Foundation of SPACE
In response to the police brutality and murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, among other Black and Brown individuals, and in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, students in the Teachers College School Psychology program have been spurred to increase their own education of anti-racism practices, examine the systems in which they participate, unlearn implicit biases, and inspire change.
This process requires the collaboration of students, faculty, alumni, and the Teachers College institution for critical reflection, meaningful conversations, consistent action and advocacy.
From June 2020 to September 2020, students and alumni (n = 25) within the Teachers College (TC) School Psychology program partnered to write an “Advocating for Anti-Racism Practices” proposal to their faculty in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the School Psychology Unified Anti-Racism Statement and Call to Action. The purpose of the proposal was to make recommendations for how the TC School Psychology program can further
- Train graduate students through a racial and social justice lens,
- Incorporate the narratives and experiences of underrepresented Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), including BIPOC researchers, practitioners, graduate students, and children and families we serve within the field of school psychology, and
- Dismantle systems of oppression and white supremacy in the field of school psychology.
The following five initiatives are presented in the proposal and are detailed in the linked executive summary: development of a diversity committee (i.e., SPACE), implementation of faculty and student educational opportunities, enhancement of the curriculum, changes to the admissions process, and engaging in outreach to the community.