Addressing Implicit Bias in Nonprofit Organizations

About

Dr. Marks’ engaging and interactive workshop will not only provide a clear description of implicit bias, but also describe its causes, consequences, measurement, potential solutions, and implications for nonprofit employees and organizations.  Join us for this deep-dive workshop into how implicit bias shows up in ourselves and in nonprofit organizations, and how you can change your personal and organizational behaviors and practices.

We all have biases. The impact of our implicit bias on others, however, significantly depends on our social and professional roles in society. The biases held by police officers, physicians, prosecutors and criminal court judges can literally determine whether someone lives or dies. Biases held by teachers and school administrators affect educational practices and student outcomes. And for the nonprofit sector, implicit biases affect the priorities set and supported by nonprofit organizations, as well as the way service providers, community organizers, and other grass-roots organizations interact with the people they serve.

Research has revealed that many Americans show a positive implicit bias toward White Americans vs. African Americans, young vs. old, and fit vs. obese.  (Curious about your own?  Check here for some insight). Repeated exposure to certain associations between specific groups and specific traits/characteristics are often very strong and difficult to undue without deliberate effort or ongoing training. It is possible, however, to implement practices or policies that reduce the likelihood that implicitly biased beliefs will lead to biased behaviors.

At this workshop, we will explore the full range of implicit bias, broadly defined as the varying degrees of stereotyping (exaggerated beliefs about others), prejudice (dis/liking others), and/or discrimination (unequal treatment of others) below conscious awareness in a manner that typically benefits oneself or one’s group.

The training addresses the following questions:

• What is implicit bias?
• What does implicit bias look like in the real world—and in philanthropy specifically?
• What causes implicit bias?
• How is implicit bias measured?
• How does implicit bias affect the person who holds the bias?
• How does implicit bias affect the attitudes and behaviors of the targeted group?
• How can implicit bias be reduced/managed at the individual and organizational levels?

The training includes:

• Highly interactive and introspective exercises, including live polling
• Participants completing a measure of implicit bias and discussing the results
• Small working group discussions regarding how to implement several recommended practices/policies to reduce bias.  These discussions include:
  • Identifying recommendations that can be implemented in the short-term
  • Identifying challenges and solutions to implementing the those recommendations
  • Creating a list of concrete next steps toward implementation of those recommendations
• An overview of follow-up activities and materials that will reinforce workshop information and increase the likelihood of long-term impact

Fee
$20 per person (breakfast/lunch provided) (Scholarships available if needed—contact Dave Sheldon). Payment must be by credit card. NOTE: No refunds if canceling after January 4, 2019.

Who May Attend
Open to employees and board members (not consultants or volunteers) of nonprofit service providers, community organizers, nonprofit media professionals and other grass-roots organizations in Southern California only.  This is not for religious worship organizations (e.g., churches and synagogues), academia, or private philanthropy. Private philanthropic organizations can attend the Addressing Implicit Bias in Philanthropy workshop on February 8. Only nonprofit organizations that fit the criteria may send people to the workshop. If we cannot verify the relationship (via website or another method, you may be turned away.)

Registration

If you do not already have an SCG account log-in, you will need to create an account. To do so, click the Register Nowbutton above and you will be prompted to create an account.  Please contact us with any questions about registering.

Accommodations for People with Disabilities
If you have a disability and require accommodation in order to fully participate in this activity, please contact our programs team at programsrsvp@socalgrantmakers.org or (213) 680-8866. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs.