Focus 203 session to explore 'Understanding Implicit Bias'

Focus 203 will host its next community engagement sessions "Courageous Conversations: Understanding Implicit Bias" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Naperville North High School Learning Commons, 899 N. Mill St., and 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Grace United Methodist Church, 300 E. Gartner Road.

It will be a follow-up to the November session "Courageous Conversations on Race."

The district invites residents to continue this conversation on creating an inclusive environment in Naperville Unit District 203.

To learn more about these sessions, visit www.naperville203.org/Page/7168.

Focus 203 comes as a result of feedback we heard from the community throughout the Future Focus 203 Community Engagement process. Participants in "Future Focus" commented that they appreciated hearing about the school district and its celebrations, challenges and vision. Focus 203 provides an interactive forum where district residents gather to engage in the meaningful dialogue and discussion on topics of mutual interest to generate ideas and suggestions that ultimately strengthen the learning community.

Each of the sessions follow a timed agenda starting with an informational presentation about the topic for the workshop, followed by a small group work activity giving participants the opportunity to respond to the presentation.

These engagement sessions are not conducive to the format of an open forum or debate. They are educational work sessions, focused on results and reaching consensus or collective decisions as a group. It is designed to maximize your time to be as positive and productive as possible, while still allowing for the free exchange of ideas. The intent is to involve a large number of people that is as representative of the community as possible.