Welcome to Season 3, Episode 4, the season finale of the Strength in Solidarity podcast. This episode is especially meaningful, as it marks the grand finale of our series — a celebration of the stories, voices, and cross-racial/ethnic solidarity present within our community. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices.

In this episode, we met with Dr. Kevin Cokley, past president of APA Division 45 [2022-2023], as he reflects on his presidential initiative, Fighting Racism with Cross-Racial/Ethnic Solidarity: Toward Being an Accomplice. Dr. Cokley highlights the work of the Cross-Racial/Ethnic Solidarity Task Force, and calls on Division 45 members to continue engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity. 

Kevin Cokley, Ph.D. is the University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor and Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan where he serves as Associate

Chair for Diversity Initiatives and Primary Investigator of the RACE (Research on Race, Achievement, Culture, and Education) Lab in the Department of Psychology. Previously he was Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas, where he held the Oscar and Anne Mauzy Regents Professorship for Educational

Research and Development. He has been a Fellow of the University of Texas System and University of Texas Academy of Distinguished Teachers, past Director of the Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis, and Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies.  

His research and teaching can be broadly categorized in the area of African American psychology, with a focus on racial identity and understanding the psychological and environmental factors that impact African American students’ academic achievement. Dr. Cokley studies the psychosocial experiences of African American students and students of color and is currently exploring the impostor phenomenon and its relationship to mental health and academic outcomes.

He is the past Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Black Psychology, holds the title of Distinguished Psychologist and received the Scholarship Award from the Association of Black Psychologists.

He is past President of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, and was elected to Fellow status in the American Psychological Association for his contributions to ethnic minority psychology and counseling psychology.

He is the recipient of the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, the Charles and Shirley Thomas Award for mentoring ethnic minority students, and the 10 Rising Stars of the Academy award by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

He is author of the 2014 book “The Myth of Black Anti-Intellectualism” that challenges the notion that African American students are anti-intellectual, editor of the 2021 book “Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism”, and editor of the 2024 book “The Impostor Phenomenon: Psychological Research, Theory, and Interventions.”

He has written several Op-Eds in major media outlets on topics such as defending DEI, critical race theory, Black Lives Matter movement, Blacks’ rational mistrust of police, racism and White supremacy, the importance of ethnic studies, and racial disparities in school discipline.

His research has been recognized in media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, and Inside Higher Education.

Social Media : 

⁠www.kevincokley.com⁠

⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Cokley⁠

⁠http://cognella.com/making-black-lives-matter⁠

⁠twitter.com/KevinCokley1⁠ 

⁠https://youtube.com/@APAdiv45_Cokley⁠ 

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 3 of the Strength in Solidarity podcast. This will be the final season of our Strength in Solidarity podcast series. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices.

In this episode, we met with Dr. Maysa Akbar  to discuss how she has been engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity in her leadership endeavors.

Dr. Maysa (MY-SA) Akbar is a respected scientist-practitioner and APA’s Chief Diversity Officer and Chief of Psychology in the Public Interest. She is charged with infusing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into the fabric of the association’s work. As the leading architect of APA’s evolving EDI framework, Dr. Akbar works with APA staff, leaders, and members to refine and build consensus for an overall plan, operationalize its goals and establish metrics to monitor and ensure progress. The CDO also serves as a spokesperson and advocate for EDI in the field of psychology, both within and outside the association. Before assuming the CDO post, she was the founder and chief executive officer of a clinical practice based in New Haven, Connecticut, which specialized in race-based trauma. She created a consulting firm and educational network focused on organizational cultural transformation. Her firm delivered cutting-edge programs anchored in EDI to city governments, public schools and, court systems, among other entities. Dr. Akbar’s areas of specialty include racial identity development, racism, urban trauma and, allyship, topics on which she has authored research articles, books, and book chapters. Dr. Akbar is an experienced instructor and master trainer in EDI for both the medical and the broader community.

Links:

https://maysaakbar.com/

https://www.apa.org/about/apa/senior-staff/akbar-bio

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 2 of the Strength in Solidarity podcast. This will be the final season of our Strength in Solidarity podcast series. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices.

In this episode, we met with Dr. Thomas Parham  to discuss how he has been engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity in his leadership endeavors.

Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D., is the 11 th president of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), a highly diverse, metropolitan university primarily serving the South Central and South Bay areas of Los Angeles County. CSUDH is one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, the largest system of public higher education in the nation.

Dr. Parham previously served as vice chancellor of student affairs and an adjunct faculty member at the University of California, Irvine, where he had been since 1985.

For the past 40-plus years, Dr. Parham has focused his research efforts in the area of psychological nigrescence and has authored or co-authored six books and 45-50 journal articles and book chapters. He has sustained a scholarly focus in the areas of racial identity development, African psychology and multicultural counseling.

Dr. Parham grew up in Southern California and received his bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine, his master’s degree in counseling psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, and received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Dr. Parham remains an active member of the community contributing his talents in the areas of social advocacy, community uplift and youth empowerment.

Links:

Instagram

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⁠CSU-DH⁠-Webpage

Articles, Journals & Books

The Bakari© Project: A Lifeline for African American Adolescent Development and Success

⁠CSU Black Student Success Report⁠

Article in Diverse Issues

⁠Books⁠

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠⁠⁠Feedspot.com⁠⁠⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠⁠⁠#6/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠⁠⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1 of the Strength in Solidarity podcast.
This will be the final season of our Strength in Solidarity podcast series. Thank you so much for tuning in this far. Thank you for all the support, and we hope you continue to share our show in your communities as you continue to fight racism with cross-racial/ethnic solidarity towards being accomplices.

In this episode, we met with Dr. Thema Bryant to discuss how she has been engaging in cross-racial/ethnic solidarity in her leadership endeavors during her presidency as APA President (2023–2024).

Dr. Thema Bryant was the 2023 -2024 president of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology with more than 120,000 members (apa.org).

Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her clinical and research interests center on interpersonal trauma and the societal trauma of oppression. She is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women and a past APA representative to the United Nations. Dr. Thema also served on the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Committee on Women in Psychology.

The American Psychological Association honored her for Distinguished Early Career Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest in 2013. The Institute of Violence, Abuse and Trauma honored her with their media award for the film Psychology of Human Trafficking in 2016 and the Institute honored her with the Donald Fridley Memorial Award for excellence in mentoring in the field of trauma in 2018. The California Psychological Association honored her for Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology in 2015. She is the editor of the APA text Multicultural Feminist Therapy: Helping Adolescent Girls of Color to Thrive. She is one of the foundational scholars on the topic of the trauma of racism and in 2020, she gave an invited keynote address on the topic at APA. In 2020, the International Division of APA honored her for her International Contributions to the Study of Gender and Women for her work in Africa and the Diaspora. Dr. Thema has raised public awareness regarding mental health by extending the reach of psychology beyond the academy and private therapy office through community programming and media engagement, including but not limited to Headline News, National Public Radio, and CNN.

Having earned a master’s of divinity, Dr. Thema is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She directs the mental health ministry at First AME Church in South Los Angeles. Dr. Thema also utilizes sacred dance and spoken word in therapy, community forums, and faith communities. A member of the Association of Black Psychologists, she incorporates culturally based interventions in her teaching, research, and practice. Dr. Thema is the host of the Homecoming Podcast, a mental health podcast to facilitate your journey home to your authentic self.

Links:
Instagram

YouTube

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Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠⁠Feedspot.com⁠⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠⁠#6/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

Welcome to the Season 2 Finale Episode!

In this episode, we sit down with Miranda Encina, a Two-Spirit/Queer Xicanx advocate, healer, and artist with Indigenous roots in Apache and Navajo ancestry. Miranda shares their journey of community-centered healing, exploring the intersections of trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of art. From their work in survivor advocacy and Indigenous healing circles to founding Yolia Creations, Miranda offers rich insights on building connections, fostering resilience, and creating spaces for empowerment within marginalized communities. Tune in to hear their inspiring perspectives on honoring lived experiences and cultivating community strength through creativity and advocacy.

Miranda Encina (They/them/theirs, She/her/hers) is a Two-Spirit/Queer Xicanx, born and raisedin Boulder Colorado with Indigenous roots from Apache and Navajo ancestry.Miranda graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Colorado Boulder double majoring in Ethnic Studies and Sociology. Their research focused on intergenerational resistance and complex trauma within Xicana/Indigenous communities. Miranda’s passion is to center lived experiences of those with intersecting identities through connections and knowledge sharing on individual, collective and systemic levels. Miranda’s lived and professional experience include Trauma Informed, survivor defined advocacy, volunteer and intern management, Shelter program Director, Chair of a Queer Trans People of Color leadership Cohort, facilitation of Indigenous Healing circles, Child Protective Services, training and technical assistance on intersections of oppression and domestic violence and has experience as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Miranda collaborates with community and system based organizations on all levels to identify, create and implement shifts that validate, humanize, and minimize (re)traumatization within our communities. Miranda’s experience with healing personally and in community prompted the start of Yolia Creations. Yolia Creations is rooted in providing unique handcrafted leather earrings, sterling silver necklaces, inspirational stamped bracelets/rings and art that centers healing, existence and connection. Yolia Creation signifies a connection that we are stronger as a community when we support each other and create connections to empower, resist and exist.

Social Media

Yolia Creations Website

Yolia Creations Instagram

Yolia Creations Facebook

E-mail ([email protected])

Other Announcements:

Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are excited for you to listen to what we have in store for you for season 3, which will be our last and final season!

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠#3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Juan-Lorenzo Cruz, a Chief Engineer and Go-Go Dancer based in San Francisco. Juan-Lorenzo opens up about his life’s journey, discussing the rewards and challenges, and how he balances his professional responsibilities with vibrant personal passions. Tune in to hear his unique experiences and insights on body positivity, colorism, and queerness.

Juan-Lorenzo Cruz is the Chief Engineer at Hotel Caza, situated in Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco.  While originally attending Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) he studied psychology and art.  His move further south to Sonoma County is where he found his first substantial long term homosexual relationship, as well as the opportunity in which his current career is built. While his primary job takes up most of his time, he go-go dances weekends at various SF gay clubs, including The Eagle and Powerhouse. He enjoys snowboarding, dancing and finding new music, as well as spending time with friends catching up on films and eating good food.

Social Media

Instagram

Other Announcements:

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠#3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with  Camilo Villa (he, they), a Colombian interdisciplinary artist and Spanish language educator based in the Bay Area (San Francisco). Camilo explores the intersection of art, education, and social justice, with a focus on the liberation of Queer Latinx communities and the evolution of gender-inclusive Spanish language curriculum. Tune in as he shares how his work challenges traditional language norms and promotes inclusivity in linguistic representation.

CAMILO VILLA holds an M.A. in Education for Equity & Social Justice from San Francisco State University and a B.F.A. in Individualized Studies with a minor in Social Action & Public Forms from the California College of the Arts.

Their art practice and educational research addresses the liberation of Queer Latinx communities, the violent erasure of social leaders in his home country Colombia, and the journey of Latin American migrants crossing the US-Mexico Border.

Camilo’s work has been exhibited at Senator Scott Wiener’s Office as part of the We Belong-Pertenecemos exhibit and at the SFMOMA Artists Gallery as part of the Hispanic Heritage exhibit. Their work has been featured in magazines, such as Bay Area Reporter, Voyage LA , NEWAGE, and Latin:SF.

Camilo builds intersectional spaces for learning by incorporating culturally and queerly responsive pedagogical models in his teaching practice.

Most recently, he published his master’s thesis titled Teaching Gender Inclusive Spanish: Advancing Pedagogy Towards Gender Equity on ProQuest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a gender-inclusive Spanish language curriculum developed for 3rd-5th grade Spanish classes that employs the letter "e" to desexualize the masculine generic form. Fundamental to this approach is how pre-colonial indigenous gender systems advance the now contested need to eradicate sexist expressions in the Spanish language that has increasingly gained momentum in Latin America for the past decade.

Social Media

Linked IN

Instagram

Facebook

Camilo's Website

Upcoming Art Show at the Intersection for the Arts

September 21st and 22nd

Intersection for The Arts, Instagram

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the Feedspot.com team for ranking us as #3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Traci Faith Guw Thonalig Hughes Hamilton, an Arizona-based healer and advocate deeply rooted in Indigenous wisdom. With a diverse background, Traci embodies a commitment to holistic wellness and community empowerment. Traci's journey is a testament to ancestral healing traditions. Tune in as she shares insights on lifelong womb health, indigenous food practices, and community empowerment.

Traci Faith Guw Thonalig Hughes Hamilton is an Arizona based Licensed Massage Therapist, Indigenous Lactation Counselor, Womb worker, Full spectrum birth worker, Nutritional Consultant, Herbalist, and Traditional foods gatherer, single mom of two. Traci is of Mississippi Choctaw, Hiaki, adopted Tohono O’odham and of European descent.

A ceremonial wombyn who knows her journey of healing and helping others is her way of life, her strength. Traci has been involved with the Chukson (Tucson) community in many healing aspects.

The Desert Institute of the Healing Arts in Tucson was the beginning of her formal massage training in 1996. She spent over a decade with Miraval Life in Balance spa, all the while advocating for natural and indigenous Pre/post-natal care, as well as, involvement with Chukson (Tucson) chapter ICBLC events and breastfeeding advocacy.

Later, Traci spent four years with multi cultural indigenous high school, Ha:san Preparatory and Leadership School teaching rainwater harvesting, traditional in ground gardening; planting with the moon and rain cycles, seed to plate style teaching and food prep.

Traci is a natural teacher and most at home teaching her community, friends and family the many benefits of Self~Care with indigenous geographical appropriate foods and healing ways. She wants her people to know by living with our indigenous foods bring back language and songs and revitalizes our spiritual natures by giving our human body what it needs to thrive.

Her informal and formal training is ongoing with family healers, ceremony, as well as the CEU state license requirements.

Traci’s specialty is lifelong womb health and vitality, abdominal therapy, breast/chest therapy and full spectrum birth work. Her passion for protecting families ties in very closely with the old healing ways of her teachers and elders. As a mother and knowledgeable community member she stays strong in outreach and knowledge sharing.

Traci continues to work on a sliding scale basis to make sure this important healing work is accessible.  Her commitment is to honor her culture, be a strong community member and support a community of healthy warriors who step forward to make that effort for wellness.

Other Announcements:

The Strength in Solidarity Podcast team would also like to give a huge shout-out to the ⁠Feedspot.com⁠ team for ranking us as ⁠#3/10 Top 10 American Psychological Association Podcasts on the web⁠. Thank you so much for listening to our show and for your support. It means a lot to us.

In this episode, we met with Saahas Patil, an Indian singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. We discussed his journey of becoming a musician, his experiences of being a musician in the United States, and what inspires his music.

Saahas is a professional singer, songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles. He began singing at the age of 12 in middle school, in choirs and eventually moved to singing for a band. In 2009, he completed a Vocal Performance course at Nathaniel School of Music, after which he joined the band 'Allegro Fudge' as lead vocalist and songwriter. The band's first album 'Maximum City' received critical acclaim from media, both digital and print.

In 2015, Saahas moved to Los Angeles to study Vocal Performance at Musician's Institute (Hollywood). He was the recipient of 3 different scholarships and received a scholarship for a membership at The Recording Academy's Grammy-U Foundation. He began writing songs for producers and other artists, as well as writing and recording for his solo act as a singer-songwriter. Saahas has taught vocals, guitar and piano at low income schools and after-school programs, as well as music schools around Los Angeles.

He continues to teach vocals and guitar to students in Los Angeles, while also working on his A&R start-up 'Who Wrote That Song'. He is Apple certified in Logic Pro X, and uses Pro Tools to record, mix and master frequently. Saahas was awarded Best Alternative Artist, Best Alternative Song and Best Male Rock Artist at the 10th Annual Indie Music Channel Awards for his song 'California'. He has also sung on short films like Unreal Estate (2017) and Long Island Wolf (2016). He is currently a singer with Ben Mallare Entertainment and Bonnie Foster Productions and spends his weekends traveling and performing.

Social Media

Instagram: @saahas1

Spotify

YouTube

Facebook

Websites:

Saahaspatil.com

Canvas Rebel Interview

The Hindu Interview

⁠Indian Express Indulge Interview⁠

Bold Journey Interview

⁠Voyage LA Interview⁠

In this episode, we met with Hanif Fazal, who shared insights into his dedication to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and we delved into some captivating themes of his new book, "On Another World."

A nationally recognized facilitator, educator, speaker, and leadership coach, Hanif Fazal brings 20+ years of vision, expertise and commitment to creating more equitable and inclusive environments. When people are with Hanif, they

feel inspired, heard and can see possibilities in belonging in spaces they may have not been able to experience before. Hanif’s commitment to centering BIPOC voices is palpable - he truly cares about individuals and uses his own story to build authentic connections and share of himself.

In 2015, Hanif co-founded Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI), a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) consultancy that provides adaptive, interactive learning to build DEI capacity centering BIPOC experiences. CEI has led over 115 organizations nationwide to integrate DEI principles and practices into all aspects of their culture and business systems so that staff and leadership are in deeper communication and trust with one another.

Contact information

Contact Hanif through the Center for Equity and Inclusion (https://ceipdx.com/).

Social Media

Instagram: @iamhaniffazal

Websites:

Links to purchase An Other World:

Order on Amazon
Order on Barnes and Noble
Order at Powell's City of Books

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