WISR’s Statement and ACTIONS on Racial Justice
WISR’s Statement and ACTIONS on Racial Justice: The Current Voices and Actions in Support of Racial Justice Must Not Be a Moment, but Must Be a Continuing Movement Toward Racial Justice. We believe in Dr. King’s famous statement that “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
It is the responsibility of all of us to make Dr. King’s statement true, and not to be bystanders at this important time. The current and long overdue attention must be sustained beyond a brief moment of outrage in time, especially, given that the United States’ founding history was significantly based on the slavery of African Americans and the genocide of Native Americans.
Since WISR’s founding, its mission and educational programs have been committed in practice, not just in words, to multiculturalism, inclusive diversity and social justice.
Members of the WISR learning community remain committed to these principles, although each member may demonstrate their commitments in different ways, through their own individual voices as well as through their collaborative actions at WISR and beyond.
To support further the expression of these voices and WISR’s actions, we have this webpage [ https://www.wisr.edu/wisrs-statement-and-actions-on-racial-justice/ ] to publicize our present and past actions. Members of the WISR community are encouraged to share information about their current efforts on behalf of racial justice, or to suggest possible ways to take constructive action.
actions . . .
RECENT SEMINAR ON RACIST POLICING–ACCESS TO VIDEO AND SEMINAR DESCRIPTION
WISR’s ALREADY EXISTING STATEMENT OF INCLUSION AND AFFIRMATION OF DIVERSITY VALUES
TOGETHER WE STAND:
Several years ago, WISR alumna, Sevgi Fernandez, formed “Together We Stand”–which is more than an organization. As Sevgi states, “we are a movement. Our mission is to proactively dismantle racism and discrimination through parenting, education, advocacy and youth leadership development. We organize campaigns and protests across the United States calling for police accountability, racial equality in our schools and justice for victims and their families. Our organization has members of every race and religion, in every state and across the globe dedicated to racial equity and equality.” Here are links to learn more or to become involved:
https://Facebook.com/twsrevolution
ON MONUMENTS AND PUBLIC MEMORIALS, PART 2:
This valuable thought provoking article was forwarded by WISR Advisor Commiittee Member, Mona Scott:
https://www.dianebarnes415.com/so/f8NEiTtLt?cid=fb79067c-6d08-41b9-a4d5-3b1af308b73c#/main
WISR FACULTY MEMBER, RONALD MAH’S STATEMENT AND ACTION TO HIS FELLOW MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS IN CALIFORNIA
(The following letter from Ronald is about his statement and action, which resulted in his being elected to the Board of the State MFT professional association, CAMFT):
Hi EB-CAMFT colleagues,
Back in March 21, I wrote the message below. Since then, there has been continued assaults on individuals in America, including Americans of Asian Pacific Island ancestry, and other violence: physical, economic, political, emotional, sexual, and social assaults against historically marginalized people- that is, othered persons (including sometimes half the population, girls and women). I won’t repeat how I believe there are profound parallel processes in the daily therapy, we conduct with depressed, anxious, and angry clients. Among the last words of my prior email was the provocation, “Colleagues and fellow therapists, what are you going to do?” and my question to myself, “what am I going to do?” Well, among my “what”…
A couple of months ago, I saw in a CAMFT email that there were three openings for Directors at Large positions for the Board of Directors. I’d previously served on the state Board 2008-2012, been involved on various CAMFT committees before and since, considered or tried to join Board again at times, but essentially decided that ship had sailed. I’m certainly in later stages of my career. I’m plenty busy and established- past building a practice.
Then, as many clients talked in sessions about the political and social turmoil around them, along with the quarantine stresses, they contemplated really wanting to contribute to growth, healing, and empowering communities. As I responded that each person should do what they can do- that within their capacity, roles, platforms, skills, experience, credentials, and credibility- along with their anxiety and depression and stresses. To do what they could do, perhaps to stretch, but to do something rather care without doing anything. And acknowledged to them that that probably meant doing uncomfortable or hard things- but necessary things for a better world. Silence gives permission, action creates change.
As this conversation repeated over and over among many clients and sessions, I came realized I had the capacity, roles, platforms, skills, experience, credentials, and credibility to try to get back on the CAMFT Board of Directors. And that I should do that. Despite the work and demands. To do so, as a therapist, an American, a social justice adherent, as a holder of privileges… AND as an Asian Pacific Islander. Perhaps, not only because I’m an Asian Pacific Islander that I or someone who looks like me should be on the CAMFT Board of Directors. But now especially I or another Asian Pacific Islander need to be on the Board. As racists and racism seeks to intimidate Asian Pacific Islanders, it’s not time for me… for us to back down. To stand up and to stand together. Do we stand together, and do we stand for each other? I hope you get this… get me. If not, I hope you can eventually.
You might have heard on June 1, the sitting CAMFT Board of Directors selected me for appointment for a two-year term as an At-Large Board of Director for the association. Thank you to the CAMFT Board to have considered my perspectives during my selection.
This is a part of what I will be doing… I’ll be trying. I hope you will in your way too. Thanks for hearing me.
Ronald Mah, PhD, LMFT
More past, current and suggested future actions will posted soon, and continually!