This is so cool to go through the process to become a Community Mentor having been a part of creating this amazing, impactful program.

This is my take on the following:

What did you understand about unconscious bias?

That it's multi-faceted, that it affects all of us, that we all need to practice mindfulness and active listening, and that we all need to work toward becoming more aware of how harmful and hurtful that can be to others.

Have you ever encountered it and how did you deal with it?

I think we all experience this, more often that we notice or acknowledge. I feel like as a woman, we're constantly being judge or seen from a certain lens, by men, that see us as less than, a pretty wallflower to be seen, not heard, that we should only say pleasant things, and when spoken to. I think this harmful assumptions are much more prevalent than most of us realize. I also think that women quite often judge other women, too. Quite often people say things about someone's weight, perceived physical beauty, intelligence, whether they're a mother, etc. I think we all need to be mindful of the assumptions and dialogue that we're making of anyone we encounter on a daily basis, and to be as kind, understanding, compassionate, and tolerant of the differences, or perceived differences. We never know what someone is going through or what their reality is.

Thanks for the opportunity, World Pulse!