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Child Study Center Grand Rounds 06.01.2021

June 08, 2021

Child Study Center Grand Rounds 06.01.2021

 .
  • 00:00Now, thanks to Laurie Cardona for
  • 00:03training your trainees so well.
  • 00:06The prodigal daughter comes home.
  • 00:08Lori Cardona. It's
  • 00:11just such an honor and such a
  • 00:14privilege to introduce such a dear
  • 00:17dear colleague and friend myself,
  • 00:19Akbar, today tell you about
  • 00:21her impressive background.
  • 00:22Mice obtained her PhD in clinical
  • 00:25psychology from Saint Louis University
  • 00:27and then we were so blessed that
  • 00:30she decided to do her predoctoral
  • 00:33and postdoctoral training at
  • 00:35the at the Child Study Center.
  • 00:37Specializing in early childhood development,
  • 00:40adversity, and.
  • 00:41We were further fortunate that my son
  • 00:44agreed to remain on our clinical faculty
  • 00:47for a very long time from 2004 to date,
  • 00:50where she has held many roles,
  • 00:53most valuable E as a clinical supervisor,
  • 00:56an also as a clinical instructor.
  • 00:59All the while my son did this amazing.
  • 01:04Forward thinking.
  • 01:06Creation,
  • 01:06she was the CEO or she is the CEO and
  • 01:10founder of Integrated Wellness Group.
  • 01:13It's a psychotherapy practice right
  • 01:16here in New Haven specializing
  • 01:18in treating race based trauma.
  • 01:20And she's been doing so since 2008.
  • 01:23While running this large
  • 01:25child guidance clinic,
  • 01:26she published her first book.
  • 01:29I don't get kickbacks.
  • 01:32And her first book is urban Trauma,
  • 01:35a legacy of racism in which Doctor Akbar
  • 01:39introduces the Urban Trauma framework,
  • 01:41unpacking how people of color live in
  • 01:44a state of crisis due to oppressive
  • 01:47societal systems which result then,
  • 01:50and feelings of anger,
  • 01:51rage, and hopelessness,
  • 01:53she has a second book called Beyond Ally,
  • 01:56the pursuit of racial justice,
  • 01:59in which she advances her
  • 02:01racial justice work.
  • 02:02Through the creation of
  • 02:04the ally identity model,
  • 02:06which details the stages of allyship
  • 02:10in dismantling systemic oppression.
  • 02:12And so if you aren't impressed,
  • 02:15then know that Appa has been
  • 02:18very impressed with my sock bar.
  • 02:20That's the American
  • 02:22Psychological Association,
  • 02:23which has almost 200,000 members throughout
  • 02:25the United States and this past fall she was
  • 02:29appointed as Appa's Chief Diversity Officer,
  • 02:32in which she is charged to infuse equity,
  • 02:36diversity and inclusion into
  • 02:38the fabric of Apas work.
  • 02:41And so, as a CDO,
  • 02:43she will also be the spokesperson
  • 02:46and advocate for equity,
  • 02:48equity, diversity,
  • 02:49an inclusion nationally and internationally.
  • 02:52One recognition is,
  • 02:53for example,
  • 02:54that mysa is appa's representative
  • 02:57to the United Nations.
  • 02:59So we are just so thrilled and
  • 03:02so honored to have my son here
  • 03:05to share her many talents with
  • 03:08us today and welcome back.
  • 03:11Myself.
  • 03:13Thank
  • 03:14you, Lori Andreas.
  • 03:15Everyone that's here,
  • 03:16my dear friends and colleagues,
  • 03:18many who I've known for almost 20 years now.
  • 03:23Many who have trailblazed before me.
  • 03:25I see Doctor Comer and Doctor Brown
  • 03:28in in these beautiful squares and I'm
  • 03:31so happy to be here with longtime
  • 03:33colleagues and to come to you in
  • 03:37different positions because I've done
  • 03:39grand rounds in the past and you know,
  • 03:42have done that in playing different roles.
  • 03:45So now it's a pleasure to do that,
  • 03:49playing the role of the Chief
  • 03:52Diversity Officer at a PA.
  • 03:54Which is one of their accreditation
  • 03:56bodies for the Child Study Center.
  • 03:58So we're very deeply connected
  • 04:00in so many different ways.
  • 04:02I'm going to begin to the
  • 04:04process of screen sharing,
  • 04:06so bear with me here for one second,
  • 04:09as I do that.
  • 04:13And.
  • 04:14We can, let's see.
  • 04:20I'm trying to make sure that I see you,
  • 04:23but I don't see you right now,
  • 04:25so give me one second, let me just
  • 04:28end again and see where everyone went.
  • 04:31OK, there you are.
  • 04:35And hopefully if I if I lose all of you,
  • 04:38that means I'll lose the chat
  • 04:40or any capacity to see anyone,
  • 04:42I'll try that again.
  • 04:44Just to make sure.
  • 04:47Give me one second again
  • 04:48just to screen share.
  • 04:50We just tested this and it
  • 04:51worked out and of course.
  • 04:53Anne. We have
  • 04:55a single monitor, my sorta monitor.
  • 04:58I have two monitors that may be
  • 04:59the issue. If you can't see it.
  • 05:03If you can't get that,
  • 05:04would unplug the other monitor.
  • 05:07But anyway. And yes yes, yes.
  • 05:12Let's see here.
  • 05:17OK, I think it's going to do it.
  • 05:19There we go. Now I lost you again.
  • 05:22Well, I'm going to go ahead
  • 05:24and just start anyway.
  • 05:25And then you know,
  • 05:27Andreas what I just invite
  • 05:28you to do is to interrupt me
  • 05:30and then that way.
  • 05:33You know I can hold two to make sure
  • 05:36that I can answer a question or there's
  • 05:39a question that shows up in the chat.
  • 05:42Sometimes that's what technology does.
  • 05:44Yeah, you see the full screen.
  • 05:48Yep, you do. OK fantastic OK so.
  • 05:54We're going to have a conversation
  • 05:56today in terms of I don't know if
  • 05:59you all see that, my apologies.
  • 06:03Related to the advancing of the equity,
  • 06:06diversity and inclusion work
  • 06:08that's being done at a PA,
  • 06:10and then more specifically talking about the
  • 06:13process of dismantling structural racism.
  • 06:16One of the areas that I want to make
  • 06:19sure that we are able to talk about is
  • 06:22to share appa's commitment to equity,
  • 06:25diversity, and inclusion.
  • 06:27Appa is in a really interesting
  • 06:29position right now to think about how
  • 06:32to formulate the ideas around equity,
  • 06:34diversity and inclusion both
  • 06:36nationally and internationally,
  • 06:37particularly as the field is changing
  • 06:40very drastically just to give you a little
  • 06:43bit of history in terms of the fields of.
  • 06:46EDI or DVI, or DNI, or DNI and B,
  • 06:50which goes for belonging this,
  • 06:52you know.
  • 06:53It was really something that birth
  • 06:55out of the civil rights movement,
  • 06:58and it was very much focused
  • 07:00on affirmative action,
  • 07:02and it was focused on looking at the
  • 07:04way that corporations are conducting
  • 07:06business with minority owned women,
  • 07:09own veteran own LG, LGBTQ,
  • 07:11plus own businesses,
  • 07:13and how much of that work was being done.
  • 07:17In terms of what's considered supplier
  • 07:19diversity and so that was really
  • 07:21the origin of EDI and incorporating
  • 07:23diversity into corporate spaces,
  • 07:25and as you know,
  • 07:26given the evolution of that
  • 07:28in the last 60 plus years,
  • 07:30given what's happened this past year
  • 07:32related to not just COVID but the
  • 07:34racial reckoning that the way that
  • 07:36we talk about equity and diversity
  • 07:39and inclusion is very different.
  • 07:41Now you know there were times
  • 07:43where you couldn't even say things
  • 07:45related to support white supremacy
  • 07:47or racism in a workspace.
  • 07:49I know that there are times in the 20
  • 07:51year history of the Child Study Center
  • 07:54where those words weren't necessarily
  • 07:56an invitation to having a deep,
  • 07:58deeper discussion where now the
  • 08:00context of this conversation
  • 08:01has really evolved overtime.
  • 08:03So one of the things that I've been
  • 08:05charged to do with is to establish
  • 08:08what would be considered an EDI model.
  • 08:10We put equity 1st and then we talk
  • 08:13about diversity and inclusivity.
  • 08:15And in the four months in a little
  • 08:17bit of days that I've been there,
  • 08:19when I've been able to do is
  • 08:21complete that model, that EDI model,
  • 08:23which I'll share some of that with you today.
  • 08:27And then the last piece that I'd love
  • 08:29for us to concentrate on and think
  • 08:32about this as a beginning and not an end,
  • 08:35is how can we incorporate some of
  • 08:37the concepts that I'll introduce
  • 08:38to you today into the work of
  • 08:41the CHILD Study Center?
  • 08:42And how can you consider embedding
  • 08:44some of these concepts in the multiple
  • 08:46facets by which you do the work,
  • 08:49not just internal to the CHILD Study Center,
  • 08:51but also in the way that you
  • 08:53do it in the expression of the
  • 08:55field in which we're in.
  • 08:57And how it touches a society
  • 09:00in the community around
  • 09:01you. Which is very important.
  • 09:05I also want us to think about that.
  • 09:08In the past, EDI again,
  • 09:09I'm going to call it the way that
  • 09:12we do at a PA and structural racism
  • 09:15were not a conversation that we
  • 09:17had that were had interchangeably.
  • 09:20Instead, they you know the way
  • 09:22that anything related to structural
  • 09:24racism or every aspect of racism.
  • 09:26The four levels of racism was discussed.
  • 09:29It was either as an adjunct or
  • 09:31it was put in the category or
  • 09:34the box of a social justice.
  • 09:37Issue and that that didn't
  • 09:39necessarily interact very well with
  • 09:41mental health and by mental health.
  • 09:44I'm covering both overall three psychiatry
  • 09:47psychology and then masters level programs,
  • 09:49including social work,
  • 09:51LPC's marriage and family
  • 09:52therapist and the others.
  • 09:54And now what we're seeing is a
  • 09:57direct connection and correlation.
  • 09:59You almost can't talk about one
  • 10:02without talking about the other,
  • 10:04and so that's why I'm going to.
  • 10:08First,
  • 10:08talk about our approach to dismantling
  • 10:11structural racism because the belief
  • 10:13system really is that we can't do EDI work,
  • 10:16we can't talk about equity.
  • 10:18We can talk about diversity,
  • 10:20and we certainly can't talk about
  • 10:22inclusivity until we are beginning
  • 10:24to have significant conversations
  • 10:26about dismantling the structures
  • 10:28of racism that live almost like
  • 10:30in the walls of the organization
  • 10:32by which we occupy space.
  • 10:38So I'm going to talk a little bit
  • 10:41about what was our process, you know,
  • 10:45and this process is not clean.
  • 10:47This process is not fast.
  • 10:50This is a journey that has no clear ending.
  • 10:53This is a journey that is.
  • 10:56Can be very emotionally taxing.
  • 10:59Can be extremely uncomfortable,
  • 11:00but it is a necessary step
  • 11:03in talking about this work.
  • 11:06So for a PA,
  • 11:07one of the foundational steps that
  • 11:09we took was having a comprehensive
  • 11:11look at our history and I'm going to
  • 11:13talk in a lot more detail about that,
  • 11:15but I'm going to give you
  • 11:17a small overview here.
  • 11:19We saw it very important to think
  • 11:22about where does Appa and where to
  • 11:27psychology have responsibility around
  • 11:29harms that have been done to Marge,
  • 11:33historically marginalized
  • 11:34or minoritized communities?
  • 11:36It was important for us to acknowledge
  • 11:39those harms to take account of those harms,
  • 11:43to recognize and realize that
  • 11:46those harms don't disappear.
  • 11:47Just because yesterday we said that equity,
  • 11:51diversity,
  • 11:51and inclusion were a necessary
  • 11:54step forward for the association.
  • 11:57I'd like to share that with
  • 11:59you because as organizations,
  • 12:01academic settings,
  • 12:02medical settings such as Child Study
  • 12:05Center are engaging in this work.
  • 12:08It is so important for the healing
  • 12:11process for the reconciliation
  • 12:13process for the process of engaging
  • 12:17authentically in this work for those
  • 12:20past harms to be acknowledged.
  • 12:23And for us, in terms of the history,
  • 12:27we had a major pivotal point in the
  • 12:301960s where black psychologists
  • 12:33walked out of a PA.
  • 12:36And were very clear that they felt
  • 12:38they had no space in a PA because
  • 12:41of the way that systemic racism
  • 12:43was working and moving forward and
  • 12:46affecting their capacity to engage in
  • 12:49psychology in the fullness of who they are.
  • 12:53And we had to evaluate and reflect
  • 12:56on that and reflect on that how Appa
  • 13:00created oppressive structures and
  • 13:02how Appa for then several decades
  • 13:05after that was very had a lot of
  • 13:08difficulty reconciling with that passed.
  • 13:11So we were our next steps after
  • 13:14understanding that history was part
  • 13:16of what's made us who we are in the
  • 13:19100 plus years that we've been in existence.
  • 13:22We had to start to define the problem.
  • 13:26How do we define the problem?
  • 13:29By creating specific definitions
  • 13:31around the structures that exist.
  • 13:34A lot of times we want to go
  • 13:36right to solutions.
  • 13:38And to imagine what those solutions
  • 13:40are for communities of color
  • 13:42without really understanding first
  • 13:44how to define the problem.
  • 13:46And so we find ourselves almost
  • 13:49shooting darts in the dark because we
  • 13:52haven't fully grasped or understood
  • 13:54what the problem is to begin with.
  • 13:57And then the next part for us
  • 13:59in terms of foundational steps,
  • 14:01we're thinking about how do we
  • 14:04create systemic change?
  • 14:05We knew we didn't want to be
  • 14:07performative in our EDI process,
  • 14:10and that we didn't want to be
  • 14:12performative in our allyship so
  • 14:15that we needed to take a deeper
  • 14:17look and understand how to re create
  • 14:20a system that we
  • 14:22knew had been already foundationally
  • 14:24constructed to focus on the
  • 14:26idealization of white supremacy.
  • 14:28And then what policy changes
  • 14:30would accompany that,
  • 14:31as we're looking at those systemic changes.
  • 14:35And then what happened what you
  • 14:37can expect to happen to that.
  • 14:39We made a lot of mistakes along
  • 14:41the way and we continue to make
  • 14:43those mistakes we ask for grace.
  • 14:45We ask for forgiveness,
  • 14:47and then we immediately immediately look
  • 14:49at areas of opportunity for us to change.
  • 14:51Sometimes we missed the mark completely.
  • 14:54And a lot of times what we do is
  • 14:57that there are a lot of different
  • 15:00initiatives that are going on which
  • 15:02can feel chaotic and confusing and
  • 15:05at the same time we're not looking
  • 15:08at this from the perspective of
  • 15:10gathering all of our energy and
  • 15:12forces to look at ways to dismantle
  • 15:15structural racism together.
  • 15:17Instead,
  • 15:17sometimes there were competing demands.
  • 15:19There were a lot of areas that we
  • 15:22couldn't scale because there just
  • 15:24wasn't enough manpower for that.
  • 15:27And we needed to really take a look at that,
  • 15:29seriously,
  • 15:30to think about what our next
  • 15:32steps forward we're going to be.
  • 15:34And then in 2018 there was
  • 15:37a concerted effort.
  • 15:38It was the first time in the
  • 15:41history of a PA where there was
  • 15:44a CEO that was positioned who
  • 15:46was a black male and there was.
  • 15:49There were changes in the demographics
  • 15:52of the board and the demographics
  • 15:54of the EPA leadership in terms of
  • 15:57the presidents that were coming in.
  • 16:00That gave an opportunity now
  • 16:02not only to sort of do just a
  • 16:06check mark related to diversity,
  • 16:08we didn't want that.
  • 16:09We wanted to be able to continually revisit,
  • 16:12revise,
  • 16:13and re imagine the way that psychology was
  • 16:16going to be conducted within the association.
  • 16:19An impact in the field and how the
  • 16:21field of psychology impact society.
  • 16:24And so then in 2021,
  • 16:26after I was brought in to support doing this,
  • 16:29Appa started to establish a clear,
  • 16:32clear mission.
  • 16:33An vision forward.
  • 16:34I share all of this with you,
  • 16:37not because we we've got it 100%
  • 16:40right or because it's perfect,
  • 16:42or because I'm changing everything.
  • 16:43Given that I'm there,
  • 16:45I'm sharing this with you as steps
  • 16:47that I'm offering is opportunities
  • 16:49for the CHILD Study Center to consider
  • 16:52how they are engaging in their work,
  • 16:55how you are engaging in your work
  • 16:57around diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • 17:02So first let's talk about.
  • 17:05The first piece in which we
  • 17:07needed to look at our history.
  • 17:10Our first approach around this was
  • 17:13to begin to uncover psychology's
  • 17:15history in understanding the
  • 17:17harms and in order to do that,
  • 17:21we needed to go back to the beginning.
  • 17:24Even during a time where perhaps it was
  • 17:29commonplace for a PA to be implicit,
  • 17:32complicit or explicit in the way that
  • 17:35discrimination and discrimination,
  • 17:36discrimination,
  • 17:37and equities happened.
  • 17:39We needed to be committed to uplifting
  • 17:42the voices of those who have been harmed.
  • 17:46And we needed to learn from our
  • 17:48history in order to be more inclusive
  • 17:51in the future and to create a space
  • 17:54of equity and psychological safety.
  • 17:57And we needed to also understand
  • 17:59how we were going to champion EDI,
  • 18:02not just in silos,
  • 18:03in little pieces like those who
  • 18:05have always championed for EDI work,
  • 18:08or always champion for work around
  • 18:10racial justice.
  • 18:11But how this work was going to be
  • 18:14infused throughout the entire organization,
  • 18:16and that it wasn't up to the Office
  • 18:19of Diversity and Inclusion or the
  • 18:22officer who was established to do
  • 18:24the diversity and inclusion work.
  • 18:27To do this work alone,
  • 18:29it was actually the responsibility of
  • 18:31every single member of the association,
  • 18:34and that it wasn't an afterthought.
  • 18:36In fact,
  • 18:37it was a forethought and that EDI
  • 18:40would be supportive in making sure
  • 18:43that all activities were focused first
  • 18:46on EDI and then on the mission of
  • 18:49what they were trying to accomplish.
  • 18:55So we needed to change a few things,
  • 18:58which was to establish that definition.
  • 19:01First we started with the basic
  • 19:03ideas of human rights, right?
  • 19:06We wanted to make sure that we were
  • 19:09grounded in our commitment to human rights,
  • 19:12that psychologists possess human
  • 19:14rights as a virtue of human beings
  • 19:17as well as specific rights and
  • 19:19essential to their profession.
  • 19:21That psychologist and all members
  • 19:24of the mental health community.
  • 19:26Apply their knowledge and methods
  • 19:28to the greater realization of human
  • 19:30rights that psychologists respect
  • 19:32human rights and oppose the misuse
  • 19:35of psychological science practice
  • 19:37application and their negative impact
  • 19:39on human rights and that psychologists
  • 19:41advance equal access to the benefit of
  • 19:45psychological science and practice.
  • 19:46Therefore,
  • 19:47advocating for human rights.
  • 19:49Remember before these two things in
  • 19:51terms of human rights and the pursuit
  • 19:54of human rights were considered.
  • 19:57Considered a social justice initiative,
  • 19:58a racial justice initiative,
  • 20:00and we're not fully integrated into the
  • 20:03idea that we cannot divide people of color.
  • 20:05They the human rights,
  • 20:07suffering and violations of human rights
  • 20:09are very much related to the mental
  • 20:11Wellness and the emotional Wellness and
  • 20:13well being of communities of color.
  • 20:15And I know you've learned about this
  • 20:18because I've seen the work that's been
  • 20:21done previously around racial trauma
  • 20:22and some of the work that I've invited
  • 20:25into the center around racial trauma.
  • 20:29So first we define human rights.
  • 20:31Then we went on to define racism.
  • 20:33It was really important that we had
  • 20:36a solid definition around racism.
  • 20:38And so it you know,
  • 20:40as you're looking at dismantling racism
  • 20:42or being anti racist in your in your
  • 20:45practice is very important for the
  • 20:47center to establish and acknowledge well.
  • 20:50How do we define racism to begin with right?
  • 20:54And so for us,
  • 20:55we wanted to make sure that we were
  • 20:58looking at it beyond the interpersonal
  • 21:00or the internalised levels of racism.
  • 21:03A lot of times,
  • 21:05mental health tends to focus in
  • 21:07those two areas.
  • 21:08And rightfully so.
  • 21:09We look at this from a human behavior
  • 21:12characteristics.
  • 21:13Human change would have the baselines
  • 21:15of people who come into the center and
  • 21:19to come in that come into our practices.
  • 21:22But this work really cause us to move
  • 21:25from internalize and interpersonal
  • 21:27ways of experiencing and combatting
  • 21:30racism to institutional,
  • 21:32structural and systemic ways
  • 21:34of combating racism.
  • 21:35And, in fact,
  • 21:36what I say is that you cannot do diversity,
  • 21:41equity and inclusion work unless
  • 21:43you have tackled or are committed
  • 21:46to tackling the institutional,
  • 21:48systemic, structural,
  • 21:49and systemic ways in which racism.
  • 21:52Impacts the people that are doing
  • 21:55this work day in and day out.
  • 21:58And so it's important to define that we
  • 22:00took the time to really define those areas,
  • 22:03and we took the time to make a commitment
  • 22:05that the way in which we're going
  • 22:07to tackle and dismantle racism was
  • 22:09going to be at the systemic level.
  • 22:14The other piece that's important,
  • 22:16around equity, diversity and inclusion,
  • 22:18is to look at the other areas which
  • 22:21are just as important to this work,
  • 22:24and so we also wanted to establish
  • 22:27definition for gender identity change
  • 22:29efforts which we know historically
  • 22:32has also been a space where mental
  • 22:35health has created quite a bit
  • 22:37of damage and harm overtime,
  • 22:39and we also wanted to look at sexual
  • 22:42orientation change efforts and to create.
  • 22:45A position statement around that that
  • 22:47we are committed as a profession
  • 22:50to affirming into being culturally
  • 22:52relevant in our approaches to
  • 22:55diverse gender expressions,
  • 22:56and that we are also committed to
  • 23:00including those based on gender,
  • 23:02gender identity,
  • 23:03and sexual orientation and other differences,
  • 23:06and to treat them with dignity and respect.
  • 23:15So what guide is this work?
  • 23:17How did we come up with
  • 23:19the ideas of this work?
  • 23:21I am very committed than any of those who
  • 23:24know me and have known me for a long time.
  • 23:27I'm particularly.
  • 23:30Focused on wanting to make sure that
  • 23:33we pay homage to those who have been
  • 23:37committed to this work for decades,
  • 23:40and who are often our unsung heroes
  • 23:44whose work may or may not have
  • 23:47been acknowledged and who are have
  • 23:50been focused on doing changes.
  • 23:52Engaging in changes overtime,
  • 23:55but that in a lot of ways had
  • 23:59not been lifted in any way.
  • 24:02I bring this up in terms of our
  • 24:05strategy for policy making,
  • 24:06because this was a document that was
  • 24:09created by the indigenous group of Psycho,
  • 24:12an indigenous group of psychologists.
  • 24:14And this report,
  • 24:15which I'll be happy to share with everyone,
  • 24:18because because it is now a public report,
  • 24:21is called the Warriors path,
  • 24:23and it was completed by Division 45,
  • 24:25which is the division that focuses
  • 24:28on diversity in psychology.
  • 24:30And what the guidance was here is
  • 24:32will look if you're going to really
  • 24:35take a look at your past history,
  • 24:37then a very important step.
  • 24:39After looking at the past harms is
  • 24:42to think about how you're going to
  • 24:44make a public apology about this,
  • 24:47and if many of you have read this,
  • 24:49you've seen that the American Medical
  • 24:52Association has made a public apology.
  • 24:54The American Psychiatric Association
  • 24:56has made a public apology.
  • 24:58And that we really are being considerate
  • 25:01in terms of the way that our apology
  • 25:04will be issued out and the way that
  • 25:07we're doing this is by going to the
  • 25:09elders and asking the elders.
  • 25:11Well, what makes a meaningful apology?
  • 25:13We knew that a statement
  • 25:15wouldn't be authentic,
  • 25:16and it wouldn't make the impact
  • 25:19that we wanted it to make.
  • 25:21So what the elders in the indigenous
  • 25:24community said to us is well,
  • 25:25if you're going to have
  • 25:27an apology with integrity,
  • 25:28here's what you need to do.
  • 25:30You need to acknowledge what was
  • 25:32done and acknowledge that publicly.
  • 25:34You need to acknowledge the
  • 25:36impact that it had.
  • 25:38And you need to identify what
  • 25:40steps will be taken to ensure that
  • 25:43this behavior does not continue.
  • 25:45That third piece for us was so important
  • 25:47and I'm hoping that as you're hearing this,
  • 25:51you're also thinking about that.
  • 25:53It's not enough just to
  • 25:55acknowledge what was done.
  • 25:56If that hasn't been done,
  • 25:58how will you do it?
  • 26:00It's not enough just to
  • 26:02acknowledge the impact,
  • 26:03how it's harm people,
  • 26:04how people have been have felt that
  • 26:07they didn't belong in this space
  • 26:09or have left because there didn't.
  • 26:12There wasn't psychological safety or
  • 26:13couldn't thrive in terms of their careers.
  • 26:16Or how there is a lack of diversity?
  • 26:20But how do you ensure that this
  • 26:22doesn't continue to happen right?
  • 26:24And so we see this as a first step
  • 26:26to reconciliation there today.
  • 26:29I was reading something and
  • 26:31a colleague of mine sent
  • 26:32me this little saying and I thought, wow,
  • 26:35these couple of words are so meaningful.
  • 26:39And what the same said is.
  • 26:41People start healing the
  • 26:43moment that they feel heard.
  • 26:46People start healing the
  • 26:48moment they feel heard.
  • 26:50So one of the things that we want
  • 26:53to be able to do is to hear.
  • 26:55How we've impacted folks as an association.
  • 26:58How we have harmed them and to start
  • 27:00to hear those the consideration.
  • 27:03So this is not just about a
  • 27:05historical overview of the harms,
  • 27:07it's also about creating space for
  • 27:10those conversations to happen and for
  • 27:12us to be accountable for those things
  • 27:15that have been brought up and for
  • 27:17us to consider how not to recreate
  • 27:19those harms over and over again.
  • 27:27So before I move to this uncoordinated
  • 27:30approach because that's the misstep
  • 27:33that ends up happening, I want to
  • 27:36tell you a little story in terms of.
  • 27:41My process at the CHILD
  • 27:44Study Center as a fellow.
  • 27:47And I'm hoping that my sin sharing my story
  • 27:51and in understanding my worldview an almost.
  • 27:54I've gotten here pretty much
  • 27:57like two decades later.
  • 27:59You'll see that there are moments
  • 28:02where you are absolutely influenced,
  • 28:04influenced by the experiences
  • 28:07that happen in your life.
  • 28:10So as a fellow,
  • 28:11I remember one day I was at Winchester,
  • 28:15one it was my rotation,
  • 28:17my turn to do the rotation at Winnie
  • 28:20and I was the psychology fellow doing
  • 28:24the assessments for those that were
  • 28:27designated to have a psych eval.
  • 28:30In the inpatient unit.
  • 28:32We had a really interesting case of a
  • 28:36young child that came in probably about
  • 28:39anywhere between 5:00 or six years old.
  • 28:42Maybe a wealthy family from Middle America
  • 28:45believe it was probably like Texas.
  • 28:48And this family had taken this child
  • 28:51to multiple different places to try
  • 28:54to get a diagnostic for this child.
  • 28:56And we felt very compelled as a team.
  • 28:59It was a strong team.
  • 29:00We felt very compelled to make
  • 29:02sure that we cross all our eyes.
  • 29:04Look I'm sorry dot all our eyes
  • 29:06cross all our T's looked at every
  • 29:09way possible that we could understand
  • 29:11the the diagnosis of this child.
  • 29:13And it was time to do rounds and
  • 29:16I believe at that time it was
  • 29:19still Dorothy's office.
  • 29:20But I don't remember exactly when 'cause
  • 29:23my memory is getting a little older there,
  • 29:26but I do remember that Andreas was in
  • 29:29the room and Lori was in the room and
  • 29:32there was a social worker that was
  • 29:35on this case that was in the room.
  • 29:38I was a fellow in the room and
  • 29:41maybe there was another fellow.
  • 29:44And we were having a very collegial but
  • 29:49intense discussion about this case.
  • 29:52And we were trying to approach this
  • 29:55case in a lot of different ways.
  • 29:58After the site testing an after
  • 30:00my supervision with Lori,
  • 30:02we felt pretty comfortable that to
  • 30:05diagnose this child despite the age
  • 30:07with a early onset of schizophrenia
  • 30:10and some you know,
  • 30:11sort of diagnosis around paranoia and etc.
  • 30:14Again,
  • 30:15I don't remember 100% the
  • 30:17diagnostic formulation,
  • 30:18but certainly you know that was
  • 30:20a very heavy conversation to have
  • 30:23for a child that young.
  • 30:25And as we're having these conversations,
  • 30:28the conversation gets a little intense.
  • 30:30And, you know, I'm sort of a fellow.
  • 30:33So I'm watching the other,
  • 30:35you know,
  • 30:36more seasoned people as they are
  • 30:38having these discussions an as
  • 30:40the conversation escalated,
  • 30:42there was this moment where the social
  • 30:46worker who happened to be a white woman.
  • 30:49Opens or takes her bottle of water
  • 30:53and throws the water on Lori's face.
  • 30:58And you can imagine at that moment.
  • 31:03Here I am a woman of color.
  • 31:06A fellow that you know whose life
  • 31:09had been a complete zigzag in
  • 31:11terms of even getting to Yale.
  • 31:15I really hadn't seen a lot of representation
  • 31:17of me at the CHILD Study Center,
  • 31:20so I was going to gravitate towards
  • 31:22Laurie as one of the representations
  • 31:25of who I can be in a person who
  • 31:28actually had a seat at the table
  • 31:30as another woman of color. And.
  • 31:33There is a small man where this person,
  • 31:38who I respected and who was
  • 31:40my supervisor and my leader.
  • 31:43Was diminished. When?
  • 31:46A white woman throws a bottle
  • 31:49of water in her face.
  • 31:52And that was the most impressive
  • 31:54I remember that day.
  • 31:55Like I remember the birth of my
  • 31:58children like I remember those
  • 32:00huge milestones in my life.
  • 32:03Because I thought to myself,
  • 32:05what does this mean that this woman
  • 32:07that has accomplished so much in
  • 32:09her life and in her professional
  • 32:11career is diminished at this moment,
  • 32:13for someone to take away her
  • 32:15dignity by doing that?
  • 32:16And I tell you,
  • 32:17the perfect example that she could have
  • 32:20set for me is that with so much grace,
  • 32:22and so much patience,
  • 32:24she took some tissues out of her bag,
  • 32:26cleaned up her face.
  • 32:29And said to this woman.
  • 32:31Something must be really
  • 32:33happening with you right now,
  • 32:35and perhaps we need to end this meeting.
  • 32:39What I want to say by this story is that.
  • 32:42I'm sure that many of us have multiple
  • 32:45of those stories that have happened.
  • 32:47And for me,
  • 32:48as a woman of color as an Afro Latina,
  • 32:50as a person that was trying to make
  • 32:53my mark in this world I was in and
  • 32:55trying to be a psychologist that
  • 32:57was moving the needle forward.
  • 32:59In terms of this work.
  • 33:02That was one of the most
  • 33:03demoralizing moments,
  • 33:04and it didn't even happen to me.
  • 33:06But it was also a very traumatic
  • 33:08moment in my career and it set
  • 33:10me back and it made me rethink
  • 33:12whether I was going to be truly
  • 33:15accepted in this kind of space.
  • 33:17And I asked Lori's permission
  • 33:19to tell this story,
  • 33:20not only because of what
  • 33:22it meant to me and how.
  • 33:2420 years later I can still recall
  • 33:26the details of this story,
  • 33:28what she was wearing,
  • 33:29how this happened,
  • 33:30that issue that came out of her bag,
  • 33:32but how it also positioned my
  • 33:35pursuit to make sure that one.
  • 33:38I was working towards dismantling
  • 33:40systems that approach the work in
  • 33:43this way too that I was relentless
  • 33:45in my pursuit to make sure that this
  • 33:48not only never happened to her again,
  • 33:50but that it never happened to me when
  • 33:53I was voicing my strong concerns
  • 33:56or opinions about something my my
  • 33:59training needed to be respected.
  • 34:01In two and three that.
  • 34:06That was a serious consideration
  • 34:08in terms of my my steps forward
  • 34:11in being in a setting that I feel
  • 34:15that I felt wasn't.
  • 34:16Wasn't safe for me.
  • 34:18So I think that those are all.
  • 34:21Pieces of the conversation that
  • 34:23are so important for us to have.
  • 34:25And as I move you along in
  • 34:28this trajectory in this story,
  • 34:29in this presentation what I want
  • 34:31to talk about is that a lot of
  • 34:34times we give a lot of energy to
  • 34:36this work without being thoughtful
  • 34:38about how we move forward and that.
  • 34:41That is a that is a consideration
  • 34:43of history that perhaps the CHILD
  • 34:46Study Center needs to contend with,
  • 34:49and many more of those incidents.
  • 34:52In order for you all to really
  • 34:56move forward in this DEI work
  • 35:00with awesome authenticity.
  • 35:02So how do we mess up along the way
  • 35:05and how do we lean into understanding
  • 35:08that messing up, making mistakes,
  • 35:11recovering from those mistakes
  • 35:12is actually part of the process.
  • 35:15For a PA, I'll give you the example.
  • 35:19Well,
  • 35:19we have hotter people working
  • 35:22on initiatives around EDI.
  • 35:24And they were all over the place.
  • 35:25I want to show you what it looked
  • 35:28like for me when I first got there.
  • 35:30There was the public interest director
  • 35:33it I was working on all the initiatives
  • 35:36related to eradicating racism and
  • 35:38the human rights portfolio and how
  • 35:40to be resilient and how to show
  • 35:43resiliency connected to the science.
  • 35:45There was the advocacy office
  • 35:47that was advocating for policy
  • 35:48changes and for additional rights
  • 35:50at the governmental level.
  • 35:52With the inclusion of psychological
  • 35:54science in the thought process of
  • 35:57the way that decision making was
  • 35:59happening regarding laws and policies.
  • 36:02There was the education director it
  • 36:04that was looking at training that
  • 36:06was looking at the student body that
  • 36:08was looking at diversification and
  • 36:11pathways to diversification into psychology.
  • 36:13As you all know,
  • 36:15in psychology under 4% of psychologists
  • 36:18or psychologists of color.
  • 36:204%.
  • 36:22So we had all of these areas.
  • 36:24Then we were looking at the science
  • 36:27directory.
  • 36:27How do we embrace scholars of color an?
  • 36:30Is there something that we needed
  • 36:32to do related to the science to be
  • 36:35more inclusive in the way that we
  • 36:37conduct research that we talk about
  • 36:40research that we disseminate research?
  • 36:41Have we been doing that or have we been
  • 36:45engaging in exclusionary practices
  • 36:46related to the science and publication?
  • 36:49Then there was the practice
  • 36:51directory in everything related to
  • 36:53to psychotherapy and the way that we
  • 36:56do mental health work and they were
  • 36:58working on Medicaid compliance and
  • 37:00they were working on other areas.
  • 37:03Of, you know,
  • 37:04briefing in terms of immigration
  • 37:06policies and etc.
  • 37:08Then there was general counsel and
  • 37:10communications and strategic and HR
  • 37:12work internal to the association.
  • 37:13But I tell you guys,
  • 37:15none of these things,
  • 37:16and I hope this slide is
  • 37:18absolutely overwhelming you,
  • 37:19because that's what I meant to do.
  • 37:22None of these things were coordinated,
  • 37:24so we weren't moving the needle
  • 37:27at all forward because we didn't
  • 37:29have a coordinated strategy.
  • 37:31So where do we go from here,
  • 37:33right?
  • 37:33We understand that we have to review
  • 37:36our past.
  • 37:36We not only have to review our past,
  • 37:38but we have to review the harms that
  • 37:40have been done and now and how not to
  • 37:43continue to perpetuate those harms.
  • 37:45We understand that sometimes
  • 37:46we are engaging in the work,
  • 37:47but we're not coordinated in the way that
  • 37:49we're engaging in the work. Therefore,
  • 37:51we're not moving the needle forward,
  • 37:52and sometimes it actually feels like
  • 37:54we're taking several steps back.
  • 37:56And what are some of the
  • 37:59possibilities of moving forward?
  • 38:00Well, one of the ways in which I
  • 38:03wanted to make sure that we did
  • 38:05this related to the science and that
  • 38:08there is an opportunity for you to
  • 38:10do this at the CHILD Study Center,
  • 38:12is to look at what is the real
  • 38:15vision and mission for EDI?
  • 38:17How do you create a common language
  • 38:19and how do you focus on a long term
  • 38:22strategy towards dismantling systemic
  • 38:23inequities and for that to exist
  • 38:25across the association and for it to
  • 38:28make sure that it is cascaded down.
  • 38:30Into the psychological science
  • 38:31into the field and into society,
  • 38:33which is the impact that we make.
  • 38:38We had a very clear mission
  • 38:40and vision that we developed.
  • 38:42We want it to be accessible,
  • 38:45equitable and inclusive.
  • 38:46Psychology that promotes human rights,
  • 38:48fairness and dignity for all.
  • 38:50That's our vision.
  • 38:51And these diversity statements,
  • 38:53by the way, are so important for you
  • 38:55to anchor the diversity statement,
  • 38:58because anytime that you need to be
  • 39:00accountable to the work that you're doing,
  • 39:03you can reference that diversity
  • 39:04statement and our mission was to
  • 39:06advance EDI through psychological
  • 39:08shock Science that champions thought,
  • 39:10leadership, innovation and excellence.
  • 39:14And the way that this was created
  • 39:16was using a model that was adopted
  • 39:18through Darrell sues ecological
  • 39:20model of conceptual framework of that
  • 39:23incorporated some multidimensional facets
  • 39:25of cultural competence in psychology.
  • 39:27And so we looked at sues model.
  • 39:30And we thought, well,
  • 39:31let's really think about what is it
  • 39:34that we need to do as a science to
  • 39:37highlight the way that we want to
  • 39:40structurally change the association
  • 39:42and the work that we're doing.
  • 39:45We adopted it to look at the several
  • 39:48pieces that are interlocking in the
  • 39:50way that psychology is, you know,
  • 39:53we conduct our work and we wanted
  • 39:55to make sure that it was embedded
  • 39:59in these core domains.
  • 40:00Access and equity,
  • 40:01cultural and emotional intelligence,
  • 40:03psychological safety and
  • 40:05inclusive policies and practices.
  • 40:07We defined everything that we
  • 40:09did based on these core domains.
  • 40:12And the most important part is to
  • 40:15create accountability along the way.
  • 40:16It's important that not only
  • 40:18you save the statements,
  • 40:19not only do you create these models,
  • 40:22but what are going to be the accountable
  • 40:24metrics that are put in place that
  • 40:27juxtapose these types of models that
  • 40:29are created in order to create an
  • 40:31equitable and inclusive environment?
  • 40:33One of the ways in which we're going to
  • 40:36do that I won't talk about that today,
  • 40:39but one of the ways in which we're going
  • 40:41to do that is to create a road map.
  • 40:44The road map is intended to
  • 40:46be iterative in nature,
  • 40:47but it will be the place where
  • 40:49we set our goals,
  • 40:50where we put the accountability
  • 40:52measures in place and where we
  • 40:54measure our success based on the
  • 40:55metrics that have been defined.
  • 40:57So, for example,
  • 40:58if you haven't done in EDI or well,
  • 41:00sometimes it's called an equity
  • 41:02needs assessment. That's important.
  • 41:03It's important for you to understand
  • 41:05your baseline.
  • 41:05And where you started,
  • 41:07that's an area that we've looked at and
  • 41:09now we have a position to be able to say.
  • 41:11Here's where we are,
  • 41:12and here are the multiple steps that
  • 41:14need to be taken based on our mission
  • 41:16and vision of where we want to go.
  • 41:21So what are some of those guiding principles?
  • 41:23What are we trying to do then?
  • 41:25What will be we be accountable to?
  • 41:28The first one that we're looking at
  • 41:30is how do we decolonize psychology?
  • 41:33See, it's important to understand
  • 41:35that while we can be very well
  • 41:37intentioned in our pursuit for equity,
  • 41:40diversity, inclusion,
  • 41:41the colonization of a particular space
  • 41:44in which you know a lot of us occupy.
  • 41:48The IT is inherent in the
  • 41:50way that we do the work,
  • 41:53and so we can't just apply something
  • 41:55on top of what's already in the DNA of
  • 41:59the organizations by which we're in.
  • 42:01We have to deconstruct it and decolonize
  • 42:05it and create new systems by which
  • 42:08we do the work in order for us to
  • 42:12see the full capacity of EDI work.
  • 42:14We need to make sure that there are,
  • 42:18you know,
  • 42:18advocates in learning institutions
  • 42:20such as yours with pedagogy that is
  • 42:23anchored in talking about racism
  • 42:25and health disparities,
  • 42:26but also in ways that we're going
  • 42:29to dismantle that not just in
  • 42:32what causes the impact, right?
  • 42:34I've been doing a lot of talks about this.
  • 42:38I am no longer in the business
  • 42:41of talking about all the laundry
  • 42:43list of disparities that exist
  • 42:45because of criminalization,
  • 42:47because of poor police practices.
  • 42:49Or, you know,
  • 42:50discriminative police practices,
  • 42:52or,
  • 42:52you know the inequities in our
  • 42:54healthcare system or poverty or the
  • 42:57extensive ways in which racism has
  • 42:59been embedded in our laws and our
  • 43:02policies and government and etc.
  • 43:05It always when I have these discussions.
  • 43:10What ends up happening is that I
  • 43:12exclude the responsibility of what
  • 43:14created these systems to begin with,
  • 43:17which is why I decided to publish
  • 43:20the allyship book.
  • 43:21There needs to be a responsible way
  • 43:23of talking about white supremacy
  • 43:25and talking about the systems that
  • 43:28created this that led to them the
  • 43:31disparities that we're seeing and
  • 43:32without connecting those two things
  • 43:34then we're really not talking
  • 43:36about EDI anymore.
  • 43:40Oh, and then this last statement here,
  • 43:43moving from the individual and
  • 43:44interpersonal level of racism,
  • 43:46which is where a lot of people start and end.
  • 43:49An and moving forward towards the systems and
  • 43:51the structures that need to be dismantled.
  • 43:54So before open it up for conversation.
  • 43:56We have about 12 minutes left.
  • 43:58Here are some questions
  • 43:59that I want us to consider.
  • 44:01What are your current EDI efforts?
  • 44:04And based on those EDI efforts,
  • 44:06what results are you looking for in
  • 44:09order for you to have meaningful impact
  • 44:12not only in the staff of the center but
  • 44:15in the population that you also serve?
  • 44:18Are you using any EDI
  • 44:20principles to do your work,
  • 44:22or is it more conceptual
  • 44:23or more process oriented?
  • 44:25How are you lining this up to know that
  • 44:27you're actually moving the needle forward?
  • 44:30If so, how are you doing it,
  • 44:32and if not,
  • 44:33what is a potential path forward in terms
  • 44:35of incorporating some of the principles
  • 44:38that I've shared with you today,
  • 44:40and again,
  • 44:40I can also share with you the EDI
  • 44:43framework which is now public.
  • 44:46And what supports are needed in
  • 44:47order to prepare the fellows,
  • 44:49the residents and the faculty to
  • 44:51meet the mental health needs of
  • 44:53children and families from diverse
  • 44:54backgrounds and experiences?
  • 44:55Now we can talk a little bit about
  • 44:58this today or I can answer some of
  • 45:01your questions that you may have,
  • 45:03but I would also encourage you to
  • 45:05take a quick picture of this slide.
  • 45:07And when you're having your own
  • 45:09huddle with your own team,
  • 45:11how can you unpack some of these
  • 45:13questions to think about what will
  • 45:15be my role in adding to the larger?
  • 45:17An initiative of diversity,
  • 45:19equity and inclusion at the center.
  • 45:23So I'm going to stop there and then
  • 45:25open it up for some questions.
  • 45:34Thank you so much. My son and I.
  • 45:37I know that there are many
  • 45:38questions I have many in my mind,
  • 45:40but let's go around and. Away.
  • 45:48Hi, I'm actually not a member
  • 45:51of your community here because
  • 45:54I'm interested in the topic and.
  • 45:572nd. I work in a public school.
  • 46:01As you can tell, and my question is.
  • 46:05We discussed that.
  • 46:08This process, an engaging in
  • 46:11dismantling these systems,
  • 46:12goes beyond the.
  • 46:14Interpersonal dynamic and changes shift
  • 46:17the conversation into a systematic dynamic.
  • 46:20We're right at the beginning of this
  • 46:23process in the district that I work,
  • 46:26and I work in a small town in New
  • 46:30England and by and large there's
  • 46:33such a resistance to this work,
  • 46:36even on an interpersonal level that
  • 46:39I can't even imagine how we can shift
  • 46:43the conversation from interpersonal.
  • 46:46To systemic because people won't
  • 46:48even admit that there's a problem.
  • 46:52Yeah, you know that that's
  • 46:54such an interesting question,
  • 46:55and I and I get that quite a bit because
  • 46:58you know that there are those barriers.
  • 47:01I mean, I think that there is still a
  • 47:04significant level of of uncomfortable
  • 47:06ITI just saying the word racism
  • 47:08and talking about racism, right?
  • 47:10And forget about words like
  • 47:12white supremacy, right?
  • 47:15Acknowledgement of what that means,
  • 47:17right? And so.
  • 47:18But here's the thing right that I always
  • 47:20think about when I'm answering this question.
  • 47:23Is the chicken egg,
  • 47:25you know dilemma?
  • 47:27So if if we don't think about
  • 47:29this from a systemic perspective,
  • 47:31do we expect that there there are going
  • 47:34to be changes at the interpersonal level
  • 47:38or the internalized level of racism?
  • 47:41And you know.
  • 47:42And so we have to sort of think about.
  • 47:45I think that the answer is going
  • 47:47to be different for each for
  • 47:49each system in which we occupy.
  • 47:51But we do have to consider that if
  • 47:53we leave it at the interpersonal
  • 47:56and the internalised.
  • 47:57We may not move much further
  • 48:00than just having discussions.
  • 48:02And trainings on micro aggression
  • 48:04and implicit bias and right and
  • 48:06you're on the hamster wheel and
  • 48:08and then you have to get this one
  • 48:11to buy in and that one to buy in.
  • 48:13And then there are hundreds of people
  • 48:16in systems to buy in that the work
  • 48:18then never really moves where my argument is.
  • 48:21Well if we start to look at
  • 48:24the policies that are in place.
  • 48:26So for example if you lack severe
  • 48:28diversity in terms of your leadership,
  • 48:30your board,
  • 48:31your you know.
  • 48:32The decision makers what needs to
  • 48:34be done for us to think about how
  • 48:37to apply that level of diversity
  • 48:39at all of those levels of system
  • 48:41and not just diversity.
  • 48:43For the purposes of diversity,
  • 48:44but diversity that is meaningful
  • 48:46rather than performative, right?
  • 48:47We don't want people to be tokenized.
  • 48:50We want people to have a voice around
  • 48:52the table and to be able to engage
  • 48:55in systemic change because they are
  • 48:57able to see where those gaps lie,
  • 48:59and to give them a voice to be
  • 49:02able to do that right.
  • 49:04Because if you have diversity
  • 49:06and then I'm shut down.
  • 49:08Right if I'm if I'm brought into
  • 49:09AP and they're like, go ahead CDO.
  • 49:11You do what you need to do right?
  • 49:13And then it's like, yeah,
  • 49:15but we're not giving you any resources.
  • 49:17You never get any time with the board.
  • 49:19No, we're not going to change anything then.
  • 49:21What's really the point of me
  • 49:22having that position,
  • 49:23which is why you see that most
  • 49:25CEO's only last six months.
  • 49:27Six months a 700% increase in
  • 49:29this industry of naming a lot
  • 49:32of chief diversity officers with
  • 49:34a lifespan of six months.
  • 49:36Can you believe that?
  • 49:39Because they don't get the resources,
  • 49:41it's all tokenism.
  • 49:42We have to understand the difference
  • 49:44between those. Which is why I am
  • 49:46sort of saying in this space.
  • 49:48Let's target the system.
  • 49:49The institution.
  • 49:50Let's put energy towards that.
  • 49:52Because if you are an ambassador for
  • 49:54that change, I rather that you execute
  • 49:56that energy in looking at the system,
  • 49:59then trying to convince me otherwise
  • 50:01that I should talk about whatever it
  • 50:03is that you need me to talk about,
  • 50:06right like? Where is the power lie?
  • 50:10That's what I would say.
  • 50:12Look at where the power is.
  • 50:14Thank you my so we have a couple
  • 50:16of questions and cake Keisha.
  • 50:18Thank you so much and I
  • 50:20love your Cascadia flag.
  • 50:21You know my son he's got a power so I see
  • 50:25some other key scale representing
  • 50:26from myself and my students.
  • 50:29Sis, I'm sorry. Before Celia we
  • 50:31had rob Rob you wanted to say
  • 50:34something. And then, Belinda.
  • 50:36First of all, thank you so much for
  • 50:39what you're doing. God bless you.
  • 50:42I wanted to return back to the
  • 50:44definition of racism back in the 1990s.
  • 50:47A lot of scholars made a distinction
  • 50:50between prejudice and racism,
  • 50:52and the difference is that racism has
  • 50:55an underlying power structure to it.
  • 50:57So basically, people of color
  • 50:59can't be racist because they
  • 51:01lack the power to do anything.
  • 51:03They could be prejudice, but not racist.
  • 51:06What are your views on that?
  • 51:09I agree with that.
  • 51:11I think that we do have to continue
  • 51:13to make that distinction.
  • 51:15That's why I talk about the
  • 51:17difference between internalised
  • 51:19racism and interpersonal racism,
  • 51:20and internalized racism
  • 51:21can be the way that I, you
  • 51:24know, that the the way that I
  • 51:26have adopted the doctrine of white
  • 51:29supremacy and white superiority,
  • 51:30and therefore I enact that.
  • 51:32And even though I'm a person of color right
  • 51:35there are, there are ways
  • 51:37in which that happens.
  • 51:39The difference is that if I
  • 51:41don't have the power to change
  • 51:43anything right or to oppress other
  • 51:45people or communities of people,
  • 51:47then it's very hard to legitimize that.
  • 51:49Then I'm enacting racism rather
  • 51:51than things like prejudice or bias.
  • 51:53You know, or other forms in
  • 51:55which this you know can be done.
  • 51:58I can even technically,
  • 51:59if I'm a person of
  • 52:01color, and I have a little bit of,
  • 52:04let's say I'm a supervisor,
  • 52:06so I have a little bit of power, right?
  • 52:09I can engage in oppressive systems,
  • 52:11but the actual definition of racism
  • 52:13it's very difficult to support
  • 52:15that when you are a person of color
  • 52:18because of the lack of power that
  • 52:21exists specially in this country.
  • 52:23But when you
  • 52:24look at it from a globalized perspective,
  • 52:26it doesn't change very much either.
  • 52:29And I will actually give you the
  • 52:31definition of racism that we adopted
  • 52:33in the author by which we adopted it.
  • 52:35I mean, it. We we took months to figure
  • 52:38out which one we wanted to adopt,
  • 52:40so perhaps it can be something that
  • 52:42you can reference or or have others
  • 52:44reference in terms of the definition.
  • 52:46I'm not saying it's the best one,
  • 52:48but I'm saying it's the one that
  • 52:50we chose as our guiding principle.
  • 52:52And I'll send that to Lori
  • 52:54and Andreas as well.
  • 52:56Terrific, thank you so much.
  • 52:57Thanks for that question.
  • 52:59Belinda you were next and this is Celia.
  • 53:02Awesome presentation,
  • 53:03my eyes are a couple of things.
  • 53:05Is have you all come up with
  • 53:07because I mentioned in the chat
  • 53:09the moment that we feel heard
  • 53:11the narrative will change but
  • 53:13after being heard there also
  • 53:14has to be that change an I
  • 53:17realized a few months ago after going
  • 53:19back to school the policies have to
  • 53:21change so the question becomes have
  • 53:23you all started some sort of bridge?
  • 53:26How do we change the policy is in the system?
  • 53:30Because there's various, it's
  • 53:31not. It's not
  • 53:32just, say Yale University,
  • 53:33but it's from
  • 53:34the top, bottom. And of course,
  • 53:36there's going to be reaction against that
  • 53:38because people. There's
  • 53:39certain people that don't want
  • 53:40things to change because
  • 53:41they're holding the power.
  • 53:43So how do we make that first step?
  • 53:45Let's say even within
  • 53:46the CHILD Study Center and myself before,
  • 53:49before you answer, let me just
  • 53:50say we have a queue of questions,
  • 53:53which is wonderful.
  • 53:53So we're going to keep on going.
  • 53:56I see that we have Cecilia. And then Jose,
  • 53:58and then Sophia and doctor Comer.
  • 54:00I really want you to have the last
  • 54:02word because you're you're the guy.
  • 54:04So so whatever happens,
  • 54:05we want you to have the last word,
  • 54:08but my so back to you. Yeah,
  • 54:11I, I think that really
  • 54:13what you're talking about is that
  • 54:15performative piece that I mentioned
  • 54:17Belinda, and that we can't claim it
  • 54:20by name and not do it by action,
  • 54:22right? And, and so it is. It is up to us
  • 54:26to be able to stay.
  • 54:29If the university if the medical
  • 54:32school if the Child Study Center
  • 54:35has made it clear, statement
  • 54:37that. Anti racism work.
  • 54:39Racial justice, work diversity,
  • 54:41equity and inclusion is important.
  • 54:42Then we can do the same thing
  • 54:44except expect a different outcome
  • 54:46because what are we defining?
  • 54:49All you can put that in the chat right?
  • 54:52So we that is part of the accountability
  • 54:54with the other thing that I
  • 54:57recommended is that you know those
  • 54:59that are engaged in this work here.
  • 55:01Do think about what a road
  • 55:04map will look like.
  • 55:05We don't want this to be a nebulous thing.
  • 55:08Like yeah, we should do equity
  • 55:10stuff that sounds really important.
  • 55:12And then we do a series of talks and we
  • 55:15do a series of you know Community work,
  • 55:18but there are no actionable steps
  • 55:20in terms of changing policy.
  • 55:22So what can groups who are engaged in
  • 55:24this work do to hold the the decision
  • 55:27makers around policy accountable
  • 55:29to what needs to be done in order
  • 55:31to change those things right?
  • 55:32And I don't know what those things
  • 55:35are 'cause I don't have intimacy.
  • 55:37I can give you a very quick example
  • 55:39of something that we did for us,
  • 55:41the decision-making body,
  • 55:43and what creates positionality.
  • 55:44For a PA is our council members.
  • 55:46Our Council has to agree an vote by
  • 55:49majority rule that we are going to
  • 55:52pursue a certain way of doing the work.
  • 55:54So what do we do in February?
  • 55:57Council a resolution around the definition
  • 55:59of racism was positioned in front of Council.
  • 56:03And it was passed minus one vote.
  • 56:06Well gosh,
  • 56:07who was at Long Ranger.
  • 56:09That didn't pass the racism resolution right?
  • 56:12But here's what it did.
  • 56:13Passing that now.
  • 56:14Change the policy in which the way that
  • 56:17we define racism and what we can pursue
  • 56:20later for dismantling structural racism.
  • 56:23And that now AP can make a bold
  • 56:26statement that that is our commitment.
  • 56:28Psychology's contribution to
  • 56:30dismantling structural racism.
  • 56:31So it's a systemic and systematic approach,
  • 56:34but we knew that we couldn't jump
  • 56:36forward without getting councils policy,
  • 56:37making body to make those types
  • 56:39of decisions so that you have to
  • 56:42sort of understand who makes those
  • 56:44decisions in the medical school.
  • 56:45In the university,
  • 56:46at the Child Study Center,
  • 56:48and then that's how you position
  • 56:50the path forward.
  • 56:53Thank you my son Cecilia.
  • 56:57And I saw it
  • 56:59is such a pleasure such a pleasure to
  • 57:02have you here. And thank you so much.
  • 57:05I learned so much from you every
  • 57:08time that you speak,
  • 57:09and I so appreciate this conversation.
  • 57:12My question has to do with healing.
  • 57:14You mentioned that and apologizing,
  • 57:16and you know you've been here
  • 57:20at the CHILD Study Center, and
  • 57:21I thank you
  • 57:22for sharing your intimate story.
  • 57:24And you know, as as as you know.
  • 57:27Large donors,
  • 57:28one of my mentors, so it really.
  • 57:31You know it really touched me very deeply.
  • 57:36And I'm sorry that that happened.
  • 57:39And dumb. I guess my question has
  • 57:42to do with healing, how do you?
  • 57:45How do you help a community like this
  • 57:47at the CHILD Study Center heal period?
  • 57:50Where do you start?
  • 57:52Well, you know what I can say to you and why.
  • 57:56I positioned the conversation the way
  • 57:57that I did is I was sort of creating
  • 58:00this presentation for the CHILD Study
  • 58:02Center is to perhaps even role model
  • 58:04what we've decided to do right,
  • 58:06and what we've decided to do
  • 58:08is to contend with our past.
  • 58:10We couldn't move forward without doing that.
  • 58:13You have to look at the harms
  • 58:15that you've done.
  • 58:16You know I see it like the cycle of violence.
  • 58:20To me, that's like an abuser, you know,
  • 58:23engaging in physical and physical
  • 58:24assault towards an intimate partner and
  • 58:27then saying you know what it's over.
  • 58:29Let's just continue now and I'm I'm
  • 58:32recharged and I'm changed an I won't
  • 58:35abuse you ever again and we're all good.
  • 58:38Would that make sense as a way
  • 58:41to move forward?
  • 58:42Would we as practitioners as people that
  • 58:44are responsible for guiding both victims
  • 58:47and sometimes perpetrators in this work,
  • 58:49ever advise someone to just get over it,
  • 58:52or just to move on?
  • 58:55No, we would never do that.
  • 58:57We have more sensibility,
  • 58:58more compassion,
  • 58:59more thought about this work.
  • 59:00We have empathy.
  • 59:01And because of that,
  • 59:02that is why we were so well positioned
  • 59:05to be able to look at our history
  • 59:07and to be able to move forward in a
  • 59:10way where we do engage in authentic
  • 59:12apologies about what we've done.
  • 59:13Even if we weren't the ones who did it.
  • 59:16But now we represent.
  • 59:18The Ancestoral part of who did.
  • 59:22It is our responsibility to do that,
  • 59:25and I would say that these kinds
  • 59:27of apologies are essential for the
  • 59:30healing process and reconciliation
  • 59:32will never come until that is done.
  • 59:36Thank you my son.
  • 59:37I suspect we could go on for a long time,
  • 59:40but we have to stay in Sofia and then
  • 59:42doctor Comer and then if anyone wants
  • 59:44to stay after that would be fine.
  • 59:46Jose Sofia please.
  • 59:49Thank you so much for helping Schiano here.
  • 59:55Get the word out.
  • 59:58So wonderful presentation and I have
  • 01:00:00a question and primarily this is about
  • 01:00:02making the changes at a systems level.
  • 01:00:04I know systems have many parts
  • 01:00:06gears that make the system go an
  • 01:00:08if we see a problem with specific.
  • 01:00:11Part of the system, you know what is,
  • 01:00:13you know your view and how would
  • 01:00:15you think is the best way to kind
  • 01:00:18of escalate that to the leadership.
  • 01:00:20You know, the way I'm thinking about
  • 01:00:22is like fear of retribution or or,
  • 01:00:24you know, becoming the person with
  • 01:00:26the scarlet letter, you know.
  • 01:00:27So what would be the best way?
  • 01:00:30Or you know some recommendation about
  • 01:00:31the best way to escalate that would be.
  • 01:00:35Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right.
  • 01:00:38I wish I can somehow tell you
  • 01:00:41that that doesn't happen,
  • 01:00:43and even for, you know.
  • 01:00:46Organizations that have been very
  • 01:00:49vocal in their EDI work that
  • 01:00:51retribution or punishment in some
  • 01:00:54way or another still doesn't happen.
  • 01:00:57I can't guarantee that that won't happen,
  • 01:01:00but what I do know is that
  • 01:01:03there is power in numbers.
  • 01:01:06The more that we can bring a collective
  • 01:01:09together to position a substantive
  • 01:01:11argument around the way that things
  • 01:01:14are have been traditionally done.
  • 01:01:17In the way that things need to change
  • 01:01:20that there is less of a risk for one
  • 01:01:24individualized person to be singled out.
  • 01:01:27There and then there are voices,
  • 01:01:29collective voices that are elevated.
  • 01:01:31So I absolutely believe in the collective.
  • 01:01:34I think that when we look at even what's
  • 01:01:37happening at the societal level and
  • 01:01:39let's take a look at the passing of,
  • 01:01:42you know, the Asian,
  • 01:01:44the hate crime that happened as a
  • 01:01:46result of Asian anti Asian American,
  • 01:01:49you know sentiment.
  • 01:01:50Those are things that needed to
  • 01:01:52happen because the collective decided
  • 01:01:55to come together when we look at,
  • 01:01:57you know,
  • 01:01:58the death of George Floyd and
  • 01:02:00what what the Black Lives Matter
  • 01:02:02movement did and what we did not just
  • 01:02:06nationally but globally to change
  • 01:02:08the perspective of anti blackness.
  • 01:02:10It was a collective.
  • 01:02:11It was a collective movement towards
  • 01:02:14change and I think that there's a way
  • 01:02:17to engage in productive advocacy that
  • 01:02:19allows to hold systems accountable.
  • 01:02:22And So what I would say to that
  • 01:02:24is who else is like minded?
  • 01:02:26Who else is feeling what you're feeling?
  • 01:02:29Who else is thinking what
  • 01:02:30you're thinking after this?
  • 01:02:32This talk?
  • 01:02:32How can systemic change happened and
  • 01:02:34how does a collective champion together?
  • 01:02:36What areas are opportunities right
  • 01:02:38now for change?
  • 01:02:41Thank you Howard has been
  • 01:02:43really raising his hand,
  • 01:02:44so Howard, we're going to let
  • 01:02:46you go in and then doctor comma.
  • 01:02:49You're going to close this out.
  • 01:02:51We could go on forever and let
  • 01:02:53me just say thank you. Thank you.
  • 01:02:56Thank you. My cell you make us proud Howard.
  • 01:02:59Thank you I I've had the pleasure of teaching
  • 01:03:02several years with my certain Cecilia and
  • 01:03:05it was a wonderful pleasure to teach a
  • 01:03:07course in my side of the family therapy.
  • 01:03:10But and cultural diversity were
  • 01:03:12talking about. Racial equality yet,
  • 01:03:14and I I think that the struggle that one sing
  • 01:03:19it strikes me and his troubles me is that.
  • 01:03:24Not only that, there's two areas,
  • 01:03:26one is healing it to
  • 01:03:28address what Cecilia said.
  • 01:03:30I see comes from communicates of intimacy.
  • 01:03:34And the connection with each other that
  • 01:03:36we need to take time to raise each
  • 01:03:39other's consciousness and to talk about
  • 01:03:41our own experiences in his painful away.
  • 01:03:44As I thought,
  • 01:03:45I found that story very painful
  • 01:03:47to hear and I am sorry you had to
  • 01:03:50go through that Lori.
  • 01:03:52And but it's not only you,
  • 01:03:54its that it's bringing it to this
  • 01:03:57community I think is very helpful because
  • 01:03:59we see our vulnerability and what we
  • 01:04:02need to do is to recognize the value
  • 01:04:04of our own connection with each other.
  • 01:04:07And that, I think,
  • 01:04:08has to be systemically done with talking.
  • 01:04:11They used to call it in the 60s.
  • 01:04:14It was teachings and it was it.
  • 01:04:16This there was spontaneous.
  • 01:04:17But I think we can do it with organization.
  • 01:04:21The second thing is that when
  • 01:04:23we talk about power,
  • 01:04:24power is what I think psychologists
  • 01:04:26and other mental health.
  • 01:04:28You know,
  • 01:04:28just know people.
  • 01:04:29I don't seek where we really that
  • 01:04:32knowledgeable about power as much as we
  • 01:04:35talk about and now notice it that power is.
  • 01:04:38It is a is a a tremendous.
  • 01:04:44It is.
  • 01:04:45It is a tremendous importance and
  • 01:04:47I I think we have to struggle with
  • 01:04:51it because like how does a PA?
  • 01:04:54How does Child study center?
  • 01:04:56How do organized entities really
  • 01:04:58influence Congress and influence the
  • 01:05:00Senate and influence the misguided
  • 01:05:02forces that are going on today
  • 01:05:05with people they know about the Q.
  • 01:05:07Anon knows about power and and they
  • 01:05:10they know how to try to coerce.
  • 01:05:13And we want to.
  • 01:05:14Act in a way where we're not coercive.
  • 01:05:18When we were not dealing dirty but to
  • 01:05:21really exercise power and and and to
  • 01:05:24to enable people to really see the
  • 01:05:26importance of equality is something
  • 01:05:29that I think institutionally we have
  • 01:05:31to struggle with to be political.
  • 01:05:33And that's something that I I
  • 01:05:36I have thought about a lot.
  • 01:05:38So at the meeting.
  • 01:05:42Yeah, I just finished with
  • 01:05:43that that I wanna say that.
  • 01:05:46Thank you Howard.
  • 01:05:49I think we're going to go to our
  • 01:05:51elder statesman and our leader
  • 01:05:53in so many things. Jim send us off.
  • 01:05:56Thank you, thank you my so that
  • 01:06:00was a wonderful presentation.
  • 01:06:03And I found myself at the same spot.
  • 01:06:08Struggling with the same issue.
  • 01:06:12Oh you know? I am now 86 years old.
  • 01:06:22I have been through.
  • 01:06:26Starting out as a young. Stir.
  • 01:06:31Wanting to a poor kid wanting
  • 01:06:34to live the American dream and
  • 01:06:36believing that that's that,
  • 01:06:38was the goal of goals.
  • 01:06:41Anne, that it was a simple matter of.
  • 01:06:45Fighting hard, working hard and you
  • 01:06:48could achieve it only to discover that
  • 01:06:51it was more complicated than that,
  • 01:06:54and that there was this history.
  • 01:06:58And that there was power.
  • 01:07:00And Howard's last point about power.
  • 01:07:03Is the one I want to agree that we
  • 01:07:06need to struggle with and figure
  • 01:07:09out because as I look at history
  • 01:07:12seems to me that that's what
  • 01:07:15the people who established the
  • 01:07:17traditions were really all about.
  • 01:07:19They were trying to establish
  • 01:07:22power for themselves and that
  • 01:07:25much of what they came up with.
  • 01:07:27To take the power away from others was
  • 01:07:30to establish power for themselves,
  • 01:07:32and that what you're proposing and
  • 01:07:35pointing out that we need to do,
  • 01:07:38I agree very much.
  • 01:07:39With and and that is to understand
  • 01:07:42it and to understand the process
  • 01:07:45through which it was established
  • 01:07:48and the process through which you
  • 01:07:51take it apart and re establish.
  • 01:07:55A structure and structures that
  • 01:07:59function for most of the people
  • 01:08:03most of the time and that.
  • 01:08:06The intent?
  • 01:08:09Historically and traditionally was not.
  • 01:08:11Most of the people, most of the time it
  • 01:08:15was me and my little group, my oligarchy.
  • 01:08:21And.
  • 01:08:23That is what we're really up against,
  • 01:08:26so that's why I like your idea of really
  • 01:08:29trying to understand it and understand.
  • 01:08:33How you?
  • 01:08:34Disconnected,
  • 01:08:35but they recognize it as very tricky
  • 01:08:42and very difficult because you know.
  • 01:08:47My father used to have the.
  • 01:08:51Song about watch the curve
  • 01:08:53that fills the tunnel.
  • 01:08:55An I never understood it and I
  • 01:08:58probably still have it wrong.
  • 01:09:01But the point of the song was if
  • 01:09:04you go through the tunnel too fast.
  • 01:09:08Without being careful enough to
  • 01:09:10understand what the load the
  • 01:09:12tunnel can bear and how fast you
  • 01:09:14can go and the the the soil and
  • 01:09:17the weight and all of those things
  • 01:09:19you have to take into account.
  • 01:09:23In other words, a careful.
  • 01:09:26Well plan process of making this change.
  • 01:09:30I happen to believe we're
  • 01:09:32in a very dangerous time.
  • 01:09:34And at if you don't do it well.
  • 01:09:38It may not be done at all, ever.
  • 01:09:42We could self destruct.
  • 01:09:44In the years around and the
  • 01:09:49issues around resolving.
  • 01:09:52Problems of racism which.
  • 01:09:54As after your fight it is much
  • 01:09:57more complicated than racism.
  • 01:10:01Absolutely. I mean,
  • 01:10:02I think the hardest thing to
  • 01:10:04do is to share power, right?
  • 01:10:06Well, what does that?
  • 01:10:07Can you imagine?
  • 01:10:08What does that mean to the
  • 01:10:10psyche of those that have
  • 01:10:12been absolutely, absolutely?
  • 01:10:13And I am anan? How do we help them?
  • 01:10:17Those who must share power.
  • 01:10:19How do we help them come to understand
  • 01:10:23that it's OK? And if you can.
  • 01:10:25And I will and it will all be better.
  • 01:10:29That's right, and like people
  • 01:10:30say that it's not a pie.
  • 01:10:32Yeah, getting power doesn't mean
  • 01:10:34that I'm taking away from, yeah,
  • 01:10:36right, right, right, right,
  • 01:10:37writing diversity into the conversation.
  • 01:10:40Yeah, I, I think that doctor
  • 01:10:42Colmery as you as usual,
  • 01:10:44you're bringing up an extremely thoughtful,
  • 01:10:46you know, Anne Anne Howard thoughtful
  • 01:10:48conversation that perhaps is the
  • 01:10:50next conversation for this group.
  • 01:10:52You know, how do you share power?
  • 01:10:54How do we begin that process
  • 01:10:57of sharing power?
  • 01:10:59And what does that look like?
  • 01:11:01You reminded me of a story early
  • 01:11:04in our school program when I
  • 01:11:06was sitting with the principle.
  • 01:11:09Ann talking about how about sharing
  • 01:11:11power and he had a meeting and
  • 01:11:14things went much better and he
  • 01:11:16turned to me said, you know? You're
  • 01:11:20right, the more I shared
  • 01:11:23power with the group, the more I got done,
  • 01:11:28and it's that realization in practice that.
  • 01:11:32I think makes it different than that.
  • 01:11:34We have to figure out how to do.
  • 01:11:37Absolutely. I completely agree.
  • 01:11:38I Andreas. I want to hand it back
  • 01:11:40over to you with and leave the
  • 01:11:42group with those words of wisdom.
  • 01:11:44I don't know that I can
  • 01:11:47add anymore into that.
  • 01:11:49Thank you Doctor Komer,
  • 01:11:50another iconic figure for me and
  • 01:11:52the way you've influenced my life
  • 01:11:54and my career and my profession.
  • 01:11:56And thank you for making way for
  • 01:11:58all of us that have come. You know,
  • 01:12:01after you I do not take that for granted,
  • 01:12:04an I think that we have to continually
  • 01:12:07pay homage to you in your work.
  • 01:12:09And I know that it wasn't easy, but I,
  • 01:12:12but please know that your legacy
  • 01:12:15will always live on in our spirit,
  • 01:12:17in the way that we're doing in.
  • 01:12:19The work and the way that we're
  • 01:12:21changing the world because of
  • 01:12:23what you've begun. Well, thank you and
  • 01:12:25my reward is that you're here today.
  • 01:12:29Amen to doctors, Akbar and Comer.
  • 01:12:32There's nothing more to say.
  • 01:12:34See you next week.