Riverhead’s upcoming implicit bias workshops have been opened up to the community.
The interactive workshops each have two sessions. Residents can choose either the Monday morning sessions, which take place June 21 and June 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, or the Tuesday evening sessions, which will be held June 22 and June 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Both sessions will take place at Riverhead Town Hall.
The workshops, presented by the Riverhead Anti-Bias Task Force, will be led by Professor James Banks, who has conducted this program throughout Suffolk County.
Banks describes the workshop as “… a chance for people to peaceably listen to folks who think differently.”
The ABTF, with the approval and support of Town Board, has arranged for board members, department heads and staff to attend the workshop, ABTF co-chairperson Cindy Clifford said.
She said it’s important to recognize “we are all more alike than different and that stereotypes can be harmful to individuals and communities.”
Implicit biases are often biases people are not even aware they have — they may even run counter to a person’s conscious beliefs.
Availability for the sessions will be limited. Interested persons should email a request to ABTF@TownOfRiverheadNY.gov. They will be notified when their attendance is confirmed.
“If we are not willing to listen to others who think differently, that in itself can be a bias,” Banks said. “And most often, implicit bias is unconscious, which means we don’t even know we have it.”
The two-part Implicit Bias workshop will be held in the Riverhead Town Hall Boardroom. Attendees can choose either the Monday morning sessions from 10am-noon on 6/21 & 6/28, or the Tuesday evening sessions from 6:30pm-8:30pm on 6/22 & 6/29.
Professor James Banks, who has successfully shared this program throughout Suffolk County will conduct Riverhead’s as well and describes it as “… a chance for people to peaceably listen to folks who think differently. If we are not willing to listen to others who think differently, that in itself can be a bias. And most often, implicit bias is unconscious, which means we don’t even know we have it.”
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
