National Multicultural Conference and Summit

The National Multicultural Conference and Summit (NMCS) brings together psychologists committed to multiculturalism and diversity from four divisions of the American Psychological Association. Division 44 is one of the prime sponsors of this event, offered every two years.

The mission of the National Multicultural Conference and Summit is to convene students, practitioners, and scholars in psychology and related fields to inform and inspire multicultural research and practice. We envision multiculturalism as inclusive of experiences related to ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, gender, physical ability, social class, age, and other social identities.

The Summit has been offered every two years since 1999 and has developed its own traditions including a program to “Honor Our Elders” who have built the foundation on which the NMCS rests. The inspiration and scholarship of the speakers and the depth of the difficult dialogues during these Summits has provided energy to move a national agenda toward promoting multiculturalism and diversity in psychology.

2009 Summit - New Orleans

Advancing Our Communities: The Role of Social Justice in Multicultural Psychology
January 15-16, 2009, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

The objective of the 2009 NMCS is to promote social justice and psychological wellbeing for historically marginalized communities, as well as to explore links and tensions between social justice and multicultural psychology. To this end, participants will exchange knowledge, engage in dialogue, develop skills, and honor the wisdom within our fields and cultures.

2007 Summit - Seattle

The fifth biennial National Multicultural Conference and Summit (NMCS) was held from January 24-26, 2007, in Seattle, WA. The NMCS is a collaborative effort among four APA divisions. Aside from Division 44, the other three host divisions include 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), 35 (Society for the Psychology of Women), and 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues). The objective of the 2007 NMCS was to explore the intersections of social identities, to understand how individuals, groups and communities are empowered, and to elevate frequently unheard voices. This year’s NMCS emphasized our multiple identities and how we find empowerment in the face of oppression. The inclusion of sexual orientation as an important aspect of our identity was highlighted throughout the Summit. The conference continued with two full days of keynote addresses, symposia, forums, and a poster session focused on the conference's theme: "Finding Empowerment in the Face of Oppression." Designed to bring together experts in the field of multiculturalism, the NMCS is also intended to help advance the field of psychology to be more inclusive of issues relevant to historically marginalized groups.

This year's conference was a huge success as over 950 delegates attended the event-well above the 600 anticipated registrants. Thanks to the high number of proposals submitted by Division 44 members, this year's conference featured many more LGB related presentations than ever before. We had over 22 individual papers presented either as single presentations or symposia and 8 posters and two “difficult dialogues.” Two presentations were chosen by the Division 44 EC as dedicated programming. These symposium were Counseling Bisexual Clients at Intersections of Race, Ethnicity, and Sexual Orientation by Beth Firestein and Behind the Wheel: Navigating the Intersection of Therapists’ and Clients’ Different Multiple Identities by Brent Beam and Hsui-Lan Cheng. In addition, two of the invited speakers also focused on LGB issues. Terry Gock spoke about his journey in reconciling his Christian faith and racial identity with his sexual orientation. Maria Cecilia Zea offered a presentation on issues related to men of color who have sex with other men. A major highlight of Summit for Division 44 members and all delegates was the outstanding keynote address by Beverly Greene. Her presentation titled “The Complexity of Diversity: Multiple Identities and the Denial of Social Privilege” was received by a standing ovation.

In remembering our history, two special ceremonies recognizing significant contributors to multicultural psychology where held. The first ceremony honored Distinguished Elders. Individuals who are recognized as an Elder by the NMCS consist of those who have given voice to marginalized groups and who have furthered an understanding of multicultural issues within psychology. Of the eight honored Elders, two were selected from Division 44. Stephen F. Morin was honored for his history of working on HIV/AIDS related research, service, and public advocacy. Letitia Anne Peplau was recognized for her contribution to research on same-sex relationships.

In addition to the Elders Ceremony, six individuals were honored as Distinguished Ancestors. These individuals, who are no longer with us, are recognized for their historic contributions to multicultural psychology. Two individuals from Division 44 were honored: Evelyn Hooker was recognized for her historic research on homosexuality, which played a critical role in the removal of homosexuality as a mental disorder. Royce "Roy" Scrivner was recognized for his critical work on lesbian and gay families and for being one of the first openly gay presidents of a state (Texas) psychological association.

As a result of the success of the 2007 NMCS, financially and programmatically, the EC has voted to continue to be a host division for 2009. The 2007 NMCS could not have been a success without the help of numerous individuals. The Division 44 EC under the leadership of Christopher Martell provided unwavering support through the process of organizing this event. As the leadership for Division 44's role in NMCS moves from Arlene Noriega to Francisco "Cisco" Sánchez, the vision of keeping sexual orientation as a prominent aspect of multicultural psychology will continue.

See also