PAULDING – County superintendent Brian Gerber indicated that he will retire prior to the State Teacher Retirement System (STRS) pension reform in 2015, during the April 10 meeting of the Western Buckeye board.

By AMBER GEBERS • Progress Correspondent

HAVILAND – The Wayne Trace Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, April 15. The board entertained two parties of guests that evening, as well as multiple contract renewals.

PAULDING – The Paulding County Carnegie Library team won two awards at the recent Ohio Library Council NW Chapter Conference, held in Toledo on April 12.

By JOE SHOUSE • Progress Correspondent

ANTWERP – The Dollar General Store update, a new gas furnace for the depot, and spotting eagles in the park were issues of concern for the Antwerp Village Council during their regular monthly meeting on Monday evening, April 15.

By BILL SHERRY • Progress Correspondent

PAULDING – Paulding Village Council met Monday, April 15. Much of the meeting was devoted to issues relating to parks and recreation.

HAVILAND – The 21st Century after-school program at Wayne Trace Local Schools in conjunction with the YWCA welcomes guest speaker Courtnee Carrigan and her presentation Unconscious Bias in Parenting Situations and Everyday Living. It will take place from 5-6 p.m., in the Lecture Hall at Wayne Trace Jr/Sr. High School on Tuesday, April 16. This presentation is free to the public.

So what is unconscious bias? It is the concept that we are all biased at an unconscious level that influences our decision-making in ways that we are unaware. In other words, we, as individuals, make decisions based on stereotypes without intentional control.

Social scientists have demonstrated time and time again that unconscious bias exists in our society. In fact, the bias begins as early as age three when we are taught to categorize the world around us. Categorization allows us to make sense of new information, but it also leads to stereotyping. That stereotyping results in discrimination when people rely on those preconceived notions in making decisions.

Presenter Courtnee Carrigan has assembled award-winning curriculums that build awareness and promotes individual and systematic change through common sense actions. She has served as diversity facilitator for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati and program manager for Outreach, Leadership, and Promotions at her alma mater, University of Cincinnati.

Currently, Carrigan serves the YWCA as the director of the program development, community advocacy and partnerships. Through innovative leadership, she has been successfully leading the YWCA’s efforts in the development and management of public and private sector program initiatives.

Join us for this enlightening presentation in which we will explore the relationship between implicit associations and the impact on parenting situations. We will further explore the relationship between individual bias and how this can affect your organizational culture. Most importantly this presentation will help you to explore how you can work toward reducing the effects of unconscious bias within your own family and everyday life.

For more information contact Ashley Shepherd, 21st Century program coordinator, at 419-399-4711.