Webinar offers wellness strategies for those experiencing microaggressions and workplace stress

CHICAGO — As part of ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo’s efforts in the areas of wellness and diversity, the ALA-APA will host a free webinar entitled ‘Strategies for wellness for those experiencing microaggressions plus workplace stress’ at noon Eastern/11 a.m. Central/8 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Register now.

People from diverse social identity groups frequently experience microaggressions — verbal and non-verbal messages that are invalidating or demeaning. These could be experienced in addition to workplace stress. Situations like these can take their toll on a person’s emotional, psychological, and physical health, as well as decrease workplace engagement. Navigating microaggressions and workplace stress means being able to identify and name the experience, having the words and skills to call attention to these, and having strategies to achieve wellness for those experiencing them.

In this webinar, Dr. Nicole A. Cooke of the University of Urbana-Champaign, will introduce the theme and concepts of microaggressions and workplace stress and will moderate the event. Two librarians and a counselor educator will share strategies for personal responses by individuals, allies and upstanders, and discuss ways to change workplace culture. ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo will provide opening remarks. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the ALA-APA Emotional Wellness page.

Invited Speakers:

Dr. Nicole A. Cooke, Associate Professor and MS/LIS Program Director at the Graduate School of Library/Information Science at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Pambanisha Whaley, MLS, Collections, Assessment, and Resource Management Coordinator at Alabama State University

Chippewa Thomas, Associate Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision (Clinical Mental Health Counseling) & Director, Office of Faculty Engagement at Auburn University

Jaena Alabi, Research and Instruction Services Librarian for the areas of English, Psychology, and Africana Studies at Auburn University’s Ralph Brown Draughon Library