The blatant racial and economic injustices of 2020 forced organizations and individuals alike to examine their treatment of historically excluded groups. This collective analysis has spotlighted the many ways in which our language matters. What we say and how we say it is tied to what we feel and believe, consciously or unconsciously. Too often, people are ill-equipped to recognize the harmful impact of their words and actions and to effectively take responsibility for their impact. This lack of skill creates environments where people feel devalued and less engaged with their work and relationships.
This workshop offers strategies for addressing microaggressions, the common, yet covert factors that sustain hostile and exclusionary professional settings. In this workshop, participants will learn:
1. What are microaggressions and how do we know when we are experiencing them?
2. How do microaggressions affect us mentally, emotionally and physically?
3. How can we engage in relationship repair after microaggressions have occurred?
This workshop will define microaggressions, explore the role and responsibilities of the recipient, perpetrator and bystander, and offer tools for relational repair after the event has occurred. Through didactic instruction, experiential activities and small group processing, this workshop seeks to boost the confidence of participants in navigating these interactions in a way that respects the well-being and dignity of all those involved.