The February 2023 meeting in Washington, D.C. of the APA Council of Representatives (COR) felt simultaneously to be a return to some sense of pre-COVID meeting days (with the majority of Council representatives in the room at the Capital Hilton) while also marching into our new capabilities to host our colleagues remotely via Zoom. In addition, it also felt like a bold move into a new Council experience where power and privilege were more readily called in, made visible, discussed and acknowledged.
To be sure, there is much work to be done; however, this meeting – my eighth year serving on APA COR, my second as a representative for the division – felt qualitatively different. If I had to select a word to offer a reflection of this meeting experience it would be “connected.” Bryant’s opening welcome (singing!) and interactive personal style of governing engaged more call and response from the dais which encouraged COR members to stay present and connected with colleagues. She connected her remarks when reviewing a variety of business items and policies passed by COR over time with the impact on psychology and communities for the welfare of the general public. In particular, she connected the 2020 APA Resolution on Opposing Discriminatory Laws, Policies, and Practices Aimed at LGBTQ+ Persons with efforts to support states in gender-affirming care and oppose attacks at state level especially with youth, support for the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, and evidence-based information especially in states like Texas and Florida to counter discriminatory measures.
Notably, on the first day of the meeting, a comment made by a COR member following a presentation by Jennifer Mullan, PsyD, titled Reflection and Enrichment: Healing Intergenerational Trauma, precipitated a calling in delivered by Bryant to acknowledge the hurtful emotional impact of the statement and the following discussion among COR members of the complexities of intended and non-intended impact of statements, power and privilege and how to engage in educating one another and owning responsibility for injury. Specifically, at the conclusion of Mullan’s presentation, one COR member started a comment noting “you [Mullan] failed” and then detailed how an earlier point she made about diagnosis was not expounded upon. After a break, this comment was addressed as a moment and instance that had impacted many COR members and Mullan in a hurtful way. The member who made the statement apologized for the impact and clarified that harm had not been intended. More conversation ensued among COR members regarding white fragility, discomfort in making hurtful errors and fear of making errors, who gets to leave discomfort and who is in a persistent state of discomfort, anti-black racism and naming the dynamics of a perceptively older, white, male making a comment of “you failed” to a Black, multi-racial woman. Bryant expressed appreciation (as did others) for the civility of the conversation and it was observed that APA in its EDI initiatives, will need to have these conversations ongoing. On day two, President Bryant referenced the Council Climate and Culture Check Survey from day one. She focused on the input from COR members as to how COR used the time, reactions to how the day had gone overall, the discussion of injury after the guest speaker, Jennifer Mullan, PsyD spoke, demographics of COR members and feedback on those factors/items.
Two of our representatives for Division 44, David Rivera, PhD and Mira Jourdan, PhD, ABPP, were elected to leadership positions on COR caucuses. Jourdan was elected as Elections Coordinator for the Caucus for the Optimal Utilization of New Talent (COUNT). Rivera was elected Member-at-Large to the Ethnic Minority Issues (EMI) Caucus. Congratulations to them both!
Among the business items discussed of interest to Division 44 members were:
Council voted to adopt as APA policy the APA Guidelines on Equitable and Respectful Treatment of Students in Graduate Psychology Programs. Most of the discussion was focused on efforts that are positive to help prevent trauma to the graduate student experience.
Council voted to receive the report of the Indigenous Apology Work Group entitled, “Report on an Offer of Apology, on Behalf of the American Psychological Association, To First Peoples in The United States,” and thanks the group for their important work. Additionally, Council supports the Report’s proposed Offer of Apology to First Peoples on behalf of the Association, the discipline and the profession of psychology, and expresses appreciation to the APA President for her personal delivery of the statement to the Society of Indian Psychologists in their role as representatives of First Peoples so that they may carry the word forward to their communities. An edit was made to Alaska Native (from Native Alaskan). Another observation was made that Native Hawaiian psychologists may not have been adequately consulted and sought for input and that there was sparse mention of specific Native Hawaiian traditions, concerns and history.
Council voted to adopt a resolution on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Quality Continuing Education and Professional Development.
Submitted by Sarah E. Burgamy, PsyD on behalf of Mira Jourdan, PhD and David Rivera, PhD, Division 44 Council Representatives.