Council on Cultural, Ethnic and Racial Affairs

MISSION STATEMENT

CERA's mission is to promote the concerns and well-being of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) with an interest in community psychology within academia, practice and praxis; to promote training and professional development opportunities for BIPOC; and to advise and inform the Executive Committee on the implications of decisions made that affect the positive well-being of BIPOC.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sindhia Colburn, Ph.D. (she/her)

Dr. Sindhia Colburn graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio in August 2020, earning a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a dual concentration in Child and Community Psychology after completing an internship year at the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology in Boston, MA. Dr. Colburn subsequently completed a clinical postdoctoral fellowship in integrated pediatric primary care at Children's National Hospital, with a focus on trauma-informed care and pediatric consultation for families from disenfranchised communities in DC. She is now a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland and a certified Parent-Child Interaction Therapist. Dr. Colburn plans to pursue a community practice career focused on multicultural and trauma-informed service delivery, program development, consultation, and advocacy related to educational and healthcare equity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) children and families.

Words from Dr. Colburn:

As a child of South Asian immigrants, I learned first-hand about the myriad of sociocultural barriers to adequate behavioral healthcare that many children in our country face, particularly within a healthcare system that is quick to patronize and pathologize families who do not fit the white, cis-het, Christian, US-born "standard." As I moved through my training as a clinical-community psychologist, I realized that the same system is also quick to defer the provision of culturally-responsive care and advocacy for communities of color to non-white/cis/het/Christian/US-born professionals, leading to greater workload and higher rates of burnout for BIPOC professionals. I volunteered for the role of Co-Chair of CERA with the hope of keeping the council moving forward and supporting the anti-racist work within SCRA. Both ongoing pandemics (COVID and racism) have been taking a toll on the health and well-being of BIPOC professionals, and our Black and Brown colleagues are being disproportionately affected. I feel an urgency to drive the work of CERA forward and to amplify the voices of our Black colleagues, and particularly our Black male colleagues, who are underrepresented in SCRA leadership and membership. It is my hope that in the coming year, we can work together to increase accessibility to anti-racist education within SCRA and in the community at large, as well as recognize, reconnect with, and honor our own humanity as we carry forward this work.

Samantha Francois, Ph.D. (she/her)

Dr. Samantha Francois is an Assistant Professor and in Tulane University’s School of Social Work. Her doctorate is in psychological science with a concentration in developmental psychology. Her areas of expertise are in adolescent development, Black racial identity development, structural violence, and anti-racist research. Dr. Francois is executive director of Tulane University’ Violence Prevention Institute and co-director of the Center for Youth Equity, a CDC Center of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. As an interdisciplinary, community-engaged developmental scientist, Dr. Francois’ research uses systems perspectives and critical race theory to understand the intersectional impact of individual, community, and structural factors on mental health and educational outcomes in Black youth. She also explores youth-led activism and organizing as community and structural violence prevention strategies. Dr. Francois is a mixed methods researcher who uses community-based participatory and action research frameworks. She conducts research and teaches through an anti-racist and intersectional lens with an aim towards social transformation and community liberation.

Words from Dr. Francois:

I am excited to step into to the role of Co-Chair for the Council on Ethnic and Racial Affairs (CERA). CERA’s mission to promote the concerns and wellbeing of BIPOC community psychologists is aligned with my own personal and professional passion for the struggle for true democracy, humanity, and liberation. Scholar activists have a role in achieving racial and social justice locally, nationally, and globally. Community psychologists are uniquely prepared for scholar activism given their training in integrative social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and international influences on individual empowerment and systemic change. Equally important is radical self-care in scholar activism. BIPOC folks bear the biggest burden of social change and liberation work. As CERA Co-Chair, I will work with Dr. Colburn and CERA members to execute an agenda that both promotes our work a scholar activists and prioritizes our emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.