Conversations About Diversity
SCRA Council on Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs Statement on Diversity
Pt. I: Promoting Meaningful Reflections about Race, Inclusion & Equity in Learning Environments
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Co-Sponsored by:
SCRA's Council on Cultural, Ethnic & Racial Affairs and,
Description: In this interactive webinar Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, Milton Fuentes, and Helen Neville, addressed how to discuss the complex topics of diversity, inclusion, equity, privilege, race, and intersectionality in learning environments in ways that invite for reflection and self-analysis. Evidence-based strategies and models used by the researchers in their respective roles will be shared with the audience as ways to promote a learning environment.
About the Presenters:
Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, the Department of Disability and Human Development and an Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. One of her areas of research focuses on addressing health disparities experienced by Latino immigrant families with youth and young adults with disabilities. She has written extensively on issues of culture, disability and disparities. She is currently the President of the Society for Community Research and Action (APA, Division 27).
Milton A. Fuentes, PsyD, is currently a professor in the psychology department and director of the Research Academy for University Learning at Montclair State University. He is the 2012 President of the National Latina/o Psychological Association; the current president of the Latino Mental Health Association of NJ, a former member of the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs; and a current ethnic minority delegate to APA’s Council of Representatives. Dr. Fuentes’s research interests are in the areas of Latina/o and multicultural psychology, child/ family psychology, pedagogy and motivational interviewing.
Helen A. Neville, PhD, is a professor of Educational Psychology and African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also chairs the APA- approved counseling psychology doctoral program. Currently she is the president of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race. She has co-edited 5 books and (co)-authored nearly 90 journal articles and book chapters in the areas of race, racism, and racial identity, and diversity issues related to well-being. She has taught multicultural issues in counseling for over two decades.
Webinar Learning Objectives
At the end of the webinar participants will be able to:
- Understand the importance of addressing issues related to race, inclusion and equity in the learning environments.
- Identify strategies and best practices on how to create a learning environment for reflection about race, intersectionality, inclusion and equity.
- Describe strategies and best practices for managing discomfort and resistance in learning environments.
- Outline ways to promote the inclusion of students of color and respect for all people.
- Commit to activities for continued self-reflection and action.
Pt. II: Climbing the Ladder: Promotion and Mentoring in Academic Settings
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
This is the 2nd in a series of three seminars on Conversations about Diversity, SCRA Presidential Initiative. In this webinar, panelists will discuss strategies for developing a successful academic career and addressing challenges, with particular emphasis on faculty of color, women and junior faculty.
About the Presenters:
Bianca L. Guzmán, Ph.D., is the Director of Pathway Programs at Cal State LA out of the office of the provost—a K-20 pipeline program to transition students to the campus. Bianca is an ecological community psychologist who received her doctoral degree from Michigan State University. She is the former chair of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at Cal State LA and in 1987 she founded a non-profit organization called Choices and the main goal of Choices is to promote health and education in Latino communities.
Fabricio Balcazar, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Disability & Human Development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He conducts mentoring trainings for junior faculty in the college of Applied Health Sciences and faculty in other colleges in health-related fields. One of his areas of research is mentoring among vulnerable populations. He is a former president of SCRA.
Sinead Younge, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Chair, in the Department of Psychology at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Sinead obtained her PhD from Michigan State University in Ecological Community Psychology & Urban Affairs. She has vast experience mentoring postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty of color. Some of her areas of research include psychocultural antecedents of health behavior and STI and HIV prevention and intervention.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the webinar participants will be able to:
- Develop strategies for building community collaborations and developing your research agenda
- Build good mentoring relationships to help achieve academic success
- Address and overcome challenges that people of color and junior faculty may face in academia
Pt. III: Climbing the Ladder: Promoting and Mentoring in Practice Settings
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
This seminar is the third in a series of three seminars on Conversation about Diversity and Inclusion, Presidential Initiative. In this webinar, panelists will discuss strategies that will set you up for a successful career in practice settings, how to bring awareness of yourself and others, your values and purpose in life, your plan to get things done, attracting and benefiting from mentors, and other important considerations to set a good foundation for your career. Panelist will also discuss strategies to support diversity and develop a community of collaborators.
About the Presentors
Vincent T Francisco, PhD, is a Kansas Health Foundation Professor of Community Leadership, Department of Applied Behavioral Science, Senior Scientist with the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, and Director of Center for Health and Development at The University of Kansas. He has years of experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers and practitioners with community-based organizations throughout the US and abroad.
Geraldine Palmer, PhD, is an adjunct faculty member at National Louis University and Adler University. She has over two decades of experience working as a practitioner in human services and consulting with community-and faith-based organizations, and mentoring women of color. Her interests are in the intersection of community psychology, human services and African American socio-economic and political concerns and other work to advance social and racial justice. She is the current Chair of Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs (CERA) Council - SCRA - APA Division 27.
Susan Wolfe, PhD, is a Community Consultant with Susan Wolfe and Associates (LLC) located in the Dallas-Fort Metro Area. She is also the Editor of The Community Psychologist. She has been working as a community psychologist for over 30 years across a variety of organizations and partnering with nonprofits, governments, educational institutions, health care organizations, and communities to build their capacity for evaluation, program development, and coalition building. She has mentored several women and people of color throughout her career
Learning Objectives
After this webinar, attendees will:
- Be able to identify at least 2 strategies to use mentoring to support diversity.
- Have an increased understanding of how systemic racism, privilege, and bias (implicit and explicit) in practice work settings contribute to lack of diversity in an organization.
- Know how to formulate and implement a realistic and effective professional development plan.