“Microaggressions” are small, verbal acts of aggression that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults, particularly towards marginalized or underrepresented groups. These acts fall under the broader category of “microinequities,” which consist of a pattern of overlooking, under respecting, and devaluing individuals because of their identity.

Understanding concepts like “microaggressions” and “micro-inequities” is fundamental to the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) success of any association. Unfortunately, these are too often foreign concepts to organizations tackling DEIA endeavors and they can be in tension with certain legal mandates. There is a difference between what you “can say” legally, and what you should say to create a welcoming and inclusive work environment. This program will explain why.

This program will provide a refresher on the basics of DEIA, followed by specific training on microaggressions, which usually emanate from our conscious and unconscious biases. Through a series of interactive engagement tools, participants will learn what microaggressions and other anti-diversity language and actions are, as well as how to self-identify areas of diversity “blind spots” and biases.

The training does not require any prior knowledge and uses evidence-based methods of instruction.

Topics include:

• The general concept of DEIA
• The latest data on effective DEIA efforts
• Microaggressions and microinequities
• Blind spots, cognitive biases, and stereotyping

Participants will gain the following skills:

• Active listening through reframing, reflecting back, summarizing and paraphrasing
• Productive communication on DEIA subjects
• Forming elucidating questions
• Managing emotions and increasing resiliency when confronting race-related issues
• Identifying interests and generating options
• Reality testing to identify objective and subjective “truths”
• Working through impasse and reaching agreement

At the conclusion of the training, all participants will have had an opportunity to better understand microaggressions and how to avoid and/or repair them.

Space is limited to 30 participants per session.

Fee schedule: $6,000

For additional information or to schedule a training workshop, please contact Jane Ferketic at deia@halloransage.com or call 860.297.4641.