Hello Wyoming!

Wyoming Community in Action, WCIA, is so excited to present a new discussion series we will be hosting regularly for all Wyoming residents called Community Conversations. Our first Community Conversation is April 13th at 7PM. This is an online event! 

Join WCIA as we welcome guest speaker, Amy E. Hull for a discussion about Understanding Bias: Becoming Aware and Taking Action.

This session will explore self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and ways to handle bias in yourself and identifying and/or interrupting it in others. Amy will discuss how we can all be better allies and more empathetic in our community. 

Amy has been a Wyoming resident for 10 years She has two sons--one at WMS and one at Elm. Amy is the first Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Paycor, Inc., recently leaving a 17-year career as an Administrator in Mason City Schools (4 years) and Cincinnati Public Schools (13 years). 

You must register for this event in advance and you can do so through the following link: https://bit.ly/3lbYUjY

You can also scan the QR code above to register.  

Again, this is an online event, so grab a snack and wear your comfiest quarantine sweats and come learn more about unconscious bias, how it affects all of us and how we can do better!

Please share on your platforms so your friends and family can join too. 

Who's coming to our first Community Conversation? 

Martin Luther King Jr’s message of peace, unity, equality, and positive change is relevant and poignant in today’s society. WCIA exists to help our community work through injustices, but also to educate and inspire sustainable change at all levels of our community. Many of our community members and neighbors may be emotionally overwhelmed based on the events of 2020, and the opening days of 2021. Regardless of our personal beliefs, it is the responsibility of each one of us to do what is right, and to take care of each other. For some of our residents of color, LGBTQ+, women and others, recent events at our country’s Capitol building and even in our own neighborhood are triggering events that perpetuate a message that the rules are different and change when minorities are involved.

Please remember that while we have several different beliefs, viewpoints and personal opinions, the goal for our community is that above all else, we protect, support and maintain the mental and physical health of ALL of our neighbors at this sensitive time. Physical and mental harm directed at anyone is never okay. If we are building on our principles and values, then we must continue to build relationships, check in on and get to know one another, build trust and demonstrate a united stance to the global community that hate, violence and a lack of psychological safety has no place in Wyoming.

Imagine Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr experiencing these events firsthand. Imagine the courage, respect and fortitude that he had to stand up for civil rights and liberties while violence was all around him. Think about how it took only one person to mobilize an entire nation. How might you internalize this message and manifest it for yourself? For your family? For your relationships? For Wyoming? This day is a holiday to recognize the man that turned thought into action, and who fought to do what’s right. It aligns fully with WCIA’s mission and goals.

It is also important that we recognize empathy. Empathy is the ability to imagine or visualize what it must be like to be in another person’s shoes. It is not sympathy or pity, yet the ability to respond with: “I can’t know what you may be thinking or feeling, but I’m here for you if you need to talk or if you just need a moment to yourself.” It is understanding. Remember that belonging, trust, safety and well-being are reasons that people stay involved and happy in their communities. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” Reflect. Care for all others. Serve. Have a wonderful MLK Day!

Wyoming Community in Action is partnering with Art Resource Team, Paradigm Studios and Wyoming Community Foundation to host an art show centering on the theme of 

Unconscious Bias. 

This is an open call to all artists and all mediums of fine art and artisan work. 

See below for all entry details as well as the opening reception: 

Important Dates:

January 31, 2021 - Electronic Deadline for jury & exhibition should be sent in high resolution (.jpg) to Inez Baird at Inez@artresourceteam.com by midnight.

 

Hello! Welcome to the new blog for Wyoming Community in Action, where we promote Awareness, Unity and Action in the beautiful town of Wyoming, Ohio. 

We're so glad you're here. We will be posting about all our community events and efforts to come together for a more equitable and unified community. If you'd like to be a part of WCIA please send an email to communications.wcia@gmail.com. 

Stay tuned!