Unconscious Bias through Diverse Lenses- Breaking Labels
The 2024 Tri State ACA Conference is coming up in March, and we are so excited to present a session about unconscious bias and diversity. We hope that you can join us for an exclusive peek into issues facing members of the LGBTQIA+ and Disability communities – as told through our personal perspectives and experiences. This session will enable you to support your staff and campers who fall into these dimensions of diversity.
Peeling Back Labels
We live in a world that is full of labels. At a young age, we are taught to sort and label – blocks, crayons, toys and more. When purchasing products, it is the label that will catch our eye. And on social media platforms, where our staff and campers spend much of their time, labeling and hashtags are the norm.
Labeling products is helpful and necessary, but labeling people is harmful and limiting. Humans are complex and multifaceted. Simply put, we are all more than just a label.
Yet, it is hard to peel back our labels. No matter where you are on your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey, everyone has unconscious or implicit biases. So how do you begin to move past your biases?
Understanding Bias
Self-awareness is critical when it comes to acknowledging your biases. Once you are aware of your biases, you can accept them and move past them.
Having a bias is not evidence that something is wrong with you. Biases are a natural and normal part of human development. When things can go wrong is when our biases are left unexamined and unchallenged. This is when they can become “the norm” and when they become harmful to others.
Think you don’t have biases? Think again! Let’s ask our good friend, science, to help us out. Warning! Contents contain big scientific words. Most of the brain has evolved over time - except the amygdala! The Amygdala is the same amygdala that was part of our brains during the hunter and gathering days, when categorization was necessary for survival. That means our antiquated brains are hardwired to categorize things and people into two major categories: familiar vs unfamiliar, which our brains translate into safe vs unsafe.
Awareness and Acceptance are Key
The question is, if we can’t change or evolve the amygdala, how do we stop ourselves from having unconscious biases?
The answer is more self-awareness.
Once we become more self-aware as camp leaders, we can serve our camp communities with more intention and grace. While we know that unconscious bias is a natural part of human cognition, we cannot allow these biases to influence our actions and decisions. This can lead to unintentional discrimination.
By examining unconscious bias through diverse lenses, we can better comprehend its impact on marginalized communities and give our brains new meaning for unfamiliar groups of people. This additional context will reduce the power that your biases have over your thoughts and decisions.
How to Get Started
Unraveling unconscious bias through diverse lenses requires commitment, education, honest self-reflection, and a collective effort to challenge stereotypes. By becoming self-aware, we begin to peel back limiting labels – and can cultivate an environment where everyone is celebrated for their unique identities and contributions.
If you are committed to creating more inclusive and equitable spaces for members of the LGBTQIA+ and Disability communities, join us on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 during Block B from 2:00pm-3:00pm in Unconscious Bias Through Diverse Lenses- Breaking Labels.
We will guide you through storytelling, conversations and activities. You will leave with take-aways that you can bring back to your camp teams to start the conversation around this complicated and necessary work.
Bridgette Barbera-Byrne (she/her/hers), diversity and inclusion expert, has been navigating the LGBTQ+ community and the issues that go along with it all her life. With a career in youth development for over 20 years, Bridgette has spearheaded and pioneered many efforts to make progress within the LGBTQ+ community. Her goals include raising awareness, increasing knowledge, and ultimately teaching people how to embrace each others' differences. She imagines a world where taking the time to talk about our differences will make a positive change towards inclusion for all.
Erin Lacotta (she/her/hers), BCBA, is the Director of Behavior Support and Adaptive Programming for the YMCA of Greater Brandywine Association. In her current role, she provides leadership and support on process and inclusion for the more than 5,000 children who attend summer camp and childcare programming across Chester County, PA. Her commitment to cultivating opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, as well as sharing knowledge and empowering others, has led her to collaborate with various organizations, educational institutions, and community groups to provide trainings, and promote understanding, acceptance, and social change in the pursuit of a more inclusive society. Erin's passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion work is at the core of her professional and personal values. She advocates for equal opportunities and access to support for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.