RIAPP's Anti-Racism Action Plan
Beginning in the summer of 2020 RIAPP made a commitment to more active engagement in anti-racism work and to affirming our anti-racism and anti-oppression stance. The institution of racism and the systemic issues that continue to take the lives of black people and rob black communities of their children, parents, and loved ones through violence, incarceration, denied fiscal and educational opportunities, misrepresentation in the media, and lack of access to adequate healthcare services, is and has always been a crisis. RIAPP stands with and seeks to amplify the Black Lives Matter movement. We "remain committed to action." We want to ensure that this movement and all people oppressed by institutional racism, classism, misogyny, and queerphobia are not silenced and cannot be silenced.
We acknowledge that psychoanalytic theory was created in the context of white heteronormative ideology. We seek to use the tools of psychoanalysis to broaden perspective and promote inclusion. RIAPP acknowledges that this has to be conscious, active, and ongoing work as we have all been subjected to these practices and informed by these institutions. We know this work is hard. In this process of intense introspection, we will have to sit with personal and collective discomfort - but this discomfort is normal, necessary and crucial when lives are at stake.
Beginning in the 2020-21 season we took the following steps in order to integrate anti-racism work and psychoanalytic work:
1. We partnered with local practitioners to create peer consultation groups that provide an active ongoing space to explore racism's impact on our clinical work, develop increased awareness of our own racism and biases, and improve our ability to utilize clinical interventions and practices to dismantle racism and support racial justice.
2. We hosted at least 2 events per season that sought to highlight black and brown voices in the field, and will continue to think critically about weaving in anti-racism work throughout our season.
3. We integrated anti-racist readings and resources into our regularly disseminated emails.
With our 2023-2024 approaching, we will continue these efforts and follow up with more. RIAPP remains powerfully committed to measurable, effective and meaningful, anti-racist goals.
We are here to act, to listen, and to support. We stand together now and moving forward. We welcome your thoughts and feedback.