In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Wendy Vang-Roberts (Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement) and Yixiu Chen (State of Minnesota Department of Human Services) discuss the way unconscious biases show up in the form of microaggressions.

Most volunteers are kind, amazing people who care about your cause and want to help others, so it’s rare that they would blatantly or intentionally say or do something hurtful. But we all hold biases. Some that we may not be aware of. These are unconscious biases, and they can show up in the form of microaggressions, which can be challenging to address, especially with well-meaning people. In this interactive session, we will define and provide examples of microaggressions, discuss how they can show up in volunteer programs and talk about the harmful effects they have. You will leave with strategies to navigate these difficult conversations with your volunteers to create more inclusive spaces.

Learning Outcomes

• Participants will gain an understanding of microaggressions and how they show up
• Participants will gain an understanding of the harmful effects of microaggressions
• Participants will leave with strategies to address microaggressions