While the words “diversity and equity” are becoming more common in the description of organizations’ missions, discrimination is still rampant. In order to end conflict, one must recognize there is a conflict. People who discriminate are either not aware of their bias, or they assert that the negative stereotypes they project onto others are “normal.” Thus, conflict resolution starts within the self, by bringing awareness to internal narratives that frame people, who are different from us, as a negative and menacing “other.”

In order for any organization to thrive, “othering” (i.e. fear of the “other”) among leaders and employees must be replaced with collaboration based on a true appreciation of diversity. A welcoming and supportive environment is a moral and ethical must, and it is also linked to a boost in employees’ motivation and productivity. A recent McKinsey study reveals that companies that are inclusive of diversity 35% more likely to outperform their competitors.

The goal of this workshop is to bring awareness to personal and social issues that are rooted in discrimination based on gender, age, race, religion, physical ability, and other definitions of identity to shed light on internal bias and prejudice. Participants will engage in contemplative practices such as deep breathing, deep listening, and non-violent communication to increase awareness of the stories we tell ourselves and others, the impact of body language, and an improvement in cultural and emotional intelligence.

Presenter: Laura "Dr.B" Biagi, Short Bio

Originally from Italy, Dr.B moved to New York City in her 20's to immerse herself in diverse social environments. She earned a Master and a Ph.D. from the Department of Performance Studies at New York University, with a dissertation on Southern Italian healing rituals. A world traveler, Dr. Be has lectured and consulted with prestigious educational institutions in the United States, such as New York University, Vassar College, DePaul University, School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Howard University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. Between 2017 and 2018, she designed and taught courses on “storytelling as a healing art” at Cook County Jail in Chicago, in collaboration with DePaul University and the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program. Dr.B’s hybrid solo performances – part storytelling, sound healing, and meditation – have been showcased around the world in festivals and conferences including, in Chicago, Collaboration’s 2017 Peacebook Festival at the Goodman Theatre, and Chicago Ideas Week 2017. The book Saraswati’s Pearls: Dialogues on the Yoga of Sound is a collection of multicultural dialogues she had with her yoga teacher, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. Dr.B was one of the few speakers to be selected at the TEDx DePaul University event in 2018 with her talk, “Reimagine Failure: Breathe, Belong, Believe.” www.drlaurabiagi.com

Contemplative Pedagogy in the Classroom: Issues and Methods (Loop)