Let's Get Real

Let's Get Real

Join us for an exciting in-person event called Let's Get Real!

Berkshire County Head Start is holding our first annual Let’s Get Real conference focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). The purpose of this conference is to build a learning community for service providers to come together and share experiences, self-reflect, and learn more about best practices in regard to DEIB in a real way. 

What’s different about this conference? 

Workshops will be specifically designed to challenge participants to think openly, deeply, and differently about inclusion practices, implicit bias, fatherhood, and microaggressions that may occur while interacting with others in everyday work. Learning experiences will be steered beyond surface-level discussions and support participants to navigate sensitive topics in a way that will deepen their understanding and provide guidance in creating more accessibility for families who need support.  

The goal of Let’s Get Real is not focused on cultural competence which is loosely defined by the ability to engage knowledgeably with people across cultures. Instead, it is intended to create authentic and transparent conversations to support cultural humility, which opens conversations in a way that genuinely attempts to understand a person’s identity related to race and ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, education, and social needs. Throughout the day, providers will have the opportunity to assess how current practices/systems do or do not meet the needs of the families we serve and work collaboratively to develop strategies that address service gaps for families.  

See workshop descriptions here and see below for videos from our presenters!

Dear Black Father...

Anthony Gay

Implicit Bias/Microaggressions

Dr. Sarah Blizzard

Unlocking Inclusivity: Leading with Curiosity in Today's Workplace

Lynn Whitney Turner

Going from Father Engagement to Father Equality, Inclusion, and Equity

Abdul-Rahmaan I. Muhammad, LMSW