If you've been following my posts for a while, you’ve surely read this is one before: words are powerful. We may use them carelessly, but the messages can stick and inform/lead to/strengthen biases, prejudices, and judgments that can ultimately undermine acceptance and inclusion. My mom is …
bias
Addressing Bias in Hiring
Unconscious Bias is a hot topic in the D&I world these days. It’s not surprising then, that the majority of presentations and workshops I have done in the past year have been (at least in part) about unconscious bias. Educating people about what it is and how it works is important and …
Power, Privilege, Unconscious Bias and… Body Language
Next week I’m presenting at an Advocates Society conference here in Toronto. The theme is body language. I’m no body language expert by any stretch, but what’s fascinating is examining body language within the context of power, privilege and unconscious bias. These are issues that I speak and …
[Continue reading] Power, Privilege, Unconscious Bias and… Body Language
Memory, Diversity and Inclusion
This week I’m re-reading a book by David Cameron Gikandi called A Happy Pocket Full of Money. It’s a great book about the mindset of abundance. I highly recommend it, it’s a fascinating read. It’s my second time through, and of course different things are jumping out at me this time. Here is …
Happy Thanksgiving?
If you live in Canada, this past weekend was Thanksgiving. I’m not going to write about why I don’t celebrate it. I’ve already done that twice. You can read those posts here. And here. Bias and its Impact This weekend I was thinking of two things – bias, and the impact of that. And it …
Happy (?) First Day of School…
I’m writing this amid the screaming of airplanes over my head from Toronto’s Airshow. Why we still “celebrate” this tradition when we have thousands of people living here from war-torn countries is beyond me. But I already wrote about that. I wanted to write about Serena Williams’ catsuit …
The Systemic Nature of Bias
On Monday, Starbucks Canada closed their stores for Anti-Bias training, and I was on the radio again to speak about it; this time with Alan Neal at CBC Ottawa’s All in a Day. What strikes me the most about conversations regarding bias is that we tend to focus on behaviours and individuals. This …
Starbucks and Anti-Bias Training
Yesterday Starbucks closed most of its stores in the USA to provide anti-bias training for their staff. This was part of their response to the incident at one of their locations in Philadelphia where the police were called and two Black men were arrested as they waited for their friend. Starbucks …
Judge Eidsvik’s comments about “dark people”
Judge Kristine Eidsvik told her class at the University of Calgary that she was uncomfortable walking into a room "full of big dark people." If you haven’t read the brief article in the Toronto Star, you can read it here. Sigh. Welcome to 2018. This type of comment isn’t surprising or …
[Continue reading] Judge Eidsvik’s comments about “dark people”
But You’re White…
Last week I had another interesting experience that has rocked my world a little more. Quite frankly, I should know better. But every time I get to see more, to notice and challenge my assumptions, I grow. That is the point, after all. And because these challenges allow me to see myself and others …