STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY : APA Division 45 [Dr. Kevin Cokley's Presidential Task Force]

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 3 of the Strength in Solidarity podcast. This will be the final season of our Strength in Solidarity podcast series. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices.In this episode, we met with Dr. Maysa Akbar  to discuss how she has been engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity in her leadership endeavors.Dr. Maysa (MY-SA) Akbar is a respected scientist-practitioner and APA’s Chief Diversity Officer and Chief of Psychology in the Public Interest. She is charged with infusing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into the fabric of the association’s work. As the leading architect of APA’s evolving EDI framework, Dr. Akbar works with APA staff, leaders, and members to refine and build consensus for an overall plan, operationalize its goals and establish metrics to monitor and ensure progress. The CDO also serves as a spokesperson and advocate for EDI in the field of psychology, both within and outside the association. Before assuming the CDO post, she was the founder and chief executive officer of a clinical practice based in New Haven, Connecticut, which specialized in race-based trauma. She created a consulting firm and educational network focused on organizational cultural transformation. Her firm delivered cutting-edge programs anchored in EDI to city governments, public schools and, court systems, among other entities. Dr. Akbar’s areas of specialty include racial identity development, racism, urban trauma and, allyship, topics on which she has authored research articles, books, and book chapters. Dr. Akbar is an experienced instructor and master trainer in EDI for both the medical and the broader community.Links:https://maysaakbar.com/https://www.apa.org/about/apa/senior-staff/akbar-bio

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 2 of the Strength in Solidarity podcast. This will be the final season of our Strength in Solidarity podcast series. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices.In this episode, we met with Dr. Thomas Parham  to discuss how he has been engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity in his leadership endeavors.Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D., is the 11 th president of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), a highly diverse, metropolitan university primarily serving the South Central and South Bay areas of Los Angeles County. CSUDH is one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, the largest system of public higher education in the nation.Dr. Parham previously served as vice chancellor of student affairs and an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Irvine, where he had been since 1985.For the past 40-plus years, Dr. Parham has focused his research efforts in the area of psychological nigrescence and has authored or co-authored six books and 45-50 journal articles and book chapters. He has sustained a scholarly focus in the areas of racial identity development, African psychology and multicultural counseling.Dr. Parham grew up in Southern California and received his bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine, his master’s degree in counseling psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, and received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.Dr. Parham remains an active member of the community contributing his talents in the areas of social advocacy, community uplift and youth empowerment.Links:InstagramX⁠CSU-DH⁠-WebpageArticles, Journals & BooksThe Bakari© Project: A Lifeline for African American Adolescent Development and Success⁠CSU Black Student Success Report⁠Article in Diverse Issues⁠Books⁠Other Announcements:The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠⁠⁠Feedspot.com⁠⁠⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠⁠⁠#6/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠⁠⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of the Strength in Solidarity podcast.This will be the final season of our Strength in Solidarity podcast series. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices. In this episode, we met with Dr. Thema Bryant to discuss how she has been engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity in her leadership endeavors during her presidency as APA President (2023–2024).Dr. Thema Bryant was the 2023 -2024 president of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology with more than 120,000 members (apa.org).Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her clinical and research interests center on interpersonal trauma and the societal trauma of oppression. She is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women and a past APA representative to the United Nations. Dr. Thema also served on the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Committee on Women in Psychology.The American Psychological Association honored her for Distinguished Early Career Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest in 2013. The Institute of Violence, Abuse and Trauma honored her with their media award for the film Psychology of Human Trafficking in 2016 and the Institute honored her with the Donald Fridley Memorial Award for excellence in mentoring in the field of trauma in 2018. The California Psychological Association honored her for Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology in 2015. She is the editor of the APA text Multicultural Feminist Therapy: Helping Adolescent Girls of Color to Thrive. She is one of the foundational scholars on the topic of the trauma of racism and in 2020, she gave an invited keynote address on the topic at APA. In 2020, the International Division of APA honored her for her International Contributions to the Study of Gender and Women for her work in Africa and the Diaspora. Dr. Thema has raised public awareness regarding mental health by extending the reach of psychology beyond the academy and private therapy office through community programming and media engagement, including but not limited to Headline News, National Public Radio, and CNN.Having earned a master’s of divinity, Dr. Thema is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She directs the mental health ministry at First AME Church in South Los Angeles. Dr. Thema also utilizes sacred dance and spoken word in therapy, community forums, and faith communities. A member of the Association of Black Psychologists, she incorporates culturally based interventions in her teaching, research, and practice. Dr. Thema is the host of the Homecoming Podcast, a mental health podcast to facilitate your journey home to your authentic self.Links:InstagramYouTubeXOther Announcements:The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠⁠Feedspot.com⁠⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠⁠#6/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

Welcome to the Season 2 Finale Episode! In this episode, we sit down with Miranda Encina, a Two-Spirit/Queer Xicanx advocate, healer, and artist with Indigenous roots in Apache and Navajo ancestry. Miranda shares their journey of community-centered healing, exploring the intersections of trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of art. From their work in survivor advocacy and Indigenous healing circles to founding Yolia Creations, Miranda offers rich insights on building connections, fostering resilience, and creating spaces for empowerment within marginalized communities. Tune in to hear their inspiring perspectives on honoring lived experiences and cultivating community strength through creativity and advocacy.Miranda Encina (They/them/theirs, She/her/hers) is a Two-Spirit/Queer Xicanx, born and raisedin Boulder Colorado with Indigenous roots from Apache and Navajo ancestry.Miranda graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Colorado Boulder double majoring in Ethnic Studies and Sociology. Their research focused on intergenerational resistance and complex trauma within Xicana/Indigenous communities. Miranda’s passion is to center lived experiences of those with intersecting identities through connections and knowledge sharing on individual, collective and systemic levels. Miranda’s lived and professional experience include Trauma Informed, survivor defined advocacy, volunteer and intern management, Shelter program Director, Chair of a Queer Trans People of Color leadership Cohort, facilitation of Indigenous Healing circles, Child Protective Services, training and technical assistance on intersections of oppression and domestic violence and has experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Miranda collaborates with community and system based organizations on all levels to identify, create and implement shifts that validate, humanize, and minimize (re)traumatization within our communities. Miranda’s experience with healing personally and in community prompted the start of Yolia Creations. Yolia Creations is rooted in providing unique handcrafted leather earrings, sterling silver necklaces, inspirational stamped bracelets/rings and art that centers healing, existence and connection. Yolia Creation signifies a connection that we are stronger as a community when we support each other and create connections to empower, resist and exist.Social MediaYolia Creations WebsiteYolia Creations InstagramYolia Creations FacebookE-mail (yolia.creations@gmail.com)Other Announcements:Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are excited for you to listen to what we have in store for you for season 3, which will be our last and final season!Other Announcements:The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠#3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Juan-Lorenzo Cruz, a Chief Engineer and Go-Go Dancer based in San Francisco. Juan-Lorenzo opens up about his life’s journey, discussing the rewards and challenges, and how he balances his professional responsibilities with vibrant personal passions. Tune in to hear his unique experiences and insights on body positivity, colorism, and queerness.Juan-Lorenzo Cruz is the Chief Engineer at Hotel Caza, situated in Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco.  While originally attending Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) he studied psychology and art.  His move further south to Sonoma County is where he found his first substantial long term homosexual relationship, as well as the opportunity in which his current career is built. While his primary job takes up most of his time, he go-go dances weekends at various SF gay clubs, including The Eagle and Powerhouse. He enjoys snowboarding, dancing and finding new music, as well as spending time with friends catching up on films and eating good food.Social MediaInstagramOther Announcements:Other Announcements:The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠#3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with  Camilo Villa (he, they), a Colombian interdisciplinary artist and Spanish language educator based in the Bay Area (San Francisco). Camilo explores the intersection of art, education, and social justice, with a focus on the liberation of Queer Latinx communities and the evolution of gender-inclusive Spanish language curriculum. Tune in as he shares how his work challenges traditional language norms and promotes inclusivity in linguistic representation.CAMILO VILLA holds an M.A. in Education for Equity & Social Justice from San Francisco State University and a B.F.A. in Individualized Studies with a minor in Social Action & Public Forms from the California College of the Arts. Their art practice and educational research addresses the liberation of Queer Latinx communities, the violent erasure of social leaders in his home country Colombia, and the journey of Latin American migrants crossing the US-Mexico Border. Camilo’s work has been exhibited at Senator Scott Wiener’s Office as part of the We Belong-Pertenecemos exhibit and at the SFMOMA Artists Gallery as part of the Hispanic Heritage exhibit. Their work has been featured in magazines, such as Bay Area Reporter, Voyage LA , NEWAGE, and Latin:SF.Camilo builds intersectional spaces for learning by incorporating culturally and queerly responsive pedagogical models in his teaching practice. Most recently, he published his master’s thesis titled Teaching Gender Inclusive Spanish: Advancing Pedagogy Towards Gender Equity on ProQuest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a gender-inclusive Spanish language curriculum developed for 3rd-5th grade Spanish classes that employs the letter "e" to desexualize the masculine generic form. Fundamental to this approach is how pre-colonial indigenous gender systems advance the now contested need to eradicate sexist expressions in the Spanish language that has increasingly gained momentum in Latin America for the past decade.Social MediaLinked INInstagramFacebookCamilo's WebsiteUpcoming Art Show at the Intersection for the ArtsSeptember 21st and 22nd Intersection for The Arts, InstagramOther Announcements:The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the Feedspot.com team for ranking us as #3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Traci Faith Guw Thonalig Hughes Hamilton, an Arizona-based healer and advocate deeply rooted in Indigenous wisdom. With a diverse background, Traci embodies a commitment to holistic wellness and community empowerment. Traci's journey is a testament to ancestral healing traditions. Tune in as she shares insights on lifelong womb health, indigenous food practices, and community empowerment.Traci Faith Guw Thonalig Hughes Hamilton is an Arizona based Licensed Massage Therapist, Indigenous Lactation Counselor, Womb worker, Full spectrum birth worker, Nutritional Consultant, Herbalist, and Traditional foods gatherer, single mom of two. Traci is of Mississippi Choctaw, Hiaki, adopted Tohono O’odham and of European descent. A ceremonial wombyn who knows her journey of healing and helping others is her way of life, her strength. Traci has been involved with the Chukson (Tucson) community in many healing aspects. The Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in Tucson was the beginning of her formal massage training in 1996. She spent over a decade with Miraval Life in Balance spa, all the while advocating for natural and indigenous Pre/post-natal care, as well as, involvement with Chukson (Tucson) chapter ICBLC events and breastfeeding advocacy. Later, Traci spent four years with multi cultural indigenous high school, Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School teaching rainwater harvesting, traditional in ground gardening; planting with the moon and rain cycles, seed to plate style teaching and food prep. Traci is a natural teacher and most at home teaching her community, friends and family the many benefits of Self~Care with indigenous geographical appropriate foods and healing ways. She wants her people to know by living with our indigenous foods bring back language and songs and revitalizes our spiritual natures by giving our human body what it needs to thrive. Her informal and formal training is ongoing with family healers, ceremony, as well as the CEU state license requirements. Traci’s specialty is lifelong womb health and vitality, abdominal therapy, breast/chest therapy and full spectrum birth work. Her passion for protecting families ties in very closely with the old healing ways of her teachers and elders. As a mother and knowledgeable community member she stays strong in outreach and knowledge sharing. Traci continues to work on a sliding scale basis to make sure this important healing work is accessible.  Her commitment is to honor her culture, be a strong community member and support a community of healthy warriors who step forward to make that effort for wellness.Other Announcements:The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠#3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Saahas Patil, an Indian singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. We discussed his journey of becoming a musician, his experiences of being a musician in the United States, and what inspires his music. Saahas is a professional singer, songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles. He began singing at the age of 12 in middle school, in choirs and eventually moved to singing for a band. In 2009, he completed a Vocal Performance course at Nathaniel School of Music, after which he joined the band 'Allegro Fudge' as lead vocalist and songwriter. The band's first album 'Maximum City' received critical acclaim from media, both digital and print. In 2015, Saahas moved to Los Angeles to study Vocal Performance at Musician's Institute (Hollywood). He was the recipient of 3 different scholarships and received a scholarship for a membership at The Recording Academy's Grammy-U Foundation. He began writing songs for producers and other artists, as well as writing and recording for his solo act as a singer-songwriter. Saahas has taught vocals, guitar and piano at low income schools and after-school programs, as well as music schools around Los Angeles. He continues to teach vocals and guitar to students in Los Angeles, while also working on his A&R start-up 'Who Wrote That Song'. He is Apple certified in Logic Pro X, and uses Pro Tools to record, mix and master frequently. Saahas was awarded Best Alternative Artist, Best Alternative Song and Best Male Rock Artist at the 10th Annual Indie Music Channel Awards for his song 'California'. He has also sung on short films like Unreal Estate (2017) and Long Island Wolf (2016). He is currently a singer with Ben Mallare Entertainment and Bonnie Foster Productions and spends his weekends traveling and performing. Social Media Instagram: @saahas1 Spotify YouTube Facebook Websites: Saahaspatil.com Canvas Rebel Interview The Hindu Interview ⁠Indian Express Indulge Interview⁠ Bold Journey Interview ⁠Voyage LA Interview⁠

In this episode, we met with Hanif Fazal, who shared insights into his dedication to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and we delved into some captivating themes of his new book, "On Another World." A nationally recognized facilitator, educator, speaker, and leadership coach, Hanif Fazal brings 20+ years of vision, expertise and commitment to creating more equitable and inclusive environments. When people are with Hanif, they feel inspired, heard and can see possibilities in belonging in spaces they may have not been able to experience before. Hanif’s commitment to centering BIPOC voices is palpable - he truly cares about individuals and uses his own story to build authentic connections and share of himself. In 2015, Hanif co-founded Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI), a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) consultancy that provides adaptive, interactive learning to build DEI capacity centering BIPOC experiences. CEI has led over 115 organizations nationwide to integrate DEI principles and practices into all aspects of their culture and business systems so that staff and leadership are in deeper communication and trust with one another. Contact information Contact Hanif through the Center for Equity and Inclusion (https://ceipdx.com/). Social Media Instagram: @iamhaniffazal Websites: Center for Equity and Inclusion: https://ceipdx.com/ haniffazal.com  Links to purchase An Other World: Order on AmazonOrder on Barnes and NobleOrder at Powell's City of Books Recent Interview: King TVKATU TV

Welcome to our Season 2, Episode 1 We met with Dwayne Jackson also known as Deeslyrics to discuss his creative process for producing the podcast's introductory song and to learn more about his journey in different facets of life. Dwayne Jackson is a single father of one 17-year-old son. He grew up in the Midwest, originating from Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin. Early on, he developed a passion for both sports and music, excelling in both as a young man. After completing high school, he enlisted in the army and became a biomedical technician, affording him opportunities to work around the globe. The army introduced him to a different set of challenges, ultimately leading him to pursue further education in the fields of psychology and management. This decision stemmed from the leadership and motivational aspects he encountered during his military service. In 2010, he initiated a bachelor's program in psychology, progressing to a master's in business before enrolling in an MFT program. Currently, he holds the position of Chief of Clinical Technologies at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. In this role, he oversees the division responsible for managing biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, asset management, clinical systems, contract management, and project management. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he is the owner of the record label Shattered Dream. Through this venture, he produces and creates music, similar to the introductory song for the strength in solidarity podcast. Links: https://on.soundcloud.com/KZNXy

Welcome to the Season 1 Finale Episode! This episode is hosted by our talented podcast interns, Alexyz Rios and Petra Zadroga, who are joined in conversation by the podcast hosts and producers Pooja Mamidanna and Dr. Donna Demanarig. In this episode, we delve into the journey of creating the podcast our vision for it, and share some of our favorite moments from Season 1. We are currently in the production phase of Season 2, and we eagerly anticipate releasing our episodes in November. Kindly stay tuned on our social media for more updates. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are excited for you to listen to what we have in store for you for season 2. Here is more information about our Task Force. Dr. Cokley’s President-Elect Column: http://division45.org/president-elects-column-s21/ Dr. Cokley’s Task Force Team: toward-cross-racial-ethnic-solidarity-being-an-accomplice Here are links to our social media for you to follow as well: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/apadiv45_presidentialtaskforce/ TWITTER https://twitter.com/APAdiv45_Cokley TIK-TOK https://www.tiktok.com/@apadiv45_cokley YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@APAdiv45_Cokley LINKED IN https://www.linkedin.com/in/apa-dr-cokley-s-presidential-task-force-1856a9266 FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Kevin-Cokleys-APA-Division-45-Presidential-Task-Force-114354464601529 In Solidarity,  Pooja Mamidanna ( Task Force Executive Leadership, Podcast Co-Host/Producer and Social Media Branding) Dr. Donna Demanarig (Co-Chair of Task Force and Podcast Co-Host/Producer) Alexyz Rios & Petra Zadroga (Podcast Interns)

In Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month & AANHPIH Heritage Month: We met with Dr. Helen Hsu to discuss her presidential theme for APA division 45 "Rematriate Psychology". Dr. Helen Hsu is Director of Outreach, Asian American specialist, and lecturer at Stanford University. She is President of the American Psychological Association Div. 45 (Society for the Study of Race, Culture and Ethnicity) a past president and fellow of the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), and past Chair of the Training Advisory Committee at the American Psychological Association (APA) Minority Fellowship Program and Committee member on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression. She is a bi-cultural and bi-lingual clinician whose work has focused primarily on intersectional diverse communities, culturally responsive treatment, parenting education, school-based clinical services, grief and loss, and the mentorship and leadership training of psychology students. Dr. Hsu is on the advisory board for the JED foundation which focuses on teen and young adult suicide prevention. She has been recognized with the Cultural Responsiveness Professional Award by the Alameda County Mental Health Advisory Board and the Okura Community Leadership Award. She is the founder of Hella Mental Health which provides training and consultation for clinical organizations and corporate and entertainment clients.  Links: https://hellamentalhealth.com/ https://linktr.ee/HelenHHsu https://www.youtube.com/@HellaMentalHealth https://www.instagram.com/hellamentalhealth/ https://twitter.com/DrHelenHsu https://twitter.com/HelenHsuPsyD

In Honor of Mental Health Awareness Month & AANHPIH Heritage Month: We met with Dr. Gordon Hall to discuss his leadership journey Gordon C. Nagayama Hall is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon. Dr. Hall received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He started his career as a psychologist at Western State Hospital in Washington state. Dr. Hall later was a Professor of Psychology at Kent State University and Penn State University. He served as President of the APA Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues (Division 45) and as President of the Asian American Psychological Association. He was Editor of Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. His textbook Multicultural Psychology is in its 4th Edition. Dr. Hall’s honors include the Stanley Sue Award for Distinguished Contributions to Diversity from the APA Division of Clinical Psychology and the Lifetime Achievement Award from APA Division 45. His research interests are in culture and mental health with a particular interest in Asian Americans. He currently has NIH funding to develop a problem-solving therapy app for Asian Americans. Dr. Hall is on the board of the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon. His 4-year-old granddaughter, Emiko, says, “you’re the best jiichan (grandpa) ever”. Links: https://www.routledge.com/Multicultural-Psychology/Nagayama-Hall/p/book/9781032028347 https://www.apa.org/about/governance/president/citation/gordon-nagaymana-hall https://aapaonline.org/resources/aapa-undergraduate-consortium/profiles/gordon-hall/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUmaAsrnDSI https://cbtsocal.com/on-improving-medical-and-mental-healthcare-for-asian-americans-ep-29/ ⁠https://asianamericapodcast.com/2021/03/dr-gordon-nagayama-hall/⁠ https://www.theearthlydelightspodcast.com/podcast/episode-31-dr-gordon-c-nagayama-hall https://journey2psychology.com/2018/12/01/embracing-community-and-ethnicity-with-dr-gordon-c-nagayama-hall/

For May's Mental Health Awareness Month: We met with Dr. Alfonso Mercado to discuss his social justice advocacy work along the U.S. Mexico border. Dr. Alfonso Mercado is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science and Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and a Licensed Psychologist. His research focus is on Latino mental health, including immigration, trauma, and multicultural interventions. He is the author of Cultural Competency in Psychological Assessment: Working Effectively with Latinx populations, an Oxford University Press book. Dr. Mercado is the immediate Past-President of the Texas Psychological Association and in 2023 was appointed to the American Psychological Association Advisory Coordinating Committee. In 2021, Dr. Mercado received the American Psychological Association Early Career Psychologist Achievement Award for his research, clinical, and advocacy work with recently immigrated families along the U.S. Mexico border. He has presented his research and clinical experience to U.S. Congress including the U.S. Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the mental health needs of Latino children and families.  Links: https://twitter.com/Dr_Mercado1 https://www.utrgv.edu/multicultural-clinical-lab/index.htm https://global.oup.com/academic/product/cultural-competency-in-psychological-assessment-9780190065225?cc=us&lang=en&#.Y3TvokblUdc.twitter

For April's BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month: We met with Terrill Taylor to discuss his social justice advocacy research in psychology and leadership journey. Terrill Taylor is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of North Dakota, and a predoctoral intern at the Counseling and Mental Health Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Beginning in Fall 2023, Terrill will join the University of Maryland, College Park as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology. His areas of research focus on issues of race and racism, with specific emphasis on intersectionality, racial disparities in systems of justice, anti-Black racism, and restorative justice.He developed the Restorative Justice Attitudes Scale, a measure designed to investigate individuals’ support for reconciliation and healing processes, which was published in The Counseling Psychologist. He has since used the measure to analyze how race and racism influence individuals’ decision-making when interfaced with systems of justice. It is his intent to develop intervention and prevention mechanisms that will have an impact on dismantling all forms of racism and oppression that restrict Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from living authentic, healthy, and meaningful lives. Terrill’s research has received national recognition. His dissertation entitled, Does Race Matter? An Experimental Vignette Study on Harm Severity, College Student Discipline, and Restorative Justice was selected as winner of the 2022 Jeffrey S. Tanaka Memorial Dissertation award on behalf of the APA Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs. Terrill also received the APA Division 45 2022 Outstanding Student Research Award, and he was also the 2020 recipient of the Barbara Smith & Jewell E. Horvat Graduate Student Award for Research on Queer Individuals of Color. In addition, Terrill received an Outstanding Dedication to Social Justice and Liberation in Counseling Psychology Award from the Student Affiliates of Seventeen (APA Division 17). In his spare time, Terrill enjoys traveling and spending time with his friends and family. Links: https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/lynch-school/sites/isrc/scholar-in-residence.html

For April's BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month: We met with Dr. Joseph Gone to discuss his work on Indigenous Psychology. Dr. Joseph P. Gone is an international expert in the psychology and mental health of American Indians and other Indigenous peoples. A professor at Harvard University, Dr. Gone has collaborated with tribal communities for over 25 years to critique conventional mental health services and harness traditional culture and spirituality to advance Indigenous well-being. He has published over 100 scientific articles and chapters and received recognition in his fields through several fellowships and career awards, including a year-long residency at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. A graduate of Harvard College and the University of Illinois, Dr. Gone also trained at Dartmouth College and McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He is currently a Fellow of the Association for PsychologicalScience, and of seven American Psychological Association (APA) divisions. An enrolled member of the Aaniiih-Gros Ventre Tribal Nation of Montana, he also served briefly as the Chief Administrative. Officer for the Fort Belknap Indian reservation. In 2014, Dr. Gone was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2021 he received the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. https://gonetowar.com/ https://gonetowar.com/topic/publications https://gonetowar.com/media https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Gone https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/psychologists/joseph-gone

For April's National Arab American Heritage Month Mental Health Awareness Month: We met with Dr. Germine Awad to discuss her work on centering AMENA (American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African) Voices. **Kindly note that this episode was recorded on February 14th, 2023. On February 13th, 2023, three individuals died, and five others were wounded in a mass shooting in two campus buildings of Michigan State University East Lansing. Dr. Germine Awad speaks of this during the episode. Germine Awad, Ph.D., is a professor in the Personality and Social Context Program in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan. She conducts research on the process of acculturation and ethnic identity formation for Arab-Americans examines the effect of discrimination on the Arab and African American community. She also investigates the predictors of prejudice and racism toward Arab/MENA Americans, Black Americans and other ethnically minoritized groups. Dr. Awad is one of the co-founders of the American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association (AMENA-Psy) and is currently President. She has over 60 publications and is the co-editor (with Mona Amer) of The Handbook of Arab American Psychology. Dr. Awad is associate editor of Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, and served on several editorial boards including The Journal of Black Psychology and the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Dr. Awad's Links: https://www.gigiawad.org/ https://twitter.com/Dr_GigiAwad Handbook of Arab American Psychology: https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Arab-American-Psychology-Mona/dp/0415841933 AMENA- PSY: https://www.amenapsy.org/ https://twitter.com/amenapsy https://www.instagram.com/amenapsy/?hl=en

For April's BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month: We met with Dr. Estrellado to discuss their recently published book "Clinical Interventions For Internalized Oppression," co-authored by Dr. Estrellado, Dr. Lou Felipe & Dr. Jeannie Celestial. Dr. Felipe and Dr. Celestial could not make it for this episode; we missed having them on and want to thank the entire team for their advocacy in the field and for all they do. Jan E. Estrellado (es-trel-YAH-doh), Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the PsyD program at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego campus. Dr. Estrellado’s research areas examine race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity in trauma therapy. Dr. Estrellado’s scholarly interests connect multicultural psychology and trauma psychology with the goal of providing quantitative and qualitative evidence for effective, culturally-informed supervision and training of graduate students. Dr. Estrellado was a Leadership Fellow with the Asian American Psychological Association and an alum of the Minority Fellowship Program with the American Psychological Association. Dr. Estrellado runs a private practice dedicated to trauma recovery and is also a consultant to the Avellaka (uh-VEL-uh-kuh) Program, a federally funded anti-violence program serving the La Jolla Band of Luiseño (loo-es-SEN-yo) Indians. Resources/links: Clinical Interventions for Internalized Oppression (Book): https://titles.cognella.com/clinical-interventions-for-internalized-oppression-9781793526205 https://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Interventions-Internalized-Oppression-Estrellado/dp/1793526206 Dr. Jan Estrellado on Twitter: @jan_estrellado Dr. Lou Felipe on Twitter: @louniversality Dr. Jeannie Celestial on Twitter: @celestialphd

We met with Dr. Anjali Ferguson to discuss her work on Parenting culture, and toward being an accomplice. Dr. Anjali Ferguson is a clinical psychologist with expertise in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and parenting. Dr. Ferguson is an author and global resource on social equity and racial trauma. In addition to consulting with organizations of all sizes, Dr. Ferguson's expertise is lent to outlets like Today, Romper, Parents Magazine, Psych Central, and ongoing published medical journals and studies. Her practice has focused on identifying avenues of care for under-resourced and marginalized communities in efforts to reduce barriers to appropriate interventions and alter systems to better meet community needs. In the last several years, Dr. Ferguson has created free resources for children and families including landmark contributions to Blindian (Black x Indian) literature. She is also the founder and president of Parenting Culture. INC, a research-informed, inclusive parenting community.  You can access Dr. Ferguson's social equity content at www.draferguson.com or join the parenting conversation at www.parentingculture.org. Social Media: https://instagram.com/dranjaliferguson?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://instagram.com/parentingculture?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

We met with Dr. Reiko True to discuss her work on Asian American Psychology and her leadership endeavors in the field. Reiko Homma True, Ph.D. Reiko Homma True was born in Niigata, Japan 1933 and Immigrated to the U.S. in 1958.  She completed a social work master’s program at the University of Berkeley and worked for 7 years for Alameda County Mental Health Services. She then completed a doctorate in clinical psychology at California School for Professional Psychology in San Francisco. Her career, which spans nearly 60 years, has been devoted to advancing culturally and linguistically appropriate Asian and minority mental health services. She joined forces with a concerned group of API activists to seek funding and created Asian Community Mental Health Services in Oakland, California, the first of its kind in the country. She joined the National Institute of Mental Health in 1975 and was instrumental in helping to develop a statewide network of Hispanic and Native American communities. After leaving NIMH, she served as the first female and minority director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in San Francisco, overseeing a large mental health, substance abuse, and forensic medical and psychiatric service system throughout San Francisco.  At the time of the Loma Pietà Earthquake in 1989 in San Francisco, she was charged with organizing the citywide disaster mental health assistance initiative. Using her experience with SF disaster assistance, she went to Japan as a Fulbright Scholar in 1996 to help the Japanese victims of the Great Kansai-Awaji Earthquake and to train Japanese mental health professionals on disaster mental health assistance. In 1997, after Dr. Christine Hall, she was elected as the 2nd female president of AAPA. After retiring from the San Francisco Public Health Department, where she worked From 2002 through 2015, she helped create and directed a Master’s Program in Psychology in Tokyo to improve the level of psychological care provided in Japan. In addition to her public service, she also maintained a private practice counseling clinic in San Francisco Japan Town. EDUCATION: -1976. Ph.D. California School of Professional Psychology(CSPP) -Director, San Francisco Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse SERVICE: -Director, Japan Clinical Psychology Master’s Program, CSPP -Private Practice -Organized Loma Prieta SF mental health disaster -assistance (1989) -Japan Kansai Disaster assistance (1997-98) AREAS OF SPEAKING EXPERTISE & EXPERIENCE : -Psychology of Asian American women -Asian American mental health -Women’s mental health issues -Trauma treatment; disaster mental health assistance APA Women in Psychology Timeline https://www.apa.org/pi/women/iampsyched/timeline Social Media: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiko_True https://www.apa.org/monitor/feb06/true https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/psychologists/true https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/dr-reiko-homma-true https://aapaonline.org/about/executive-committee/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxAYVbO6sYI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnBnZS4TzhI https://feministvoices.com/profiles/reiko-true https://nichibeicare.org/about-us/ https://www.facebook.com/psychologysfeministvoices/photos/a.249863925059235/3791047434274182/?type=3