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.

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.

Ohio Department of Commerce Interim Director Jayme Brown urges Paulding County residents to join in the 2013 Unclaimed Funds Treasure Hunt by checking the Paulding County Progress on Wednesday, April 17.

The following is a list of prospective jurors who were summoned by the Paulding County Court of Common Pleas for the term of May. 1 through Aug. 31, 2013:

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To invest an estimated $2.3 billion in state transportation system this year

COLUMBUS – State Representative Tony Burkley (R-Payne) today was shadowed by Paulding County Common Please Court Judge Tiffany Beckman at the Statehouse in Columbus. Beckman is taking part in the Ohio Judicial Conference Legislative Exchange Program.

As part of the program, Judge Beckman and Rep. Burkley have attended meetings with representatives from various state offices, including the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Department of Agriculture, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.

“I have known Judge Beckman for several years from my time as a county commissioner,” Burkley said. “It has been a real joy to have her shadow me for the day.”

The Judicial-Legislative Exchange Program is aimed at improving the working relationship between the judicial and legislative branches by pairing individual legislators and judges and allowing them to see the day-to-day work of one another.