Hutchinson Center

(Online) Racial Equity, Implicit Bias & Diversity Workshop

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This virtual professional development program, offered by Racial Equity & Justice, is designed to deepen your awareness around racial equity, implicit bias and diversity and spark reflection around how you and your team/organization/business/school/church/etc. can take meaningful action to create a more equitable world. This training includes organizational analysis, solution-based discussions and resources for change.

PROGRAM DATES & TIMES

To be informed as soon as the next session is announced, please sign up for the interest list.

We also partner with Racial Equity & Justice to offer customized trainings. Learn more about custom trainings here.

MODALITY

This dynamic program will be offered synchronously via Zoom—you’ll need access to a stable internet connection. Participation is encouraged (though not required). This is NOT a pre-recorded program.

The Hutchinson Center has a limited number of computers (and plenty of Wi-Fi to go around). If you’d like to participate virtually via the Hutchinson Center, please request support via the form here.

PROGRAM BENEFITS                      

• Develop your understanding of key obstacles to success in recruitment, retention and performance — including implicit bias, microaggressions and harmful stereotypes
• Conduct and evaluate a diversity, equity and inclusion audit of your policies, procedures, and overall environment
• Provide a strategic plan to help integrate DEI practices and increase diversity within your organization
• Design an outreach plan to engage diverse professionals, community members and families to strengthen talent within your organization, board and leadership
• Understand the role of organizational gatekeeping as a mechanism for perpetuating racism
• Create processes to continue building a supportive, inclusive environment

TOPICS COVERED

• How racism, implicit bias and discrimination manifest and can be improved through collaboration, messaging, outreach, policy, trust and values
• Reflection and self-awareness around identity & privilege (personal and organizational)
• Advancing cultural competency
• Human resources – how to hire and retain diverse staff members without tokenization
• Equitable problem solving
• Strategies for addressing diversity, equity and inclusion
• Identifying resources to address challenges
• Community impact assessment
• Solution-based opportunities to advance racial equity

WHO SHOULD ENROLL

This online professional development program is designed to further your understanding of racial equity, diversity, and implicit bias. If you want to understand how you, your business, organization or school can move beyond reflecting and into the work of creating a more equitable world, this is the program for you. We encourage you to sign up along with other people from your networks — an accountability partner goes a long way!

• Professionals
• Teachers, educators, professors—anyone in the field of teaching and learning
• Administrators
• Municipalities
• Nonprofit workers
• Healthcare administrators and workers (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, birth workers, etc.)
• Lawyers
• Social workers
• Clinicians
• Small business owners
• Writers/journalists/communications professionals
• Religious leaders/administrators
• Human resource professionals

All perspectives and opinions shared during this training are confidential.

Not sure if this program is right for you? Contact us at um.fhc.pd@maine.edu or 207.338.8002 and we can help you figure it out.

INSTRUCTOR(S)

David Patrick (Co-Founder of Racial Equity & Justice), MSW he/him/his
As an advocate for communities of color, David supports families, individuals, and students through his work as a co-founder of Racial Equity & Justice and Associate Director of The Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine. David combines experimental knowledge, social work education, and clinical problem-solving skills to build cross-cultural relationships, offer consultation, and provide mediation. His focus is working with strategic partners, stakeholders, and community leaders for policy development, policy implementation, and community change. As a speaker, writer, and facilitator, David offers candid reflections of his experiences as a person of color in both public and private life. As a social worker, David supports adoptive families with post-adoption support resources, advocacy, and mentorship. In addition, David has spent many years working with some of our most vulnerable neighbors through his work with individuals struggling with housing and homelessness, substance use disorders & recovery, and Crisis Intervention. Gardening is not only a method of healing for David but a resilient form of supporting and feeding his family and community members.

Desiree Vargas (Co-Founder of Racial Equity & Justice) she/her/hers

As an Indigenous woman of color and an anthropology scholar, Desiree navigates advocating for Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color uniquely with a focus on redistribution of resources, cultural preservation, racial justice advocacy, community organizing, grant writing, community herbalism, community food and garden work, media, harm reduction, anti-gender based violence advocacy, and decolonized activism. As a consultant, speaker, and DEI training facilitator at Racial Equity and Justice Firm, Desiree offers inclusive support through education from a trauma-informed, holistic health, culturally aware, historical lens. Her approach to community work is through decolonization and Indigenous sovereignty, ultimately to create pathways to liberation from violence, for both people and earth. Desiree is co-founder of Racial Equity and Justice Organization. Additionally, she is Co-Lead of Grants for Change Program at Maine Initiatives. Desiree applies her past experience of a behavioral health professional work and childcare to the youth education she does now. Additionally, she is involved in various initiatives in her Taino tribe as a councilwoman and enrolled member. Desiree is a huge advocate for land access as cultural activities and stewardship is essential for healing and cultural preservation for generations to come. She relies on her culture, archery, outdoor activities, relationship with earth, and herbal remedies as lifeways to heal and enthusiastically encourages others to embrace fully their own traditional ancestral healing as a form of liberation and resilience.

To learn more about Racial Equity & Justice, click here.

PROGRAM FEE

$70

Click here for more information about paying for your professional development, including information about need-based scholarships, group discounts and tips on how to get your employer on board.

Current UMaine students are eligible for a 20% discount. Use code STUDENT20 at checkout.

Note: UMaine offers a number of ongoing programs related to racial justice, implicit bias, diversity and inclusion to the UMaine community. For more information about these programs, please visit the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.

CLASS CAPACITY

30

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• 0.2 CEUs/2.5 contact hours
• Certificate of completion

Learn more about Continuing Education Units (CEUs) here.

ACCOMMODATIONS

For more information or to request an accommodation contact Michelle Patten, Conference and Professional Development Coordinator, um.fhc.pd@maine.edu; 207.338.8002.

Register