'Valuing diversity'

APA's Public Interest Directorate has chosen "Valuing Diversity" as the theme for this year's miniconvention at APA's 2000 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., Aug. 4­8.

The miniconvention will cover a wide array of topics, such as workplace issues, education, sexual orientation, families and children and substance-abuse prevention as these topics pertain to minority populations. On Tuesday, Aug. 8, 11­11:50 a.m., the Honorable David Satcher, MD, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General will give a presentation on the last day of the miniconvention entitled "Responding to mental health in a diverse health-care environment: the Surgeon General's prescription."

Members also won't want to miss an open forum led by the chair of APA's Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest Bianca Cody Murphy, EdD, on "Building a culturally competent psychology in the 21st century: broadening the definition of cultural competence," Aug. 5, 2­3:50 p.m. In discussing cultural competence beyond race and ethnicity, presenters will provide lectures that include aging, physical disabilities and sexual orientation.

In addition, a symposium organized by Div. 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues) will examine the cultural norms and consequences of lesbian beauty based on a book co-edited by Jeanine Cogan, PhD, who will chair the symposium, and Joanie Erickson called "Lesbians, Levis and Lipstick: The Meaning of Beauty in Our Lives" (Herrington Park Press, 1999).

Valuing Diversity miniconvention programs include:

• Committee on Children, Youth and Families Invited Address: "Diversity issues in infant and toddler mental health," Friday, Aug. 4, 11­11:50 a.m. Chair: Jan L. Culberton, PhD. Participant: Jane E. Knitzer, EdD.

• "Responding to the diverse mental health and psychosocial needs of new and emerging populations affected by HIV/AIDS," Friday, Aug. 4, 11 a.m.­12:50 p.m. Chair: Jose Toro-Alfonso, PhD. Participants: Deborah Haller, PhD, Weldon Bagwell, MA, Paul Bouey, MHP, Gary W. Harper, PhD, David J. Martin, PhD.

• Div. 16 (School), Div. 27 (Society for Community Research and Action), Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest, Board of Education Affairs, Committee on Children, Youth and Families, Committee on Urban Initiatives Symposium: "Diversity as strength in scaling up reform in urban schools," Sunday, Aug. 6, noon­1:50 p.m. Co-Chairs: David S. Goh, PhD, Rhona S. Weinstein, PhD. Participants: Belinda Williams, PsyD, Maurice J. Elias, PhD, Eva L. Baker, EdD, Victoria Chou, PhD. Discussants: Denise A. Alston, PhD, James P. Connell, PhD.

• Div. 35 (Psychology of Women) Symposium: "Women's activism to change organized psychology," Friday, Aug. 4, 3­4:50 p.m. Chair: Joan C. Chrisler, PhD. Participants: Leonore Tiefer, PhD, Rhoda K. Unger, PhD, Nancy F. Russo, PhD, Natalie Porter, PhD, Judith A. Kovach, PhD, Lenore E. Walker, EdD. Discussants: Laura S. Brown, PhD, Gwendolyn P. Keita, PhD.

• Open Forum: "Building a culturally competent psychology in the 21st century: broadening the definition of cultural competence," Saturday, Aug. 5, 2­3:50 p.m. Chair: Bianca Cody Murphy, EdD. Discussants: Terry S. Gock, PhD, Reginald Nettles, PhD, Martha Banks, PhD, Martha Bernal, PhD, Justin McDonald, PhD.

• Div. 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues) Symposium: "Developing guidelines for psychotherapy with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients," Saturday, Aug. 5, 9­10:50 a.m. Chair: Kristin A. Hancock, PhD. Participants: Chris Browning, PhD, Armand Cerbone, PhD, Lisa Grossman, JD, PhD, Doug C. Haldeman, PhD. Discussant: Ronald H. Rozensky, PhD.

• Div. 35 (Psychology of Women) Discussion: "The glass ceiling: a shattering experience for women," Saturday, Aug. 5, 1­2:50 p.m. Chair: Natalie Porter, PhD. Participants: Judith A. Sturnick, PhD, Judith Albino, PhD, Sharon S. Brehm, PhD, Lisa A. Tedesco, PhD. Discussant: Virginia E. O'Leary, PhD.

• Div. 44 (Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues), "Disrupting the cultural narrative: daring to discuss lesbian beauty," Sunday, Aug. 6, noon­12:50 p.m. Chair: Jeanine C. Cogan, PhD. Participants: Gayle Pitman, PhD, Nita M. McKinley, PhD, Bonnie Strickland, PhD. Discussant: Jennifer Taub, PhD.

• Committee on Aging Symposium: "The aging dimension in undergraduate psychology courses: suggestions for integration," Monday, Aug. 7, 3­4:50 p.m. Co-Chairs: Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD, John C. Cavanaugh, PhD. Participants: Anderson D. Smith, PhD, Harvey L. Sterns, PhD, Karen Kopera-Frye, PhD, Daniel L. Segal, PhD.

• Div. 51 (Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity) Symposium: "From pitfalls to prescriptions: mentoring through challenges to black manhood," Monday, Aug. 7, 2­2:50 p.m. Chair: Robert Guthrie, PhD. Participants: Joe White, PhD, Thomas Parham, PhD.

• "Responding to mental health in a diverse health-care environment: the Surgeon General's prescription," Tuesday, Aug. 8, 11­11:50 a.m. Chair: Bianca Cody Murphy, EdD. Participant: Honorable David Satcher, MD, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General.