DEI Professional Development Workshop: Did They Really Just Say That?! Being an Active Bystander

Have you ever been in a conversation when someone said something biased that made you uncomfortable, but you were not sure how to respond? Many of us struggle to address these all too common situations, whether in the classroom, the workplace, while spending time with friends, or enjoying time with family. Even though we want to do what is right and stand up for equality, we do not always know how to take action in that awkward moment—especially if we are not sure whether the person making the comment actually meant to cause harm.

As individuals dedicated to dismantling systemic oppression, we must be empowered to take action in these moments when bias manifests so that we can create a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming environment for all people. This training seeks to empower and equip participants to speak out in response to those all too common, “Did they really just say that?!” moments when bias emerges. This training illustrates the importance of committing to being an active bystander in moments when bias emerges through microaggressions, as well as provides actionable skills to do so. These skills are tailored to create educational conversations in response to biased comments/actions, rather than eliciting a defensive reaction from the person who has (perhaps unintentionally) caused harm.

Participants in this training will thus learn how to communicate effectively in challenging situations through the employment of strategies that can be tailored to the particular situation at hand.

This workshop is free and open to the entire OSU community. Cap: 35. This workshop will also be made available to our colleagues at OSU's regional campuses who want to attend remotely via Zoom. 

Refreshments and light snacks will be provided.

Facilitator:

Lena Tenney, MPA, MEd., Coordinator of Public Engagement, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Honorific: Mx. Tenney