2024 Letter from the Board President
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it's the only thing that ever has” - Margaret Mead
We are a diverse group of over 8100 people united in a common purpose. Our impact is amplified by our unique voices and our collective action. What will we do, what will you do, this year that will make a difference? Even the smallest actions reverberate.
To know where we are going, we need to know where we have been. We have a lot to be excited about.
This year…
- We held our very first World Conference in South America. In-person attendance was incredible, and we launched a virtual encore to reach individuals for whom travel was a barrier.
- The Scientific Strategy Committee was established as a more permanent outgrowth of the Centering Science Pillar, spearheading initiatives that will increase member access to CBS research methodology and broaden CBS collaborations.
- We chose another outstanding JCBS Editor, Dr. Sahdra Baljinder, who has continued the great work of previous Editors, and increased diversity of the Editorial Board and visibility of JCBS publications.
- We made progress in determining how to measure competency in CBS in clinical and training contexts with members of the Competency Pillar at the helm.
- JEDI initiatives continued to advance under the leadership of the DEI committee.
- We came together to share our science on CBS SuperLab and worked with Chapter leadership to solve problems and build stronger Chapters.
- We launched a new website, established new SIGs in areas such as neurodiversity affirming research and practice, and values and meaning making and a new Chapter in Chile.
- We welcomed our first peer-reviewed trainer in Turkiye and 6 new ACBS fellows.
- We awarded 25 scholarships that increased access and participation in CBS, and 4 grants for CBS-related research.
This is significant, and I can’t wait to see what we will do next. Please consider taking an active role in ACBS. We can do more together than we can alone. You can indicate your interest in leadership or service in ACBS here.
Looking forward to building community with you,
Rhonda Merwin, Ph.D.
ACBS Board President