Multicultural Association of Psychology Students (MAPS)

Mission Statement

The purpose of the multicultural association of psychology students is to provide support, networking and mentorship to ethnically and culturally diverse students and allies of ethnically and culturally diverse students, as well as to expand the awareness, knowledge, and skills regarding multicultural/diversity issues.

Objectives

1)To provide support and exposure for graduate students interested in ethnic minority, multicultural, and diversity concerns in psychology

2)To establish information/resource networks regarding practicum placement, internship, and subject recruitment sites for ethnically and culturally diverse individuals and multicultural and diversity concerns in psychology

3)To provide information on scholarships, grants, fellowships, etc., for ethnically and culturally diverse students and allies of ethnically and culturally diverse students interested in exploring multicultural and diversity concerns in psychology

4) To provide education, information, and share ideas on topics relevant to multicultural issues

5)To enhance recruitment and retention of ethnically and culturally diverse students and faculty

6)To serve as mentors for new ethnically and culturally diverse students and for each other

7)To promote multiculturalism and ethnic diversity among psychology faculty and students through culturally relevant curricula reform and extra-curricula activities

Activities

1) Provide a list of names and contact numbers, e-mail addresses of psychology ethnically and culturally diverse students and allies of ethnically and culturally diverse students who are interested in studying minority issues, for the purpose of support and networking

2) Develop a resource guide for scholarships and grants, and practicum, internship, and research sites relevant to ethnically and culturally diverse students and allies of ethnically and culturally diverse students interested in exploring ethnic and cultural issues in psychology

3) Develop a resource guide to the various ethnic psychology associations; names of psychologists in Chicago who study ethnic and cultural issues; ethnic minority psychology journals; and a reference list of seminal ethnic and cultural books/articles in psychology

4) Make outreach to high school students to motivate them to enter college

5) Help FUHS/CMS to recruit ethnically and culturally diverse students. For example, volunteer to host ethnically and culturally diverse students, and help to incorporate ethnic sensitivity into recruitment materials.

6) Create a library bookshelf and a file related to ethnic and cultural issues located in the FUHS/CMS Psychology Department

7) Provide a guide to related research and clinical issues relevant to ethnically and culturally diverse individuals during the months that we celebrate various minority groups (Ex: Hispanic heritage month: October; African-American History month: February)

8) Volunteer at ethnic mental health events around Chicago. For example, provide mental health screenings at the International Hispanic/Latino Mental Health Week (October 4 10, 1999)

9) Invite psychologists who are ethnically and culturally diverse or who conduct ethnic or cultural research to give brown bag talks or colloquia to students and faculty

10) Make outreach to other ethnic and cultural clubs and graduate schools at CMS and in Chicago and the surrounding suburbsfor example, the College of Lake County, and Lake Forest College, Loyola University of Chicago, University of Illinois, and Augustine College. Talk to students about graduate school in psychology, and share resources.

11) Have a bake sale 2x/year to raise money and share ethnic foods with others in the Psychology department and/or CMS main building

Resources

1) APAGSCommittee on Ethnic Minority Affairs

2) APA-Division 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues)

3) APA-Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs

4) The International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology

5) Chicago Medical School-student affairs office

6) Chicago Medical School- financial aid office

http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov01/diversity.html?CFID=2418720&CFTOKEN=18503101