ALL heard your shallow comments.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
@DesertMedic and you are Oooh so wrong
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
Boatyarddog
One last thing, if your not Racist, people that feel they need support for who THEY choose to be should NOT concern you, and Why would you challenge THEIR personal Experience. MAYBE You feel some sort of Guilt? That would be a healthy Mental state to experience.... it is known as COMPASSION for others. You have NOT Walked a Mile in their Shoes.
Tuesday, January 13 Report this
JW
Hilarious takes here. You're either all in on the day of racial healing or a card carrying member of the Thurston County KKK.
Wednesday, January 14 Report this