Regional Update Spring 2015 

Edited by Regina Langhout, Regional Network Coordinator, langhout@ucsc.edu; University of California at Santa Cruz

Winter brings with it the beginning of the new year, and some changes in coordinators. Many thanks to Nashalys Rodriguez, Tesania Velázquez Castro, and Michelle Ronayne, who have finished their terms as a grad rep for the Southeast region, a Latin American international liaison, and a regional coordinator for the Northeast region, respectively. Thanks to all for your contributions and hard work! I also want to extend a warm welcome to Hector Barreota, a new Latin American international liaison, Chris Beasley, a new Northeast Regional Coordinator, and Jaimelee Mihalski and Dominique Thomas, new Southeast region grad reps. I look forward to working with you all! Finally, please pay special attention to the summer school opportunity offered in Italy this July. It looks fabulous!

Northeast Region, U.S.

Regional Coordinators

Suzanne Phillips, sphillips@ccsnh.edu; White Mountains Community College (NH)

Bronwyn Hunter, bronwyn.hunter@yale.edu; Yale University, The Consultation Center (CT)

Christopher Beasley, cbeasley2@washcoll.edu; Washington College (MD)

News from the Northeast

Written by Suzanne Phillips

The 2015 Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association was in Philadelphia, March 5-7. We had great day of SCRA programming on Saturday, including keynote speaker Debra Harkins.  In honor of the 20^th anniversary of the publication of the “Journal for Prevention and Intervention in the Community,” edited by Joseph K. Ferrari, Taylor & Francis provided excellent refreshments during the SCRA poster session at EPA.  Thank you, Joe, and thank you, T&F, for two stimulating decades of JPIC! 

And while we’re thanking people – we are grateful for the leadership that Michelle Ronayne (Nova Psychiatric Services in MA) has provided to the Northeast Regional Coordinators over several years.  She has officially rotated off the committee, but (in typical Michelle fashion) has offered to available to help out as needed.  THANK YOU, Michelle! 

Chris Beasley, presently of Washington College in Maryland, has joined the Northeast Regional Coordinators (welcome, Chris!).  We continue to look for student-level coordinators to join our team.  Coordinators serve three-year terms and provide regional leadership and guidance to the processes of membership development, activities, and communication. At the last Biennial, Suzanne asked student coordinators what they like about serving in this way. They cited the opportunity to do something important and the chance to shape programming; if this sort of leadership reminds you of any students you know, please contact Suzanne Phillips at sphillips@ccsnh.edu. 

With EPA 2015 behind us, we are eagerly looking forward to the SCRA Biennial at UMass Lowell.  As those of you traveling from outside the Northeast Region may know, New England is beautiful in June!   We will see you in Lowell!

Southeast Region, U.S.

Regional Coordinators

Sarah L. Desmarais, sdesmarais@ncsu.edu; North Carolina State University

Courte Voorhees, c.voorhees@miami.edu; University of Miami

Student Regional Coordinators

Natalie Kivell, n.kivell@umiami.edu; University of Miami

Candalyn Rade, cbrade@ncsu.edu; North Carolina State University

Jaimelee Mihalski, jmihalsk@uncc.edu; University of North Carolina-Charlotte

Dominique Thomas, dthomas60@student.gsu.edu; Georgia State University

Building Our SE Community: Year Two Updates

Written By: Candalyn Rade and Natalie Kevill

Based on an innovative session at the 2013 SE ECO Conference in North Carolina, folks from around the SE Region have begun implementing a project aimed at building a strong community within and across the programs in our region. While it is easy to form relationships and collaborate with colleagues annually during an ECO conference, it becomes more difficult to continue developing the sense of community throughout the year. Much work and brainstorming occurred during our first year to build the necessary infrastructure to keep us connected and learning from each other.

During the 2014 SE ECO Conference in South Carolina, our initiative expanded from its pilot stage to include all of our SE SCRA partner institutions and to develop some exciting new plans. A group of eager and committed students set out to find ways of capturing the “magic” that happens when we get together at events like ECO and ways to create this community on a regular basis. We realized that the members of our region—faculty, staff, and students—are outstanding community psychologists and have much to offer each other. To take the next step in fostering community, we plan to create a centralized online resource that documents all of the people, resources, and opportunities within the SE region. It is our hope that establishment of such a centralized resource will support the sharing of resources and open collaboration, contributing to the vision of our building community initiative of cultivating a SE SCRA “family.”

If you would like more information, or have ideas on how we can keep the momentum going, please contact Natalie Kivell at n.kivell@umiami.edu, or Candalyn Rade at cbrade@ncsu.edu.

West Region, U.S.

Regional Coordinators

Joan Twohey-Jacobs, jtwohey-jacobs@laverne.edu; University of LaVerne

Lauren Lichty, LLichty@uwb.edu; University of Washington at Bothell

Emma Ogley-Oliver, eogleyoliver@marymountcalifornia.edu; Marymount California University

Student Regional Coordinators

Erin Ellison, eellison@ucsc.edu; University of California, Santa Cruz

Aran Watson, detengamonos@gmail.com; Alliant International University

News from the Bay Area

Written by Erin Ellison

The Bay Area Community Psychology and Intervention Group's (BACPN) is planning for a Spring Symposium in Santa Cruz, date TBD. 

The BACPN group consists of community psychologists, clinical psychologists, public health researchers, community workers, and colleagues from other fields with interests in community-based research and action. All students, faculty, practitioners, and community members with interests in community-based research and interventions are welcome in this group. We usually have two brief informal presentations, along with time to network, connect and informally check in about issues and ideas from our work. Our next meeting will be in Santa Cruz in the spring. If you are interested in becoming part of this network, please contact Erin Ellison (eellison@ucsc.edu) and Aran Watson (aran@rysecenter.org).

Midwest Region, U.S.

Regional Coordinators

Olya Glantsman, oglantsman@gmail.com, DePaul University

August Hoffman, August.hoffman@metrostate.edu; Metropolitan State University

Luciano Berardi, lberardi@depaul.edu; DePaul University

Student Regional Coordinators

Jaclyn Houston, jhoust12@depaul.edu; DePaul University

Abigail Brown, abrown57@depaul.edu; DePaul University

News from the Midwest

Written by Olya Glantsman

Record Number of Proposals Received!

The annual MPA conference is just around the corner (April 30-May 2, 2015, at the Palmer House). This year, SCRA received a record number of proposals for consideration for presentations.

Total number of presentations for the past five years:

2011 – 36 (23 posters, 9 round table and 4 symposia)

2012 – 61 (43 posters, 16 round table and 2 symposia)

2013 – 46 (25 posters, 16 round table and 5 symposia)

2014 – 62 (39 posters, 14 round table and 9 symposia)

2015 - 75 (43 poster, 20 round table and 12 symposia)

Upcoming Events:

The upcoming 2015 Annual Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA)-Division 27 (SCRA) Affiliated Meeting will be on Friday May 1^st. The completed MPA program will be soon posted at the MPA web page (http://midwesternpsych.org) Also, on Friday May 1^st at 5pm, after the MPA Presidential Address, come and join other members of Division 27 at a nearby restaurant for dinner and Poster Awards Session. All are welcome to attend! The restaurant is Exchequer http://exchequerpub.com/menu/, located at 226 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60604; (312) 939-5633

Please RSVP, if possible, to August Hoffman (August.Hoffman@metrostate.edu)

More Upcoming Events:

We are currently planning a community event for students and SCRA members in the Midwest region. We hope to participate in a community redevelopment (fruit tree planting) project in Red Lake, MN that will provide some healthy food options to a community that is currently impacted by poor health and substance-abuse issues (Chippewa and Red Lake Tribal Nation). This activity will provide students with an opportunity to interact and network in an outdoor project that benefits this community while also promoting the values and goals of SCRA and Community Psychology.

We are also in the process of organizing a dinner to be held in the Chicago area to promote community among community psychology faculty and students in the area. More details on these events will be shared soon.

Announcements and information for inclusion in future Midwest updates should be sent to Olya Glantsman (oglantsman@gmail.com)

Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

International Regional Coordinators:  

Serdar Degirmencioglu, serdardegirmencioglu@gmail.com; Cumhuriyet University, Turkey

José Ornelas,  jornelas@ispa.pt; Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal

Caterina Arcidiacono, caterina.arcidiacono@unina.it; Federico II University, Naples, Italy

Julia Halamova, julia.halamova@gmail.com; Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia

Student International Regional Coordinators:

Hana Shahin, hshahin@aucegypt.edu, The American University in Cairo, Egypt

News from Italy

Written by Caterina Arcidiacono

ANNOUNCING THE SIPCO ECPA SUMMER SCHOOL!! (See www.sipco.it)

International Summer School in Community Research: Methods for community research, action and change, 1st Edition

The Italian Community Psychology Association (SIPCO), in collaboration with the European Community Psychology Association (ECPA), is organizing the first edition of the International Summer School in Community Research, focusing on the theme, “Methods for community research, action, and change.”  The Summer School aims to provide students with a theoretical outline of Community Research Methods, as well as practical tools to conduct community research.

Goals
Provide critical knowledge of and skills for community research and action; 
Provide training in designing, implementing and evaluating research projects, and in applying specific participatory research methods.
At the end of the Summer School students will reinforce their learning by planning and leading a field community research and action project.

Location and dates
The Summer School will take place in Florence, via di San Salvi 12, form July 13 – 17, 2015. Lessons will be held at the Department of Education and Psychology from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm (on Friday, the class will end at 4 pm).

Faculty
Some of the most renowned experts and well known international scholars in Community Research Methods will be involved in the Summer School, including Caterina Arcidiacono (European Community Psychology Association, past president) Carolyn Kagan (Metropolitan Manchester University, United Kingdom), Manuel García Ramírez (University of Sevilla, Spain), Terri Mannarini (University of Salento, Italy), Raffaello Martini (Martini Associati, Italy).

Designated Lectures

“Psychological competencies in participatory action research” – Caterina Arcidiacono

“Participatory Action Research: Challenges and practical solutions” – Carolyn Kagan

“Advancing on research transformative methodology: The contribution of community psychology on designing and

implementing equitable health policies” – Manuel García Ramírez

“Participatory methods and techniques for community action-research” – Terri Mannarini & Raffaello Martini

Preliminary program

Monday, July 13

9-11 am: Welcome and Introduction, Patrizia Meringolo, President of SIPCO

Keynote, “Psychological competencies in participatory action research,” Caterina Arcidiacono Past President of

ECPA

11 am–1 pm: Participatory action research, Carolyn Kagan, Metropolitan Manchester University, United Kingdom

2-6 pm: Participatory action research, Carolyn Kagan, Metropolitan Manchester University, United Kingdom

Tuesday, July 14

9 am-1 pm: Participatory action research, Carolyn Kagan, Metropolitan Manchester University, United Kingdom

2-6 pm: Research as transformative methodology, Manuel García Ramírez, University of Sevilla, Spain

Wednesday, July 15

9 am-1 pm: Research as transformative methodology, Manuel García Ramírez, University of Sevilla, Spain

2-6 pm: Research as transformative methodology, Manuel García Ramírez, University of Sevilla, Spain

Thursday, July 16

9 am-1 pm: Participatory methods and techniques for community action research, Terri Mannarini,
University of Salento, Italy & Raffaello Martini, Martini Associati, Italy

2-6 pm: Participatory methods and techniques for community action research, Terri Mannarini, University of Salento, Italy & Raffaello Martini,  Martini Associati, Italy

Friday, July 17

9 am-1 pm: Participatory methods and techniques for community action-research, Terri Mannarini, University of Salento, Italy & Raffaello Martini,  Martini Associati, Italy

2-4 pm: Closing session: Patrizia Meringolo, President of the Italian Community Psychology Association, University of Florence, Italy

Requirements and language
The Summer School in Methods for Community Research, Action, and Change is addressed to psychology Ph.D. students, young researchers and young professionals with research experience in psychology.
A maximum of 30 participants will be admitted in the Summer School, which will start if a minimum of 20 participants will enroll. Sessions will be held in English.

Eligibility
Participants will be considered by their CV, qualifications, and by their personal statement. In addition, good knowledge of the English language is required (B2 level), as well as a previous knowledge or experience of community research.

Fee
Standard fee: 430 €SIPCO and ECPA members’ fee: 330 €
Fees are due by May 31, 2015.

Course fees include the following: tuition, all course materials including reading materials, some social activities (social dinner), access to the structures of the Department of Education and Psychology, as well as to online services and resources (wireless).
Affordable accommodations are available near the Department of Education and Psychology. For fees and accommodations please contact labcom.toscana@gmail.com.

How to apply
Candidates are required to submit the application form, together with a personal statement and their curriculum vitae. All applications will be examined by a selection committee. Deadline for applications is April 30th, 2015.
More information on the application procedure and payment is available on SIPCO web page (http://www.sipco.it/formazione.php). You can also follow the ECPA - European Community Psychology Association Facebook page. Persons interested in participating in the Summer School should fill out the application form and submit the following to info@sipco.it:

• curriculum vitae;
• personal statement that provides additional evidence of your intellectual and creative achievement;
• copy of a ID.