Heels for Healing and Restoration fosters dialogue at the Gillings School

March 3, 2025

Heels for Healing and Restoration (HFHR), a dedicated team of Gillings School faculty, staff and students, is making strides in fostering meaningful conversations within the school community. Trained in facilitating discussions on complex local, national and global issues, the group is committed to creating a safe yet brave space for open dialogue, empathy and growth.

“Our data has shown us that our community members want a space to engage in dialogue across differences in thoughts and perspectives,” said Kim Ramsey-White, PhD, associate dean for wellbeing and project co-lead. “Dean Messionnier made a commitment that we would work towards creating those spaces and the Heels for Healing and Restoration are the manifestation of that promise.”

Dr. Kim Ramsey-White

Each member of the team undergoes extensive training from the program organizer, Developing Capacity Coaching, to ensure they are equipped to support participants through challenging conversations. The program includes two key roles: healing and reconciliation mediators and dialogue facilitators.

Healing and reconciliation mediators play a key role in supporting dialogue participants through the emotional and psychological challenges that may arise during difficult dialogues. They help manage conflicts and facilitate healing and reconciliation processes to ensure that participants leave the program with a sense of resolution and growth.

Dialogue facilitators are responsible for guiding and moderating dialogues, creating a brave and supportive environment where participants can explore complex and sensitive issues.

In October, HFHR successfully hosted its inaugural discussion session, which encouraged positive dialogue and engagement among participants. The session allowed students, faculty, and staff to explore diverse perspectives, fostering an environment of mutual respect and deeper understanding.

The success of this initial session has established the groundwork for future discussions aimed at addressing pressing public health and societal issues.

Looking ahead, HFHR will be presenting the new Gillings Better Together Dialogue Series in March. This upcoming series will provide structured opportunities for facilitated discussions on a range of critical topics, such as public health disparities, AI in public health, reproductive rights and global conflicts. Planning is currently underway, with further details to be shared in the coming weeks.

The Gillings Better Together Dialogue Series is designed to support open and constructive conversations, ensuring that all voices are heard in a space dedicated to learning and collaboration. The initiative reflects the school’s commitment to fostering inclusive discourse on the complex challenges impacting public health.

For more information about Heels for Healing and Restoration or to suggest discussion topics, community members are encouraged to reach out to project lead Kim Ramsey-White or co-project coordinators Rhesia Lewis and Charletta Sims Evans.

Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.