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In striving to embrace our diverse community and welcome psychologists of all backgrounds, identities, and cultural groups, the Ventura County Psychological Association Board will continue presenting solidarity statements to demonstrate this commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI+) principles.  As psychologists, we recognize the profound impact that societal inequities, discrimination, and systemic oppression have on mental health and overall well-being. From a perspective of cultural humility, we, as board members, will work to embody the words “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,” as we hope to bring a sense of belonging and empowerment to the psychologists in our community, knowing that this will also benefit the diverse clients of our county and state.  We hope to highlight our diverse community, encouraging each of us to educate ourselves and connect with diverse individuals to expand our reach, cultural awareness, and awareness of bias and privilege from a position of cultural humility.  We acknowledge that solidarity statements will sometimes come up short, as we uncover our own blind spots and biases, but we will push onwards to learn, be inclusive, promote accessibility, and understand the dynamic nature of intersecting identities. We welcome and will encourage dialogue and feedback from the VCPA community members, as we grow together in understanding ourselves, as well as our diverse members and community.  We remember our primary mission, to create a place of support and collaboration among colleagues, while encouraging growth to better serve our clients and community. We appreciate you, our members, your insight and wisdom, and are excited about the growth
opportunities ahead, as we empower the varied people we serve to heal and respond to mental health challenges. 

The VCPA Board expresses its unwavering solidarity with all marginalized groups. When we write a solidarity statement standing with a particular group, it does not suggest opposition to another group. We will not allow divisive political rhetoric to cause us to engage in similar black and white thinking. For example, we can stand in support of both our Jewish and Palestinian family/community members, striving for social justice and the end to oppression and hate speech.

We affirm our support for:
* Immigrants, documented and undocumented. It is a human right to be treated with dignity, and no human is illegal. Our immigrant community members are our siblings, parents, church leaders, co-workers, and more, and we support their right to mental health care and freedom
from discrimination, intimidation, and fear.
* Black Lives: We unequivocally stand with the Black community. We acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma inflicted by slavery, Jim Crow laws, systemic racism, police brutality, and the prison industrial complex. We are committed to dismantling anti-Black racism within psychology and society at large, advocating for equity, healing, and liberation.
* BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color): We acknowledge the diverse experiences and enduring strength of all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We commit to addressing the mental health disparities and historical injustices faced by these communities, promoting culturally responsive care, and supporting their pursuit of self-determination and thriving. We understand that our community is built on land that was once cared for by the Chumash people, and we honor their legacy of values, including the deep respect for nature, strong sense of community, and commitment to sustainability.
* LGBTQIA+ Individuals: We affirm the full spectrum of gender identities, sexual orientations, and expressions. We stand against all forms of discrimination, violence, and prejudice directed at the LGBTQIA+ community, advocating for their rights, safety, and equitable access to affirming mental healthcare.
* Individuals of All Religious Backgrounds: We respect and uphold the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. We stand against religious discrimination and promote an understanding of the diverse spiritual and religious experiences that enrich our community,
ensuring respectful and inclusive psychological practice.
*We stand with people marginalized by Age, Ability level, and Socioeconomic class, and more, and strive to elevate discussion on these subject matters and more.
DEI issues are dynamic in nature, and so to ensure continued growth, the VCPA Board has recently committed to participate in annual cultural humility trainings together to assist us in our self-care, community building, and awareness of cultural humility, all to improve dialogue around challenging DEI+ and related topics. We are also committed to listening to you, our community. You are cordially invited to participate in the writing of solidarity statements and to express your concerns when you feel the board has missed the mark in its statements or actions. We recognize that DEI+ is under attack politically on the national stage, but we persist, knowing that these values are deeply important in creating a socially just community, and that we all benefit in learning and enrichment from elevating marginalized groups. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. When the marginalized and oppressed are held with respect and
liberated, we are all respected and free.

And so we stand together.

Sincerely,
Your VCPA Board
(Written by the DEI Committee)