implicit bias – Peace Learning Center

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:41:33-04:00August 28th, 2018|Tags: implicit bias|

by Naeemah Jackson, Director of Family Programs These days, the word “tribalism” is front and center in our social discourse. You and I can easily choose a tribe that defines our collective identity when we move from “I” and “Me” to “Us” and “We.” So, who are we? And where do we belong? Do we change our value set once we gain entry into the tribe? Or, do we maintain the “I” am within the tribe? Recently I had the great good fortune to facilitate an Implicit Bias session in a northern Indiana rural community. The fifty participants were members of that community; majority White men in their 50’s, 60’s and a few in their 70’s; blue-collar workers; hunters; campers; and fishermen; with shotguns in their trucks outside. I was the only Black person in the room. Now, I could have easily slid into a presumptive attitude that it would be difficult to establish a sense of common beliefs with this audience around family values; politics; socio-economic status; class; work ethic; and assume what their ideas on race, gender, and other social justice concerns were. It would have been very easy – and very wrong. There I was, standing before them, locks and all – proudly wearing West African inspired jewelry – looking at them – looking at me. Most not really wanting to be there – but they had to be. So……here we go. Their tribal identity was

Inside Implicit Bias Workshops

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:41:40-04:00November 17th, 2017|Tags: community, implicit bias, workshop|

by Natalie Spriggs, Youth Programs Director Lately, “implicit bias” is a buzz term that has popped up in articles and social media. Most folks know what bias is, but implicit biases are those biases that are hidden; one may not necessarily be aware of. Peace Learning Center has taken on tackling the issues around implicit bias. We have created a 4-Hour long workshop that helps people look inside themselves, figuring out what implicit biases one may have as well as analyzing gatekeepers and how this affects the daily work folks do. Peace Learning Center has led many of these implicit bias workshops with all sorts of people. Of course when something is hidden finding it can always be a challenge. Homework is given before these workshops: the Harvard implicit bias surveys. There are several different ways to uncover implicit bias. This is just one of the ways used to help folks see where some of their implicit bias may lie. It is interesting to me the different reactions people have with the implicit bias test. Most all of the reactions people may experience are perfectly normal; reactions range from disbelief, refusal of taking the test, questioning of the validity of the test, and many other reactions. Others have a great understanding before they take this test, have done some work themselves around implicit bias, and understand everyone has implicit bias. Again all of these reactions are perfectly normal; just stages

Impact Story: You and I vs. Us and We

Inside Implicit Bias Workshops