Before we can explore someone else’s perspective, we must understand our own. In other words, the foundation of empathy is self-awareness and having a deep understanding of our own story.

In this workshop, we will invite participants to explore their mental models (a concept developed by psychologist Philip Johnson-Laird to refer to the deep rooted beliefs and assumptions that inform our worldview) and how they impact their empathy. Then, we will define the four core traits of empathy: (1) seeing the world as others see it, (2) suspending judgment, (3) understanding someone else’s feelings, and (4) communicating our understanding of feelings. Lastly, through a combination of experiential learning, reflective practice, and group dialogues, participants will learn strategies and have opportunities to practice skills for each one of the four core traits of empathy. As part of this workshop, participants will receive a series of Empathy-Building activities and resources to support their journey through the three A’s of practice: Awareness, Acknowledgment, and Action. Lastly, we must highlight we firmly believe empathy is one of the key cornerstones for building an inclusive and equitable society.

Will this Workshop be Recorded? No.

Intended Audience: This workshop is appropriate for library staff at any level or position.

About the Instructor: Luis Ortega is the director and founder of Storytellers for Change. Over the last fourteen years, Luis has worked with youth, educators and organizations across the country to center historically unheard narratives and employ storytelling as a strategic approach to build empathetic, inclusive and equitable communities. Luis’ work has touched thousands of lives, and been featured at over 500 events and seminars across the country, including Harvard DACA Seminar, ArtPlace America National Summit, and HBO’s “Where Do You Exist?” podcast. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and is a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow. Watch Luis's TEDx talk: Inspire a Movement of Possibility.