The Presence of Racism is a Health Hazard - a County Government Story

In an environment of physical disconnection over the last couple of years, and increased social divisiveness, it is important to help your team members reconnect and effectively communicate. Topics, such as racism, can be uncomfortable conversations. However, if we can:

• see past another's outer appearance,

• understand how our own biases may unfavorably affect our behaviors,

• listen to someone else's story and be willing to share our own, and

• seek to find what we have in common with others

having uncomfortable conversations becomes easier and the experiences can create a much closer and more effective collective team. People in your organization can develop a stronger sense of belonging, not just contributing. This is the story of a major county government that has chosen to take a proactive approach to implicit bias training.