Cheryl Tawede Grills, PhD, is presented with this presidential citation for her leadership and commitment to African Psychology, and prevention and treatment in mental health with African Americans. Grills is a founding member of the Alliance of National Psychological Associations for Racial and Ethnic Equity, comprised of national psychology organizations committed to the promotion of communication, collaboration, critical consciousness, and strategic actions and projects. The Alliance maintains a commitment toward social justice, racial equity, and cultural diversity. These are consistent with Grills’ values. She has remained committed to the mission of The Alliance and has been instrumental in bringing projects to the group, the Annie E. Casey Foundation project, which produced the Color of Justice Report; the California Reducing Health Disparities Project, a statewide 36 site mental health disparities demonstration project; and the COVID-19 Communities of Color Needs Assessment Project, examining COVID’s impact on communities of color.
Grills is a tenured full professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and a president’s professor. She serves as director of LMU’s Psychology Applied Research Center, a grant-funded center that collaborates with a variety of community-based organizations and groups to inform social change and community empowerment through applied, action-oriented research. She is founder and director of Imoyase Community Support Services, which provides strategic technical assistance, resource and program development for community-based projects.
Grills is a past president of the Association of Black Psychologists. Her current work in the area of racial stress focuses on training associated with racism, racial stress, implicit bias and the development of community-based self-help models to address the negative effects of racism on people of African ancestry in the United States and globally.
Grills co-designed the Emotional Emancipation (EE) Circles community self-help model, established by The Community Healing Network and implemented in partnership with the Association of Black Psychologists. She serves as the lead of the EE Circles Training Team which is international in scope. Grills trains people of African ancestry around the world to facilitate healing circles that address the stress and trauma associated with anti-Black racism.
In addition to leading large interdisciplinary research studies, Grills also has experience working within systems and public policy. She is a member of the California Reparations Task Force appointed by the Governor of California. She also serves as a commissioner and vice chair of the Los Angeles County Sybil Brand Commission which addresses conditions and practices within LA County adult jails. She was co-executive director of the County’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection which led to important changes in the LA County child welfare system.
Grills’ research interests, publications, and projects include African Psychology, prevention and treatment in mental health with African Americans, community mental health, and applied research with community-based organizations engaged in community organizing on a host of social justice issues including education, health, land use, and criminal justice reform.
Grills, thank you for your commitment and contribution to the underserved, communities of color, the profession and society.