On Tuesday, January 19th, Grand Marais Public Library will be distributing bookmarks that raise awareness of National Day of Racial Healing. The annual celebration extends our Martin Luther King Jr. Day reflections on equality into personal or local actions that affirm the inherent value of all people. Community members can stop by the library’s pickup window starting January 19 to acquire a bookmark, or visit the library’s website for ideas supporting the exploration of racial healing. 

National Day of Racial Healing was initiated by W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2016 as part of their Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation initiative. Helping communities process and address the historic and current effects of racism so that societal transformation can take place was one of their primary goals.  

“Grand Marais Public Library is committed to helping the community increase appreciation and understanding of the full range of human diversity,” said Library Director Amanda St. John. “This month, we’ve curated virtual programs, articles, books and movies that bring visibility to the concept of racial healing or aim to bridge divides.”    

Grand Marais Public Library increases knowledge, inspires creativity, removes barriers, and builds community across Cook County. For more information about library services during the pandemic, please visit grandmaraislibrary.org.