Social Psychology Network

The Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues, Division 45 of the American Psychological Association, is the major representative body for psychologists who conduct research related to the life experiences of ethnic minorities. As such, we enthusiastically endorse Social Psychology Network (SPN), a pioneering organization that has worked tirelessly to increase diversity within psychology, promote social justice, and advance psychological research and education.

Through its blend of multiculturalism and technological innovation, SPN serves as a model of how the Internet can be used for the benefit of science and society. Here, for example, are just a few valuable Network features that address topics of interest to Division 45:

• UnderstandingPrejudice.org
  This SPN partner site is one of the world's most comprehensive resources on the psychology of prejudice and social justice, with over 2,000 searchable links, a teacher's corner, interactive exercises, and extensive databases of prejudice researchers and civil rights organizations.

• Jigsaw.org
  Another SPN partner site, Jigsaw.org, provides information on the Jigsaw Classroom, a cooperative learning technique that reduces racial conflict in school settings. Decades of research have documented the effectiveness of this technique, and hundreds of schools have used it to enhance race relations and improve learning.

• SPN Mentorship Program
  SPN has built one of the largest and most international psychology mentorship networks in the world, with 345 volunteer mentors offering career assistance to students from underrepresented groups.

In conclusion, SPN is a unique organization that deserves the support of the American Psychological Association, our members, and others working to make psychology an inclusive science. We therefore ask readers of this statement to support SPN and help it remain a leading voice for diversity and multiculturalism in psychology.

--Society for the Psychological
  Study of Ethnic Minority Issues
  (March 15, 2007)