Page 245 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

Countering Implicit Bias” by D. Lucas. Retrieved from http://www.wamc.org/post/citizens-meet-

police-countering-implicit-bias.

During each of the dialogues on race and implicit bias, one or more presenters fulfilled the

role of facilitator whom supported leading the participants in the process. All four of the CC events

started with a presentation on explaining Implicit Bias led by Gregory Owens, Director of Strategic

Partnerships and Collaborations at NYS Office of Children and Family Services. At the later 3

events others also came forward to speak or moderate at the front of the room. I found that the

Albany dialogues had facilitators with no formal group training or nor anyone performing in that

role previously was unlikely. A little bit more of planning to where educating a room full of people

would include intervals of participation could occur relating points of interest as the lecture began.

My complaint with the first session was the domination of the presentation on teaching

about “Implicit Bias” and for the most part became a class lecture in how to recognize it with

sparse interaction or exercises. As educational as it was I had to point out that a lecture is not

community dialogue when participants are simply watching and not interacting as a group. There

was some really great information given but not enough reflection during the session was given,

however the opening video testing attention is a great starting point and would have been useful

to begin a group discussion that way.

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