Event(s) Summary
Number of Events Organized During Brain Awareness Week:
5
Year:
2022
Type of Events Held:
- Exhibit
- Lecture/Briefing
- Other
- School Program
- Other: Daily email to York School community with information on topics.
Target Audiences:
- High school students (9-12)
- K-12 Teachers
Approximate Number of People Reached:
250
Details of Major Brain Awareness Week Events/Activities:
The focus for Brain Awareness Week was the neurobiology and psychological impact of identity, belonging, inclusion, diversity, and culture. The goals of the week were to raise awareness, to encourage everyone to self-reflect on our privilege, and to commit to at least one act of allyship out of our comfort zone. The goals were achieved as the activities of the week generated active discussion among participants, there was positive feedback about the week’s content, and participants also took the opportunity to be open about their own implicit bias.
Event Planning & Publicity
Publicity Methods Used:
- Emails
- Posters/Flyers
- Other
Other Publicity Methods:
At the beginning of the week, I announced the event and did a formative survey at School Assembly. The entire school was present, and this made a big difference in advertising the event.
Which of These Publicity Methods Was The Most Successful?
Resources
What other downloadable materials would you like the Foundation to provide?
- New Fact Sheets
- Activities/Experiments
- New Puzzles/Games
Which BAW graphic materials did you use in publicizing your events?
- Brain Awareness Week Logos
Feedback & Keys to Success
How do you feel BAW participation benefited your organization and the local community?
For York School, Brain Awareness Week gives the opportunity to generate discussion and reflection about our implicit bias and the neurobiology behind how we interact with others. Some direct outcomes of the Brain Awareness Week are that participants were more aware of implicit bias and the psychology behind it. Participants took the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone to try and understand others as well as themselves and the emotions connected to identity, inclusion, and exclusion.
Please share any suggestions or lessons learned that may help others plan future events:
We were able to reach a large group but the more important lesson is to create a sense of understanding, connectivity and vulnerability between participants in order to break down bariers.
