From the President’s Desk: September 2023

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. I’m honored to serve as president of our growing association. This month with the support of our insightful members, incredible staff, and outstanding Board of Representatives and Council of Representatives, I have been able to advance the work of APA’s strategic plan by completing the following:

• Presented “Psychology’s Path Forward” at the Japanese Psychological Association Convention in Kobe, Japan.
  
• Participated in global panel with leaders of psychology associations from Japan, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand at the Japanese Psychological Association Convention.
• First APA President to present at the Congressional Black Caucus. I was an invited presenter for a panel on Maternal Health Disparities and was invited by Congresswoman Underwood to whom I awarded a presidential citation earlier this year for her work on maternal health. I also provided support and connection with a number of legislators including representatives Ayanna Pressley and Cori Bush.
  
• Spoke at the APA Population Health Summit which examined the scientific foundation for population health and brought together experts from multiple disciplines including Google, SAMHSA, NIMH, NIMHD, and the CDC to develop concrete action steps to advance population health.
• Continued cultural months series with a webinar on Latinx Heritage Monthopens in new window.
• Wrote my seventh APA Monitor presidential column, this one on how psychologists can commit to thriving and growth.
• Facilitated APA Board of Directors meeting where the agendas covered Board mentoring, Council meeting options: hybrid vs. fully in-person, MoU work group update, and a letter from ACC, replacement appointment on CABE, CoA appointments, Practice: current & future trends, Presidential Task Force on Immigration and Health: Allocation of Presidential Activities Funds (Dr. Cynthia de las Fuentes).
• Facilitated Board of Directors Executive Committee meeting to discuss diversity recruitment for CoA appointments, timing and format of Council Town Hall meetings, 2024 CEO Symposium: options and attendance, Dr. Cynthia de las Fuentes’ Presidential Initiatives.
• Met regularly with Dr. Arthur Evans, Jr., CEO, Dr. David Sussman, Council Leadership Team chair, and key staff members.
• Continued individual meetings with Board members to facilitate dialogue and liaison feedback.
• Attended Council Leadership Team half-day retreat to review effectiveness plans.

Provided support for and/or promoted my Presidential initiatives, which are:

1. Advisory on Social Media and Youth (completed),
2. Representation Matters Documentary (completed film, working on discussion guide),
3. Free Public Summit on Culturally Informed Trauma Recovery to be held in October at Howard University,
4. Culturally Informed Trauma Recovery Kits which will be available on-line (written documents completed; issued call for video submissions),
5. Enhancing Belonging and Engagement at APA which presented findings at this year’s APA Convention (research survey of members completed and presented at convention),
6. Decolonizing and Liberation Psychology which is editing a Special Issue for the American Psychologist Journal and has provided trainings for the APA Board, Boards and Committees, and Council of Representatives in alignment with APA’s EDI Action Plan (call for submissions received over 100 submissions; Task force presented at the Convention).

Thank you for your support and efforts in service of society and the field of psychology. To reach me, please feel free to email me. To be more engaged, check out my monthly calls to action including the call to engage with our advocacy initiatives. We thrive together.