Join Us For The
19th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community Research and Action
Where Do We Go From Here? Dreaming New Community Futures
June 20-24 2023, Atlanta, Georgia
Hosted by Morehouse College
We are looking for Biennial reviewers to review proposals for our 19th Biennial. Please fill out this form if you are interested in reviewing proposals for the Biennial. You must be available between January 16th and January 31st to review and submit your reviews to the biennial team.
For the first time, this conference will be held both virtually and in-person! Sessions will be offered in several hybrid (virtual and in-person) formats, including:
Our theme is Where Do We Go From Here? Dreaming New Community Futures. Honoring the history of civil rights and Black liberation movements in Atlanta, as well as the 60th anniversary of his “I Have a Dream” speech, we are inspired by Morehouse College alumnus Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We take particular inspiration from his book “Where Do We Go From Here: Community or Chaos?” The book chronicles his experiences in the Civil Rights Movement. The question he posed in the title informs the vision of the biennial: We unequivocally choose Community. The work of Dr. King and other Morehouse alumni aligns with the values of community psychology: social justice, empowerment, citizen participation, individual and family wellness, empirical grounding, and respect for diversity.
Given that we are hosting a hybrid conference that seeks to merge the old with the new, we also take inspiration from Afrofuturism. As a form of spatiotemporal consciousness rooted in Black liberation and transformation, Afrofuturism provides a framework for imagining new futures while also recovering past technologies of liberation. In parallel with community psychology’s focus on understanding prehistories of settings, Afrofuturism asks us to reconsider the histories we have been told and what futures we are allowed to dream.
The history of community-based scholarship would be incomplete without the work of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois. A founding figure of scientific sociology, Dr. Du Bois exemplified the community-engaged scholar. His Atlanta school of sociological research was an insurgent intellectual network during an era of social Darwinism and Jim Crow. His decolonial pragmatism used and innovated many methods we take for granted as community psychologists.
We want this conference to be a healing space as well. Beyond Dr. King and Dr. Du Bois, many scholars and activists from Morehouse and the surrounding Atlanta University Center (a consortium of HBCUs consisting of Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University) sought to heal communities from the psychological traumas resulting from imperialist extraction and capitalist exploitation. A strengths-based approach respects community self-determination and indigenous healing practices. Communities in the African diaspora have used different forms of restorative justice across the millennia. How do we help communities heal from trauma while respecting their own healing strategies? How do we heal our own communities where we are located?
We encourage proposals in a variety of topic areas, particularly those related to impactful and transformative community research and action, including:
The deadline for receipt of program proposals is Thursday, December 15th, 2022, 11:55 PM (EST). Proposal submission guidelines will be available online.
I. Building the Beloved Community: Community Partnerships and Social Change
System level change requires (a) partnerships across players and sectors in society, and (b) value-based social change efforts aimed communal thriving. This track of the conference affords an opportunity to present and discuss research, ideas, and experiences related to collaborations and deliberate social change efforts.
II. Ubuntu: Healing, Prevention and Wellness Promotion from Ecological Perspective
“I am because we are, we are because I am.” The meaning of Ubuntu emphasizes the connection between individual wellness and community wellness. Reactive and medical approaches to health and well-being are costly and not as effective as preventive approaches. While prevention seeks to reduce risk factors, wellness promotion seeks to enhance resilience, protective factors, and enabling environments. This track is aimed at presenting work on prevention and promotion that enhances communal thriving and well-being.
III. Nommo: Consciousness Raising through Storytelling, Arts, and New Media
In Dogon cosmology, nommo is the force or cosmic word that brought the cosmos into being. An important component of individual and communal thriving is meaning making. Storytelling, artistic expression, and engagement in new media afford people opportunities to be creative and expressive. Arts and new media are not only methods of expression, but also of communication; innovative and challenging ideas get expressed and communicated through new media. We wish to highlight efforts by community psychologists, community members, and other professionals that utilize expressive methods for thriving.
IV. Ma’at: Solidarity, Equity, Diversity, and Social justice
Ma’at is the Kemetic/Egyptian principle of cosmic and social justice which includes the values of reciprocity, justice, and harmony. The values of diversity and fairness are central to community psychology. Many communities suffer from oppression and exclusion due to societal structures such as imperialism, colonialism, and racial capitalism. We wish to highlight efforts that promote communal thriving through interventions aimed at valuing diversity and social justice.
V. Technologies of Liberation: Knowledge Creation and Consciousness Raising through Research
Information and research are essential components of communal thriving. We wish to highlight how diverse approaches to research (including quantitative, qualitative, community based participatory research, and other innovative approaches to rigorous inquiry) contribute to community well-being. Data and data-based information can be a powerful tool to raise consciousness about oppressive conditions and potential for change. In addition to empirical research, we welcome integrative conceptual and theoretical papers addressing communal thriving.
VI. We Shall Overcome: Transformative Justice in Organizations and Schools
System level changes happening in organizations can foster or inhibit the well-being of stakeholders. We are interested in learning about enabling structures and interventions that bring people together in healthy processes leading to positive outcomes, with an emphasis on organizational and school transformation.
Priority will be given to proposals that explicitly address one or more of the following expectations: (a) high quality, (b) congruence with the general conference theme and the topic areas listed above, (c) exemplars of community-academic engagement, (d) clear articulation of lessons learned from the session, and (d) collaboration. Proposals should include a description of formats and activities that will maximize audience participation. Innovative, creative, and art-based approaches toward this goal are encouraged. Please note that we will accept only one first-author submission per individual, and the first author on a submission will be the individual who submits the proposal to the system. Also, we ask that any single individual be listed in any role in no more than 5 separate proposals (not including poster presentations). Submissions should fall under one of the following seven categories:
Poster Presentations facilitate individual and small group conversations through the use of a visual aid. Posters that highlight innovative methods for conference participant interaction are preferred. Poster presentations can emphasize research, practice, action, or other initiatives. Posters will be organized in thematic groups and be presented during designated poster sessions.
Symposia provide a forum for discussion, debate, and explication of diverse perspectives as they pertain to the conference themes and/or tracks. Symposia may be used to present practice and/or research topics. Submissions that explicitly describe the process or method that will be used to facilitate audience interaction and dialogue will be preferred. Symposia typically include 3-4 related papers, a moderator, and a discussant.
Ignite Presentations provide an opportunity to share research and ideas in a brief 5-minute format (20 slides at 15 seconds each) to ignite conversations and discussions between the presenters and the audience. Several speakers will follow each other in rapid transition followed by a time to engage in conversation. This format is ideal for presenting findings from smaller studies (e.g., student thesis projects), a new tool or method, or research that is still in progress. Examples of this type of format can be found at http://p2i.eval.org/index.php/ignite/ and http://www.pechakucha.org/faq.
Town Hall Meetings feature participant discussions of critical and current issues or important future directions pertaining to community research, values, and action and the field of community psychology. This format is most appropriate for exploring the broad issues that cut across the conference theme, subthemes, and related topics. One or more facilitators may lead a town hall meeting.
Workshops provide a means to teach new skills of relevance to the field (e.g., specific methods, analytical techniques, community outreach strategies).
‘The Innovative Other’ session provides an opportunity to submit sessions that do not fit within any of the other categories. This format is especially suitable for arts-based, technology-based, and practice-based presentations.
Additional program components will include mentoring sessions, panel sessions with keynote speakers, and social events.
Poster Presentations facilitate individual and small group conversations through the use of a visual aid. Posters that highlight innovative methods for conference participant interaction are preferred. Poster presentations can emphasize research, practice, action, or other initiatives. Posters will be organized in thematic groups and be presented during designated poster sessions.
Session Title:
Session Abstract (300 words):
Session Organizer Name:
Session Organizer Email:
Session Organizer Organization:
(Repeat for each organizer as necessary)
Discussant (not required):
Discussant Organization:
Discussant Email:
Select Program Track (from above):
Select Three Key Words:
Aging
Anti-Blackness
Children, Youth and Families
Community Health
Community Psychology Education
Community Psychology Practice
Community Psychology in Undergraduate Settings
Criminal Justice
Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs
Decoloniality
Disability Issues
Early Career
Environmental Justice
Immigrant Justice
Indigenous Communities
International Community Psychology
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
Organization Studies
Prevention and Promotion
Public Policy
Racial Justice
Rural Interests
School Intervention
Self-Help and Mutual Support
Transformative Change in Community Mental Health
Women’s Issues
Session Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Is there anything else the conference organizers should know about this session? (Note: This information will NOT be available to the reviewers)
Virtual or In-Person?:
If virtual 11a-2p EST or 6p-9p EST
Ignite Presentations provide an opportunity to share research and ideas in a brief 5-minute format (20 slides at 15 seconds each) to ignite conversations and discussions between the presenters and the audience. Several speakers will follow each other in rapid transition followed by a time to engage in conversation. This format is ideal for presenting findings from smaller studies (e.g., student thesis projects), a new tool or method, or research that is still in progress. Examples of this type of format can be found at http://p2i.eval.org/index.php/ignite/ and http://www.pechakucha.org/faq.
Session Title:
Session Abstract (300 words):
Session Organizer Name:
Session Organizer Email:
Session Organizer Organization:
(Repeat for each organizer as necessary)
Discussant (not required):
Discussant Organization:
Discussant Email:
Select Program Track (from above):
Select Three Key Words:
Aging
Anti-Blackness
Children, Youth and Families
Community Health
Community Psychology Education
Community Psychology Practice
Community Psychology in Undergraduate Settings
Criminal Justice
Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs
Decoloniality
Disability Issues
Early Career
Environmental Justice
Immigrant Justice
Indigenous Communities
International Community Psychology
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
Organization Studies
Prevention and Promotion
Public Policy
Racial Justice
Rural Interests
School Intervention
Self-Help and Mutual Support
Transformative Change in Community Mental Health
Women’s Issues
Session Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Is there anything else the conference organizers should know about this session? (Note: This information will NOT be available to the reviewers)
Virtual or In-Person?:
If virtual 11a-2p EST or 6p-9p EST
‘The Innovative Other”. This format will provide an opportunity to submit sessions that are creative and innovative and do not fit within any of the other categories. This format is especially suitable for arts-based, technology-based, and practice-based presentations.
Session Title:
Session Abstract (300 words):
Session Organizer Name:
Session Organizer Email:
Session Organizer Organization:
(Repeat for each organizer as necessary)
Discussant (not required):
Discussant Organization:
Discussant Email:
Select Program Track (from above):
Select Three Key Words:
Aging
Anti-Blackness
Children, Youth and Families
Community Health
Community Psychology Education
Community Psychology Practice
Community Psychology in Undergraduate Settings
Criminal Justice
Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs
Decoloniality
Disability Issues
Early Career
Environmental Justice
Immigrant Justice
Indigenous Communities
International Community Psychology
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
Organization Studies
Prevention and Promotion
Public Policy
Racial Justice
Rural Interests
School Intervention
Self-Help and Mutual Support
Transformative Change in Community Mental Health
Women’s Issues
Session Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Is there anything else the conference organizers should know about this session? (Note: This information will NOT be available to the reviewers)
Virtual or In-Person?:
If virtual 11a-2p EST or 6p-9p EST
Symposia provide a forum for discussion, debate, and explication of diverse perspectives as they pertain to the conference themes and/or tracks. Symposia may be used to present practice and/or research topics. Submissions that explicitly describe the process or method that will be used to facilitate audience interaction and dialogue will be preferred. Symposia typically include 3-4 related papers, a moderator, and a discussant. Symposia are typically 60-75 minutes long.
Session Title:
Session Abstract (300 words):
Session Organizer Name:
Session Organizer Email:
Session Organizer Organization:
(Repeat for each organizer as necessary)
Discussant (not required):
Discussant Organization:
Discussant Email:
Presentation #1 Title:
Presentation # 1 Abstract (300 words):
Presentation Authors:
(Repeat for each presentation)
Select Program Track (from above):
Select Three Key Words:
Aging
Anti-Blackness
Children, Youth and Families
Community Health
Community Psychology Education
Community Psychology Practice
Community Psychology in Undergraduate Settings
Criminal Justice
Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs
Decoloniality
Disability Issues
Early Career
Environmental Justice
Immigrant Justice
Indigenous Communities
International Community Psychology
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
Organization Studies
Prevention and Promotion
Public Policy
Racial Justice
Rural Interests
School Intervention
Self-Help and Mutual Support
Transformative Change in Community Mental Health
Women’s Issues
Session Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Is there anything else the conference organizers should know about this session? (Note: This information will NOT be available to the reviewers)
Virtual or In-Person?:
If virtual 11a-2p EST or 6p-9p EST
Town Hall Meetings feature participant discussions of critical and current issues or important future directions pertaining to community research, values, and action and the field of community psychology. This format is most appropriate for exploring the broad issues that cut across the conference theme, subthemes, and related topics. One or more facilitators may lead a town hall meeting.
Session Title:
Session Abstract (300 words):
Session Organizer Name:
Session Organizer Email:
Session Organizer Organization:
(Repeat for each organizer as necessary)
Discussant (not required):
Discussant Organization:
Discussant Email:
Select Program Track (from above):
Select Three Key Words:
Aging
Anti-Blackness
Children, Youth and Families
Community Health
Community Psychology Education
Community Psychology Practice
Community Psychology in Undergraduate Settings
Criminal Justice
Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs
Decoloniality
Disability Issues
Early Career
Environmental Justice
Immigrant Justice
Indigenous Communities
International Community Psychology
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
Organization Studies
Prevention and Promotion
Public Policy
Racial Justice
Rural Interests
School Intervention
Self-Help and Mutual Support
Transformative Change in Community Mental Health
Women’s Issues
Session Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Is there anything else the conference organizers should know about this session? (Note: This information will NOT be available to the reviewers)
Virtual or In-Person?:
If virtual 11a-2p EST or 6p-9p EST
Workshops provide a means to teach new skills of relevance to the field (e.g., specific methods, analytical techniques, and community outreach strategies). One or more instructors may teach a workshop.
Session Title:
Session Abstract (300 words):
Session Organizer Name:
Session Organizer Email:
Session Organizer Organization:
(Repeat for each organizer as necessary)
Discussant (not required):
Discussant Organization:
Discussant Email:
Select Program Track (from above):
Select Three Key Words:
Aging
Anti-Blackness
Children, Youth and Families
Community Health
Community Psychology Education
Community Psychology Practice
Community Psychology in Undergraduate Settings
Criminal Justice
Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs
Decoloniality
Disability Issues
Early Career
Environmental Justice
Immigrant Justice
Indigenous Communities
International Community Psychology
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
Organization Studies
Prevention and Promotion
Public Policy
Racial Justice
Rural Interests
School Intervention
Self-Help and Mutual Support
Transformative Change in Community Mental Health
Women’s Issues
Session Length: 60 or 75 minutes
Is there anything else the conference organizers should know about this session? (Note: This information will NOT be available to the reviewers)
Virtual or In-Person?:
If virtual 11a-2p EST or 6p-9p EST
Biennial Chair- Kwesi Brookins
Local Host Committee Chair- Sinead Younge
Biennial Manager- Dominique Thomas
The conference will take place both in-person and virtually. It will begin on Tuesday June 20 and conclude on Saturday afternoon, June 24. Presenters will be able to indicate their preferred time block when they submit their proposals, but these are not guaranteed.
Details about conference registration, including descriptions of the online platforms and links for training materials for presenters, will be provided on the SCRA website. All presenters must register for the conference and pay registration fees.
Conference Fees: Information about registration fees will be posted on the conference website.
Questions related to the program can be sent to biennialprogram@scra27.org.