Brief Program Overview Video: 

 

Session 1 Prep

To Bring:

Please have the following with you for the session:

  1. Markers, pens and a notebook or some blank sheets of paper you can keep together in a folder.
  2. A printout of the following pages: 
Download Origin Story Page to Print
Download Social Identity Wheel Page to Print

To Learn:

Look through the 3 short resources below to get a basic look at unconscious bias in preparation for our first session.

Unconscious Bias

A quick infographic overview of unconscious bias and some impacts. Focus on the second section on "What is Unconscious Bias."

Infographic: 3 min

Click to View

Why Having a Brain Means You're Biased

Biases form the invisible lens through which we all subconsciously see the world. 

Article: 5 mins

Click to View

Who, Me? Biased?

What is implicit bias? NYT/POV's Saleem Reshamwala unscrews the lid on the unfair effects of our subconscious. Click play button below to view.

Video: 2.5 min

 

If you want to learn more, here are 2 more resources to explore:

Inclusion, Exclusion, Illusion and Collusion

A TEDx talk by Helen Turnbull on the Inclusion Paradox

Video: 13.25 min

Click to View

Why Identity Matters

How do you identify yourself? And, what is the most important part of your identity?

Text + Video Clips: 20 min

Click to View

Session 2 Prep

Come ready to share

Please come prepared to share any observations and insights that are stimulated for you by the three prompts below. This is where we will start the conversation in Session 2. 
 
We encourage you to use the time until our next session to gain further awareness and insight around how bias shows up for you in different spaces. Here are three prompts to consider. (NOTE: these focus on you personally, inline with the personal nature of our reflection in the session yesterday.  In our next session we will expand the lens to include the larger group/team/system.)
 
1. OBSERVE: Pay attention to how bias shows up in your world - and in the bigger world around you.
  • Where do you notice your own bias, where do you experience others' bias towards you, and where do you notice bias at play in how people are making choices and treating one another? 
  • What are you noticing about the impact of all of this? 
 
2. REFLECT: If I were more aware of my own biases and better able to catch myself before acting on them, then .... 
  • What would that be like? What might the gain be? What would make that worth it for you to work on this? 
 
3. CONSIDER: How might you disrupt the autopilot of your biases? 
  • What might help you get into the habit of being conscious of bias and how it shows up in your life?
  • What kinds of questions can you ask yourself to disrupt your bias autopilot?
 

To Read:

Another resource if you want to explore more deeply:

What is the difference between diversity, inclusion and equity?

This article offers clear definitions of these three related terms, and offers some specific prompts for conversations about them. 

Article: 10 mins

Click to View

Session 3 Prep

Come ready to share

Download the Authenticity/Belonging Chart we looked at during Session 2. Use this as a framework to look for the impact of exclusions you notice during the next 2 weeks:

  • Where do you fall in various situations? What impact do you experience as a result?
  • Where might other people's experiences place them, and what is the impact on the individuals and on society in general?
  • As your awareness around the impact on yourself and others expands, ask yourself: how committed am I to doing something?

Come to the next session ready to learn strategies and tactics to help you take action on multiple levels going forward!

Click to download Authenticity/Belonging Chart