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In Response to Recent Events:
The Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapy’s (MAMFT) Social Justice Committee is outraged at the tragic killing of Daunte Wright by Brooklyn Center Police. We know his death comes at a time when our community, and especially BIPOC individuals in our community, are already experiencing incredible distress given the emotional weight of the Derek Chauvin trial. We are here to witness the grief and pain experienced by the community, and acknowledge the further trauma being inflicted by the escalated, state-sanctioned violence that is occurring in the form of militarized responses to that grief and pain. We continue to stand in solidarity with BIPOC people as they face the unending trauma of white supremacy in America. We recognize the added distress this creates for BIPOC MFTs, as they work to support other’s experience of grief and trauma, while grappling with their own pain, anger, and trauma. If you are a BIPOC therapist, serving BIPOC individuals, or are otherwise holding the pain of others impacted, please know that we empathize with how these events weigh on your minds, hearts, and bodies. We also know that empathy and words are not enough. We are committed to keep working to dismantle white supremacy within our organization, as well as in the communities in which we live and work. If you are looking for places to process your distress during this time, MAMFT would like to be of support. We know there are community groups already in existence for BIPOC therapists. MAMFT doesn’t want to pretend to lead, where others are already doing the work. MAMFT’s social justice committee has set up the following groups for therapists to process the impact of current events. If you are looking for ways to be of service to others during this time, want to join in existing supportive community, or are looking to better understand the calls for change, below are some resources. We know there are so many other organizations doing great work at this time, and we honor all those who work to support others in the face of injustice. Please let us know how we may be of additional support during this incredibly painful time in our community. In Solidarity, The MAMFT Social Justice Committee |
PROCESSING GROUPS:
This first group is open ONLY to BIPOC therapists and BIPOC MFT students.
Group 1: Thursday 4/22, 7:30PM - TBD: Facilitated by Kadija Mussa and Casey Skeide
The following two groups are open to all who want to process the challenges of being a therapist during this time.
Group 2: Friday 4/23, 4:00PM - 5:30PM: Facilitated by Amy DiGennaro
Group 3: Saturday 4/24,10:30AM -12:00 NOON: Facilitated by Alex Iantaffi
If you are interested in attending a group, please register by emailing Leah Seeger at publicrelations@mamft.net stating your name, and which group you would like to attend. Depending on level of interest, we will provide options for more groups in the coming weeks.
RESOURCES:
DONATE/CONTRIBUTE:
Donate to Daunte Wright’s memorial fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dauntewright?utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3iHs1rVmjMF6ZdlcOQwsFzaZ_etmI1GNMw7Oov-TTs2UoEmsKk19GAxtY
Donate goods and funds to families in need in the Brooklyn Center area: https://sahanjournal.com/helping-out/how-to-help-brooklyn-center-daunte-wright/?fbclid=IwAR0vm0fTr1jSyIRBWDQjpOYQq0nIuea8Jbhs0dR6yzX7SG-kyVVwqO9P-t8
Donate to Brooklyn Center Mutual Aid: https://www.gofundme.com/f/brooklyn-center-mutual-aid-support-our-community
Donate to Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence: https://www.fsfapv.org/
Follow Black Visions on Twitter to keep up-to-date with what is needed: https://twitter.com/BlackVisionsMN or sign up for their newsletter at https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
Support the MN Healing Justice Network: https://www.mnhealingjustice.com/
LEARN/READ:
Learn more about and get involved with Communities against Police Brutality: https://www.cuapb.org/
Read more about and understand the calls for police reform: https://www.mpd150.com/resources/?fbclid=IwAR3FW3GX5rXoYBLJaZOqYFQOHBCed8rcJJjIDPOacp8GtMvCv5hH9ZQ_Z3g
Learn more about the call for abolition: https://www.8toabolition.com/
http://criticalresistance.org/abolish-policing/
Read the End of Policing
Read Are Prisons Obsolete? By Angela Davis
Access a resource for family-care, community-care and self-care in the face of racial trauma by the Community Healing Network and the Association of Black Psychologists: https://www.abpsi.org/pdf/FamilyCommunitySelfCareToolKit.pdf
TAKE ACTION:
Show support for a bill demanding reform in MN: https://action.cair.com/a/action-alert-mn-coalition-justice-george-floyd-and-all-stolen-lives-demands-police-reform?fbclid=IwAR25ppP4I0uXWMYZ5nbeF5ckVDn66-t3dvKjRfTrL3-bhAuZfNwRZhluUgs
Secure information to protect yourself if you are taking part in direct actions: https://www.rosehipmedics.org/handouts/ActionPrep_ChemWeaponDefense.pdf?fbclid=IwAR15ldGZywAFOnqsDNfqWuuV6yBap5LkriRy0O_HN3m1m-YOCnoiXJcMhYA
Join in prayer with others (this is an interfaith initiative): https://www.healingourcity.org/?fbclid=IwAR06AavUMFmTV-8q6BlUzIWeCAYRho-vi-smu3F7PoXrKVxVcaHizV7qLzs