Students on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus attended a virtual convocation February 22 led by Dr. Richmond D. Wynn, associate professor of clinical mental health counseling and public health at the University of North Florida Brooks College of Health.

His interactive presentation on implicit bias – the tendency to process information based on unconscious associations and feelings – included insights into what it means for people of different backgrounds to be separated, included and inclusive in a social environment. He also addressed stereotypes and said while there are small truths to them, they are not good because it puts individual people into boxes that do not usually fit. He ended the short session with a question and answer session with students.

Wynn is the third convocation speaker to share a presentation with middle school students during February, Black History Month. Previous speakers were local author, artist and educator Ebony Payne-English and Jacksonville poet and community leader, Shawna Brooks.