10-12-20 Implicit Bias Training Provided to City Employees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Implicit Bias Training
DATE: October 12, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Teal Soden, Communications Director, 907-459-6793, tsoden@fairbanks.us
This week, a course entitled “Understanding Implicit Bias” is being provided to employees in all City of Fairbanks departments. Bret Hood, the founder of 21st Century Learning & Consulting, has traveled to Fairbanks and will be completing this interactive and discussion-based course in-person, as well as virtually, with City employees.
One of the primary goals of City employees is to offer the best service possible to our residents and community partners; this training is one tool that will be used to improve that service. The purpose of the training is for attendees to learn how implicit biases can impact behavior, decision-making, interpersonal communication skills, and investigations. Participants will also explore methods to assist in identifying and recognizing implicit biases, while also creating methods, policies, and procedures to mitigate negative effects.
The instructor, Michael “Bret” Hood, spent 25 years as an FBI Special Agent investigating complex cases while specializing in financial crimes, corruption, and money laundering violations. During the last four years of his FBI career, Mr. Hood served as a University of Virginia adjunct professor of leadership and ethics for the FBI National Academy where he designed and delivered four different, completely interactive, ten-week courses on leadership and ethics. Mr. Hood specialized in the psychology of leadership and the effects of implicit bias on people, communities, leadership, ethics, and investigations. Upon his retirement in 2016, he opened 21st Century Learning & Consulting, LLC, a training and consulting business.
Mr. Hood will be making a presentation regarding this course at tonight’s City Council Meeting, which begins at 6:30pm. Information on how you can listen in to the City Council Meeting can be found on our website at: https://www.fairbanksalaska.us/citycouncil/page/stay-connected-city-council
