Donell Barnett, PhD, is recognized with this APA Citizen Psychologist Presidential Citation for being a catalyst for transformation in his hometown of Langston, Oklahoma.
For most, Barnett’s service to his country as an active duty Army psychologist, who is a recipient of a Bronze Star Medal, and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Black Psychologists would be activities going above and beyond. Yet, Barnett’s desire to improve his community of Langston led to his work with local partners at Langston University (LU), the Mayor and City Council of Langston, and community members to purchase, renovate and operate what is now The Langston Center (TLC). Langston University, like many historically black colleges and universities, is in an economically depressed community with little sense of being a “college town.” The building was an uninhabited and blighted property until Barnett began the renovation project in 2016. Now, TLC is a community center whose mission is to be a bridge between Langston University and the surrounding community.
Programming for children and teens was a top priority for the community. As the local school district operates on a four-day schedule due to fiscal constraints, the center serves as a gathering place for teens and college students involved in activities such as martial arts, dance and social gatherings, with older students mentoring younger students. LU students serve as project and program managers for the center, thus learning entrepreneurial and business skills while completing their college education.
TLC also serves as a meeting and planning space for other development initiatives. Barnett worked with community partners to develop agribusiness and construction apprenticeships to leverage the rural community’s strengths and directly support the community’s stated needs. Interestingly, TLC is a for-profit initiative with a not-for-profit mission. According to Dr. Barnett, “In the spirit of teaching people to fish, the center needed to be for-profit to model self-sustainment processes in the community.” Barnett states that mental health and related social problems are too highly correlated with economic issues, particularly in minority communities. By helping people remedy their economic challenges, Barnett addresses a primary risk factor for mental and social health problems as well as builds efficacy and empowerment skills.