Healing Circle at PASS: A Space for Courage and Connection

On February 9, 2026, community members gathered at PASS for the first session of Roots to Rise: Promoting Anti-Racism & Equity Through Collective Healing, held in partnership with the City of Edmonton.

The gathering was not a lecture or panel discussion. It was a circle, intentional, grounded, and community-led.

As a Black-led organization serving diverse newcomer and racialized communities in Edmonton, PASS understands that conversations about equity must be rooted in lived experience. The Healing Circle reflects that approach: creating space for honest dialogue, mutual respect, and shared reflection.

A Circle of Trust

Participants came together to speak openly about belonging, systemic barriers, and the everyday realities that shape their lives. Stories were shared with vulnerability and strength. There were moments of silence, moments of recognition, and moments of solidarity.

The format of the circle emphasizes equality; no podiums, no hierarchy, just people engaging with one another as members of a shared community. This approach reflects PASS’s leadership model, grounded in representation, accountability, and trust-building within the communities it serves.

Why Healing Matters

For PASS, promoting anti-racism and equity is not a single initiative. It is an ongoing commitment embedded in how programs are designed and how community spaces are facilitated.

Being Black-led shapes how PASS approaches this work, with cultural awareness, intentional dialogue, and a recognition that healing must address both systemic realities and personal experiences. The February session demonstrated that when people are given the space to listen and be heard, connection begins to replace isolation.

Systemic racism and inequity are not abstract ideas; they affect real people, real families, and real communities.

Creating spaces like the Healing Circle allows us to move beyond awareness into connection. It strengthens solidarity, encourages dialogue across differences, and fosters resilience.

The February gathering reminded us that meaningful change begins with conversation, and conversation begins with courage.