"Building a Sane Society and Transforming Psychology and Mental Health-Care"

 Back to list

Some of my current activities:

By Michael D’Andrea

University of Hawaii

What I am doing to:

[a] promote multiculturalism and social justice in the field and

[b] implement the 2003 APA-approved guidelines and the ACA-endorsed multicultural competencies in my work.

1. I teach a multicultural course with graduate students in which we constantly examine how to implement the multicultural competencies and guidelines in our personal and professional lives.

2. I am working with the National Institute for Multicultural Competence in continuing a national tour that is entitled, “Promoting Multicultural Competence and Social Justice.”

3. I am presently completing a new multicultural textbook that highlights feminism and social justice concepts and action strategies in its content.

4. I am working as an aide and consultant with Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to find ways to educate others about the 7 new constitutional amendments he has introduced to the U.S. Congress that deal with social justice and health-related issues.

5. I work as a co-editor with Patricia Arredondo on a monthly column entitled, “Promoting Human Development and Dignity through Diversity” that appears in the monthly ACA-publication called “Counseling Today.” (WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE FOR THIS MONTHLY COLUMN SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING SO PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF US).

6. I am developing a Peace Project with Dr. Judy Daniels in an elementary school in Hawaii that is designed to promote the optimal health and social skills of young children in a culturally-diverse educational setting.

7. I am working with Dr. Jay Chunn, the Director of the National Center for Health Behavioral Change, to develop a professional training manual that will be used to promote the cultural competence of public health professionals across the country.

8. I am working with the newest division of ACA – Counselor for Social Justice (CSJ) to find ways to promote the advocacy competencies that were recently endorsed by ACA and to promote a greater understanding as to what social justice counseling means among the graduate students with whom I interact.

9. I routinely mediate, practice chi gong and reflect on the ways in which I can promote the principles and spirit of multiculturalism, feminism, and social justice counseling into my personal life especially in my interactions with my partner, daughters, and son.

 Back to list