A new diversity and inclusion event will offer Huskers insight into personal biases and provide access to resources available via local organizations.
The Check Your Blind Spots event, which is 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 17 on the Nebraska Union Plaza, will feature a multi-media trailer designed to teach individuals about their unconscious biases. It will be accompanied by a resource fair with more than 20 local organizations and campus partners.
The program is organized by the Staff Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council in response to findings of a University of Nebraska–Lincoln diversity analysis completed last year by Halualani and Associates.
“The report mentioned that the university does a lot of diversity-related programming, but they are nearly all offered within silos and are one-and-done events,” said Karen Kassebaum, director of staff diversity and inclusion. “The findings stressed the need to do something that was continual and open to the entire campus community. That’s our goal with this, to create an annual program that connects diversity efforts universitywide and builds upon them.”
The event will feature a stop by the Check Your Blind Spots Mobile Tour, which brings the multi-media trailer to campuses nationwide. The trailer uses videos and short quizzes to help individuals realize what biases they have and how to move beyond them.
The tour is part of CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, the largest chief executive officer-driven commitment in the United States. It is designed to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The movement includes a pledge that administrators can sign, signifying that their organization/company is dedicated to creating a workplace environment where diversity and inclusion are valued.
Chancellor Ronnie Green signed the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge earlier this year.
Based on the chancellor signing the pledge and the positive influence Blind Spots has made at other universities, the council thought this would be the ideal way to kick off the fall semester while also starting an annual event that is focused on diversity and inclusion.
The Check Your Blind Spots Mobile Tour — Diversity and Inclusion Resource Fair is funded through an Inclusive Excellence Development grant provided by University of Nebraska Central Administration.
Learn more information about the event at https://hr.unl.edu/check-your-blind-spot-tour/.
