Land, Labor, & Community Acknowledgements

This textbook is an offering to our students, colleagues, and communities to envision a research practice that is grounded in justice. As a project team, we also acknowledge that time and energy dedicated to this book were not in isolation—the land, labor, and community all contributed to the creation of this text.

We worked on this text on the lands of the Muwekma Ohlone peoples, multiple Indigenous nations who were violently forced to give up their land, language, and knowledge systems due to colonization. Their continued existence speaks to the power of resistance. Our home institution, Saint Mary’s College of California, created the following acknowledgment that we would like to share.

Video i.1. Land Acknowledgement by Saint Mary’s College of California

As settlers on this land, we hope to be in right relationship with the land and all living things. One way we do that is by contributing Shummi Tax to support the rematriation of land.

We also acknowledge the Labor that allows us to access the privilege of being members of academic institutions. The United States’ wealth was founded on the exploitation of enslaved Africans, and our current unequal wealth distribution is connected to a pivotal historical legacy. In the San Francisco Bay Area, where this textbook was created, Black folks came for work opportunities and experienced segregation, discrimination, and exploitation at high rates^[1]. Nevertheless, they became the leaders of liberation movements (e.g., the Black Panther Party) and political advocacy.

We are here today because of a legacy of resistance. And while we acknowledge the harms that have happened and currently happen—we also name the ways which our communities have held us.

OER for Social Justice Grant

The creation of this textbook was funded by the OER for Social Justice Grant. Our deepest appreciation for the entire team for providing funding, training, and structure to the textbook creation process. Special shoutout to Swetta Abeyta (SMC), Karna Younger, & Theresa Huff for all your incredible support in this process.

Advisory Panel 

The research team invited psychology practitioners, researchers, and students to serve as advisory panel members for this text. The ask was to have criticality be centered in our work. Twelve people were invited to serve in this capacity, and the final text benefited immensely from their thoughtful questions, reflections, and edits.

Panel members [In alphabetical order]

Wendy Castillo
Dawn Henderson
Lakhvir Kaur
Kimberly Knesting-Lund
Dominique La Barrie
Seanna Leath
Aaron J. Neal
Juan R. Pantoja-Patiño
Mary Phan
Christen Priddie
Arnold Rodriguez Robles
Sujay Sabnis

Acknowledgment of FIPSE Funding

The contents of this book were developed under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. For more information about OER for Social Justice, ⁠visit our project website.