1.

Do you think closing the stores was an effective strategy to draw attention to unconscious
bias? Is one day of training enough? Please discuss your opinion  

I think closing the stores for a day was an effective marketing strategy to draw attention to
a serious matter.  The closure was a way to tell the community that they took this matter to
heart and understood their role in it.  I think this was a very positive strategy in acceptance and
recognition of what is going on in our world as opposed to blaming a single person, firing them
and sweeping it under the rug.  A day of training is not enough.  Unconscious bias takes years of
experiences and learn, and many don't even realize they have them or to what degree.  I think
the training was able to shed light as to why this may have occurred, provided a little
introspection and ways to move forward but continue learning.  

2. How do you increase bias detection in people during diversity training so this can be
implemented in the world around us?  The NPR article includes a short film by award-
winning documentarian Stanley Nelson about race in America that Starbucks included in
their training.  Please share your own reactions and/or experiences after viewing this short
film on racial anxiety and implicit bias. 

A way to increase bias detection in people during diversity training is by giving them the
ability to allow those in training to share their experiences with bias and discrimination can be a
huge wake up call for others.  There is a connection made when you hear the people sharing
their life and what they experience as opposed to reading or watching it.  Bias tests are also
helpful to show how we inherently associate groups or stereotypes.  
The video was heartbreaking to watch.  I have never felt like I have to prepare myself to go
out into the world and curtail my behavior to ensure I don't seem threatening or
dangerous.  Growing up as an immigrant minority I've seen bias and discrimination at certain
times or at specific places.   Oddly enough I've experienced more bias from my own community
than from any other, either I'm not Mexican enough or too much.  
3. As CEO, what would you do if your organization was involved in a similar type of situation? 
As a CEO, I would ensure my organization recognized the situation and took accountability for
it.  I would work with organizations that create programs that help my organization identify our
biases.  I would invest in programs that would help educate my team with ways to identify bias
and how it affects our workplace.  I would also ensure that we are hiring a diverse team and not
just in middle management but also hiring in upper management.  It is important that every
employee has the ability to grow and develop professionally without any discriminatory
behavior impeding this.  A zero tolerance to bias and discriminatory behavior would be key as
well.