[psych-hr] Report out on APA convention

Dear friends and colleagues,

Last Friday and Saturday (August 20 and 21) I had the opportunity at the 
American Psychological Association convention in Boston to share both what we 
have done to date in our IPPN discussion group as well as play the human 
rights game with interested psychologists attending the convention.  I would 
like to take this opportunity to share the highlights with you.

The first event was a discussion hour on Friday, August 20 devoted to the 
topic of our discussion group.   About 30 people attended the session.  
Joanie Connors, who chaired the session, gave a summary of the history of the 
International Peace Practitioners Network (IPPN) and I provided a run down 
on: who is in our discussion group and what we have accomplished to date, 
including a quick summary of the substance of our IPEDEHP discussion. We then 
opened it up to what turned out to be a rather lively discussion focussing 
primarily on the context in which IPEDEHP operates in Peru.  We also 
circulated a handout which mirrored my remarks (e.g., who we are, what we 
have done to date). Attached to the handout were the two summaries (short and 
long) of our discussion on the IPEDEHP case.

On Saturday nine people, mostly psychologists, came to play the IPEDEHP human 
rights game (Carrera del Diagnostico) in the PsySR Hospitality Suite.  
Attendees really enjoyed the opportunity to see the IPEDEHP methodology in 
action.  I was interested to see the various ways in which attendees were 
thinking of applying the game.  One is, as we speak, taking it to Rwanda 
where he is doing work in psychosocial healing.  Another, who is a university 
professor in Lebanon is thinking of using it with her students in Counseling 
Psychology. Another saw it as a useful tool for use in family therapy.

Other highlights:

--  On Saturday afternoon, PsySR at its business meeting, presented its "1999 
Award for Distinguished Contribution to Building Cultures of Peace" to 
IPEDEHP for its "pioneering model in training program for community leaders 
in human rights, democracy and citizen participation and their success in 
weaving ties of friendship, trust, and commitment".  I accepted the award on 
IPEDEHP's behalf and, week after next,  will formally present the award to 
IPEDEHP on PsySR's behalf at a ceremony that has been planned in Lima.  
Needless to say, IPEDEHP is honored and thrilled to receive this award.

--  While at the APA convention I was able to meet with several members of 
our discussion group for the first time: Joanie Connors, Brinton Lykes, Dan 
Christie.  As someone who likes e-mail but who at times feels its limits, it 
was a pleasure to have a chance to meet these people face to face!

--  On Saturday night Anne Anderson, Dan Christie, Mike Wessells and I, over 
a leisurely dinner (with prior input from several of you) spoke at length 
about where to go with this discussion group. When I return from Peru in
mid-September I will send out a special e-mail devoted to this topic as we
have some suggestions for future directions.

I leave for Lima on Sunday, August 30 (where, among others, I will be 
attending the annual meeting of the Peruvian Human Rights Education Network 
as well as doing some further field research on IPEDEHP's community leaders 
program).  I return to Washington on September 17.  When I return to
Washington I will prepare an e-mail which outlines a proposal for future 
activities of our discussion group.

Before closing I would like to take this opportunity to thank so many of you 
who have taken time (either via e-mail or through telephone conversations) to 
share your candid feedback with me on what you think of what the discussion 
group has accomplished to date and provide suggestions for next steps.  As 
moderator, I feel deeply honored to have the opportunity to interact with 
such a distinguished group of individuals!

Warm regards to all,

Marcy