Race & Racism in America: Kellogg Foundation leaders engage in discussion at Hudson Institute panel

Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center in Washington, DC recently hosted a panel discussion around the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s “America Healing” initiative and its intellectual underpinnings. The panel featured Sterling Speirn and Dr. Gail Christopher, who presented viewpoints alongside Harvard Professor Stephan Thernstrom and Ron Christie, political strategist and author of Acting White: The Curious History of a Racial Slur. Bradley Center Director William Schambra moderated the discussion.

The America Healing initiative is a five-year, $75 million program of grants focusing on bringing healing to divided communities and bridging racial gaps in education, health, juvenile justice, economic success, the media and other areas.

The conversation at the Hudson Institute highlighted varying viewpoints on to what degree the racialization of America contributes to the social and economic disparities vulnerable children, particularly children of color, face.

“You can change laws, but until you change hearts, racial healing can’t occur,” Dr. Christopher noted during the panel.

We encourage you to watch or listen to the panel discussion on the Hudson Institute’s website or Ustream channel. 

To engage in this ongoing dialogue, follow us on twitter via @wk_kellogg_fdn.