TRHT Racial Healing Circles


Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) is a comprehensive, multiyear national community-based process launched in 2016 by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in partnership with higher education institutions to bring about transformative and sustainable change on 150 college and university campuses.

TRHT Campus Centers

According to the AAC&U, the goal of each TRHT Campus Center is “to prepare the next generation of leaders to break down systemic racism and dismantle the belief in a hierarchy of human value.”

To learn more about TRHT Campus Centers, watch this video.

What Is Racial Healing?

To heal is to restore to wholeness; to repair damage; and to set right. Healing a societal racial divide requires recognition of the need to acknowledge the wrongs of the past, while addressing the consequences of those wrongs. (Heal Our Communities.org)

What Are Racial Healing Circles?

Racial Healing Circles are opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to come together and connect their shared humanity through storytelling. It is a safe, brave, and responsible space—a place where people recognize they have more in common than different. It is the beginning process of dismantling our biased belief system through a shared humanity perspective.

The Racial Healing Circles methodology is a designed process to provide participants from diverse backgrounds with a structured co-facilitated story-telling experience leading towards a path of full humanity.

Racial Healing Circles are:

  • Interactive experiences to foster trust, connection, and relationship building
  • Intentionally designed for diverse participants—everyone is welcome
  • 90 minutes to four hours (flexible scheduling)
  • In-person or virtual.
  • Required registration for all attendees
  • Limited to 28 to 30 participants
  • Available for departments, committees, organizations, leadership teams, etc.
  • Not recorded
  • Not mandated 

Racial Healing Circle format:

  • Welcome
  • Centering the Circle
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introductions
  • Touchstones (group agreements)
  • Reintroductory Prompt Activity
  • Reflection Discussion
  • Deep Reflection Prompt Activity
  • Reflection Discussion
  • Closing the Circle

Watch this video to learn more

Black History Month Event
“Racial Healing Circle for the Diasporic Community”
February 8, 2024

Women’s History Month Event
Racial Healing Circle for Women’s Voices
March 7, 2024

Arab-American Heritage Month Event
Racial Healing Circle for a Unified Community
April 11, 2024

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Event
Racial Healing Circle for AAPI in Public Service
May 2, 2024

Racial Healing Circle Practitioner Workshop
June 2024

Racial Healing Circles Contact

Sharon Stroye, MBA, MPA
Director, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Initiative