Roots Honor Program Raises Awareness on Implicit Bias

Linn-Mar’s Roots Honor Program has wrapped up their efforts to raise awareness on implicit bias.

Over the course of the year, the group presented to Linn-Mar staff at seven schools and the Learning Resource Center.

“The goal of the presentation was to educate staff about their role in creating an environment where they are aware of what implicit bias and microaggressions are, and how to speak up when it does happen,” said Student Assistance Counselor Janessa Walters.

According to Ohio State University, implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.

The presentation given to staff was the result of students sharing the challenging experiences they were having based on their ethnicity or things that were being assumed because of their ethnicity. “I challenged students to rise up and do something positive about this to combat these issues,” she said.

“Roots Honor Program students have blown me away with their abilities to communicate these issues to teachers and staff throughout the district,” Walters said.

Linn-Mar’s Roots Honor Program was started to give students in ALO (Accountability Leadership Opportunity) students another opportunity to expand their leadership skills and take them to the next level.