EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity
Mission Statement
The Work Group for Racial Equity of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society aims to initiate opportunities for members to examine how racism is embedded in individuals’ unconscious, in groups, and in our organization. Utilizing a collaborative process, the work group supports EGPS efforts to integrate awareness about race and racism in professional events and presentations.
The Work Group also seeks to enhance members’ understanding of the impact of institutional racism on their work, encourages members’ examination of internalized racial oppression and works with the Board of Directors to strengthen our racial equity lens.
Healing from racial injustice is a result of learning and struggling together. We hope all members will join EGPS in this work.
For more information contact:
Rudy Lucas or Christine Schmidt
For a list of resources suggested by the Work Group for Racial Equity and books reviewed by EGPS members, please click here
For a list of works that inspired monthly WG4RE discussions, click here
The upcoming dates for WG4RE are:
Monday May 18, 8:30 Zoom meeting
Monday June 15, 8:30 Zoom meeting
Monday July 20 8:30 Zoom meeting
Current groups
Zoom Discussion of Liberation and Self-care: “Why People of Color Need Spaces without White People”
EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity Discussion Group Zoom Discussion of
Liberation and Self-care:
“Why People of Color Need Spaces without White People”
Monday June 15, 2020 8:30-9:45pm
COVID-19 disproportionately affects people of color. So does mass incarceration, homelessness, employment discrimination and other manifestations of white supremacy racism. People of color need spaces to heal without the gaze and engagement with white people. This is the reason affinity groups for African Americans, Asian Americans, and People of Color have come together during the COVID pandemic.
Read Kelsey Blackwell’s “Why People of Color Need Spaces Without White People” Join us in mixed race discussion about the limitations of a mixed race discussion group for racial healing, the necessity for racial affinity groups to provide self-care, and our collective goal for liberation.
We invite emotional risk-taking about how this racial aggression and effort to repair impacted you. Be brave about sharing and listening deeply.
Because there is no fee for this event, you don't need to sign-up. Simply join through Zoom https://zoom.us/j/128780416 or 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 128 780 416) at the start of the meeting.
The Work Group for Racial Equity a "drop in group" for EGPS members and not-yet members. You are invited to participate whenever you can. We meet monthly on the third Monday evening of the month to discuss relevant books, films, podcasts and articles. Further information can be found on the EGPS website at www.egps.org.
Location: Zoom
Time: Monday,June 15, 2020 8:30 pm - 9:45 pm
Sign Up
Lifting voices of underrepresented minority students during the pandemic
GROUP, the journal of EGPS and the Work Group for Racial Equity co-host a conversation
Lifting voices of underrepresented minority students during the pandemic
An interview with Drs. Kathleen Isaac and Alice Shepard, facilitated by Christine Schmidt, LCSW, CGP, and Rudy Lucas, LCSW, CASAC, CGP
Sunday June 21, 2020 at 1pm
On Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86399146594
Even before the pandemic, navigating higher education was extremely stressful for underrepresented minority students. Drs. Kathleen Isaac and Alice Shepard, both of whom counsel students in academic settings, discuss the articles they contributed to the recent Social justice issue of GROUP (Vol. 43, No.2-4 [Winter 2019]) in which they illustrate how their activist approach to group work supports these marginalized students. They will also talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting people of color in general, and their students in particular.
Join our conversation, facilitated by Christine Schmidt, guest editor of the Social Justice issue of GROUP, and Rudy Lucas, co-chair of the Work Group for Racial Equity.
This conversation is open to all and is free of charge.
Full access to the Social Justice issue of GROUP is free to all EGPS members at https://egps.org/publications-group.php. If you need assistance in accessing GROUP, please contact Jonah Schwartz at GroupEditorEGPS@gmail.com.
Bio for Alice Shepard:
Alice Shepard, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist. She is the founder of Mirielle Therapy Practice, PLLC in New York City and a Faculty Counselor at CUNY.
Bio for Kathleen Isaac:
Kathleen Isaac, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist at NYU Medical Center where she provides individual, couples and group therapy for medical students, residents and medical employees. In her private practice she specializes in trauma, health psychology, and cultural issues.
Sign UpGroup Zoom Discussion of Liberation and Self-care: “Whiteness on the Couch”
EGPS Work Group for Racial Equity Discussion Group Zoom Discussion of
Liberation and Self-care:
“Whiteness on the Couch”
Monday July 20, 2020 8:30-9:45pm
COVID-19 is a pandemic that disproportionately affects people of color. Whiteness is a pandemic that disproportionately affects white people. What does it mean to understand whiteness as an illness produced by racism? How do we diagnose it? How do we treat it? How do we eliminate it?
Read Natasha Stovall’s “Whiteness on the Couch”
Join our discussion with Natasha Stovall about whiteness and how to confront this illness interpersonally and collectively.
We invite emotional risk-taking about how this racial aggression and effort to repair impacted you. Be brave about sharing and listening deeply.
Because there is no fee for this event, you don't need to sign-up. Simply join through Zoom https://zoom.us/j/128780416 or 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 128 780 416) at the start of the meeting.
The Work Group for Racial Equity a "drop in group" for EGPS members and not-yet members. You are invited to participate whenever you can. We meet monthly on the third Monday evening of the month to discuss relevant books, films, podcasts and articles. Further information can be found on the EGPS website at www.egps.org.
Location: Zoom
Time: Monday, July 20, 2020 8:30 pm - 9:45 pm
Sign Up