Mobilizing for Organizational Change to Address Microaggressions

This workshop will introduce the Get A Collective GRIP® approach for addressing microaggressions through bystander activation. UML Center for Women & Work’s distinctive approach emphasizes ways that bystander action can foster more positive and inclusive organizational cultures by promoting collective accountability for challenging expressions of workplace bias. Expanding collective organizational capacity to address bias in respectful ways has been shown to have an empowering impact and to foster more equitable organizational norms, behaviors, and workplace climate. Rather than a one-time bystander workshop, the approach underscores the importance of embedding the bystander work within an organization. The workshop will guide participants in the development of a strategic plan for bringing about significant organizational change.

The Mobilizing for Organizational Change to Address Microaggressions workshop is designed for people who have the capacity and passion to lead bystander efforts within their own organization. The 2-day workshop covers the following:

• Workshop Day 1 – In-depth coverage of the Get a Collective GRIP® approach, the preventive benefit of focusing on microaggressions, and the potential of bystander approaches to activate change in organizational norms
• Workshop Day 2 – Embedding bystander work in your organization and developing a strategic plan for implementation

Workshop Learning Outcomes: By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Understand the concept of bystander intervention
• Recognize personal and systemic barriers to bystander action
• Gain knowledge of the Get A Collective GRIP® approach for bystander intervention
• Be able to assess their organization’s readiness to address workplace microaggressions
• Develop a strategic plan for implementing a bystander initiative within their own organization