Activity Type: Video Review

Activity Time: 15 minutes

Steps:

Alicia Nordstrom is a Psychology professor and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Misericordia University. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2004 from The Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include classroom interventions to reduce stereotypes and prejudice as well as social anxiety and mental health in college students.  She is the creator of The Voices Project, an award-winning, empirically-supported program to reduce stereotypes of stigmatized social groups. Her documentary, The Voices Project: Disability (produced by WVIA), reflects her passion for social justice and background as a theater and film actor, director, and writer. 

In this TEDx video, Alicia challenges our conception of normality by examining stereotypes of religious difference and physical disability. Through her quick-witted use of academic and personal experience, she illustrates how meeting people that are “different” can reduce stereotypes and prejudice.

Viewing can be done as pre-work before a group session, individually, or collectively in class. You can also use this video separate from this learning activity. Allow yourself or your group time to write, think, or discuss freely about what you see in this recording.

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