Unconscious Bias: Discovering Racism of the Well-Intentioned

Co-sponsored by the Greater Austin Forum for Diversity & Inclusion (GAFDI) and Austin Multicultural Friends Redux

Brief Summary: The workshop will help participants better understand how unconscious bias influences hiring practices, evaluation, service implementation, and leadership styles. There will be an opportunity to identify ways to improve decision making to diminish the impact of unconscious bias and reduce micro-inequalities.

Description: Recent research provides a deeper understanding of how we relate to one another, and how that contributes to our individual, organizational, and societal challenges around diversity and inclusion. In an evolving society that has changed so significantly, it is essential for organizations to understand and counteract the impacts of unconscious biases. The workshop on unconscious bias is for professional and student audiences. During this dynamic and interactive training, participants will examine how unconscious biases develop, how they influence perceptions and decision making, and their impact on diversity and inclusion efforts. This innovative, evidence based, interactive learning experience provides new skills for decision-making, building inclusive teams and cultures, intercultural communication, and increasing engagement with professionals and clients.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe unconscious bias, micro-inequities, and their deleterious effects on decision making strategies for organizations.
2. Identify unconscious bias according to race using the Race – Implicit Association Test (Race-IAT).
3. Recognize the numerous risky conditions that perpetuates unconscious bias and likely influences one’s thoughts and actions while developing strategies that demonstrate promise in reducing unconscious bias on behavior (micro-inequities).
4. Identify ways to improve decision making and problem solving efforts through cultural competency development.

Presenter

Affectionately known as “KP”, Dr. Kazique J. Prince is founder and chief executive officer at Jelani Consulting, LLC (http://www.JelaniConsulting.org) based in Austin, Texas. Jelani Consulting, LLC (http://www.JelaniConsulting.org), provides executive and leadership consultation and coaching services focused on cultural competency for individuals, teams, and organizations in business, education, government, healthcare, and for non-profit groups. Throughout his career, Dr. Prince carved out a reputation as a dynamic and comprehensive communicator and trusted adviser. Governed by a focused vision for the future and fueled by a passion to make a difference in the new global economy, he has considerable experience in the areas of Project & Program Management, Diversity & Inclusion Management, and Cross-functional Leadership Development. He also owns a powerful understanding of people and what motivates them, drawing upon unique skill sets to sell, counsel and encourage others towards meaningful, lasting change.

As a change agent who seeks the broader view in all situations, Dr. Prince draws upon resources and deep knowledge base to assist others in utilizing their own strengths and capabilities. He collaborates with clients working on managing cultural differences by trailblazing through opposition, spearheading forward-thinking, cutting-edge initiatives and programs while successfully uniting team members behind common goals.