Implicit Bias Conference 2025
Building Strength
Through Community
Join us for a powerful day of learning, connection and change.
This year’s conference will spotlight often-overlooked victim populations and explore how implicit bias affects access to support, health and safety. Aligned with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’ll examine the role of implicit bias in victim services and elevate domestic violence as a social determinant of health.
Our Conference at a Glance
Find out more about the Implicit Bias Conference.
Date
Friday, October 3, 2025
7:45 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location
The Weidner, UW-Green Bay
Cost
Free Admission with lunch available for purchase; CEUs available for $25
Conference Schedule
This conference is for anyone committed to equity—public officials, service providers, health professionals and engaged community members. Whether you support others professionally or personally, this event will equip you to be part of the solution.
Look back at previous conferences to appreciate how far we've come.
Speaker: Renita Robinson, EdD, Midwest Survivor Institute
The Strength to Heal: Restoring Community Through Accountability, Compassion & Connection
Gary will draw on his lived experiences, professional journey, and community-based healing work to illuminate how current systems often fail victims of domestic and sexual violence, particularly underrepresented individuals whose experiences are distorted or silenced by systemic biases.
Keynote Speaker: Gary Zajc, Alma Center
Take a short break before our workshops begin.
We Build Community, Not Just Programs
Speakers: Kasia Klaus & Becky Wright, HER Alliance
Agreeing to Disagree
Speaker: Karen Bowling, Karen Bowling Consulting
Fearless Belonging: From Bias to Brave Collaboration
Speakers: Charm Der & Letesha Nelson, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
Take a short break before our next workshops begin.
The Greatest Story Never Told: Male Victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence
Speaker: Renita Robinson, EdD, We All Rise African American Resource Center
Stronger Together: Northeast Wisconsin Victim Services Partnership
Panel Discussion featuring Brown County, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, GoldenHouse, Rainbow House, Violence Intervention Project, Inc., We All Rise African American Resource Center & Wise Women Gathering Place
Examining (Y)our Worldview: Challenging (Y)our Perspectives in Ending Gender-Based Violence
Speaker: Stephanie Ortiz, Strategist & Community Midwife
2025 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Winners
Participants in this session will experience information on the great collaborative work being done across four Northeast Wisconsin agencies which lead to the cohort of supportive service agencies winning the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation community award. This lunch keynote will include a video of their Weaving Ways spoken word performance followed by a panel discussion elevating how/why they won the award and the daily barriers they overcame to offer health, healing and off-ramps to wellness in the greater Green Bay community.
Panelists: Natalie Bomstad, Wello; Amanda Garcia, Casa ALBA Melanie; Said Hassan, COMSA; Robin Nicole Scott & Stephanie Ortiz, We All Rise
Lunch will be provided.
Community – It's Not That Complicated: Bridging Supportive Services to Strengthen Collective Impact!
Panel Discussion
Resetting & Soaring: Building Strength & Connecting Community Through Self-Advocacy
Speaker: Dangelo Lee, Author, Life Coach & Motivational Speaker
Power of Image Shift: Implicit Bias to Equity, Part I
Speakers: Beverly Scow & Brenda John, Wise Women Gathering Place
Take a short break before our next workshops begin.
Mentoring for Equity & Inclusion
Speaker: Jon Shelton, Professor, UW-Green Bay
Grade the Response: Community Voices, Bias in Action & What Justice Should Look Like
Speakers: Conference Planning Committee Members
Power of Image Shift: Implicit Bias to Equity, Part II
Speakers: Beverly Scow & Brenda John, Wise Women Gathering Place
Close out your conference experience with an inspiring connection session featuring several of our workshop leaders who are also published authors. This informal gathering is your chance to explore their work, ask questions and gain deeper insight into the ideas and stories that shape their advocacy. Whether you’re looking for practical tools, personal inspiration or a signed copy, this is a unique opportunity to engage directly with thought leaders making a difference in the fields of equity, justice and victim support.
Presented in Partnership
Presented in partnership by We All Rise African American Resource Center, Midwest Survivors Institute (MSI) and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions about the conference or need any additional assistance, please contact Renita Robinson, EdD, (920) 837-3512 ext. 129 or renita@weallriseaarc.org.