What is the Hearts Campaign?
The Hearts Campaign—also known as Hearts in the Streets—is a community movement in Battle Creek, organized by Sacred Conversations on Race. Its mission is to spread love, healing, and unity by encouraging reflection on love, diversity, and our shared humanity.
Each red heart represents a call to action: to recognize each other’s humanity and to counter hate and division with kindness and compassion. For Martha, this campaign was deeply personal. As she often said, “It’s about recognizing others’ humanity. It’s only about love.”
The campaign connects to the National Day of Racial Healing, which will take place on January 21, 2025. By sharing these hearts and engaging in dialogue, we continue Martha’s work of building bridges and fostering solidarity in our community.
Honoring Martha’s Legacy
This year, the Hearts Campaign is being held in memory of Martha Leone Brown, whose steadfast belief in the power of love has inspired generations in Battle Creek. Her warm smile, wise counsel, and vision for a united community live on in every red heart displayed and every conversation shared.
Share Your Reflections
Take a moment to reflect on these two prompts, either by yourself or with others:
What does it mean to recognize another person’s humanity?
How can you show love as an act of healing in your community?
In Memory of Martha Leone Brown
Martha Leone Brown (1935–2024) was a remarkable woman whose life embodied love, service, and an unwavering commitment to recognizing the shared humanity in everyone. A pillar of the Battle Creek community, Martha dedicated her life to creating spaces of connection, healing, and belonging.
Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and raised in Three Oaks, Martha’s leadership and creativity shone early in her life, as she excelled in theater, student council, and music. After forging a successful career in federal service, Martha returned to Battle Creek, bringing with her a vision to give back to the community she loved. She founded the After-School Tutoring Program at Second Missionary Baptist Church, an initiative that continues to uplift young people to this day.
Beyond her work in education, Martha became a cherished member of Sacred Conversations on Race, a local book club dedicated to fostering racial healing and understanding through meaningful dialogue. It was in this space that Martha discovered her passion for the “Hearts Campaign”, an initiative that brings the community together each year to display large red hearts throughout the city.
Together, let us honor Martha’s legacy by carrying her message of love and unity forward. ❤️
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