History Intervention of David Pérez-Jiménez at the close of the 2nd International Conference on Community Psychology. About 5 years ago a visionary group of community psychologists began to informally discuss the need and feasibility of holding an international conference on community psychology. This group consisted of David Fryer, Paul Toro, Christopher Sonn, Toshi Sasao and Maritza Montero. This group faced two great dilemmas: (1) how to ensure the event would be “truly international”, and (2) which country should be the venue. Dr. Maritza Montero suggested the group contact Dr. Irma Serrano-García of Puerto Rico to sound out the possibility of holding it in her country. Dr. Serrano-García was the ideal person to consult for two reasons: (1) she had presided in 1995 over the XV Interamerican Congress of Psychology, during which we had demonstrated the capacity we had in Puerto Rico to organize international events; and (2) those who know her know that she is recognized for her struggle to make utopias reality, and because even though we live on a small island, our dreams are big. So it was that Dr. Serrano-García invited a group of Puerto Rican psychologists who had collaborated on the 1995 SIP. This group decided to accompany Dr. Serrano-García on this new adventure and take on the task of composing a proposal to be submitted to the initial international group for its approval. This proposal was approved at the SCRA Biennial Meeting of 2003 held in New Mexico. So we took on the task of organizing a truly international conference whose main objective was to promote a space where we could share our theories, research and intervention activities in the context of the values of community psychology of participation, empowerment, community development and respect for cultural diversity. But how to achieve a conference that would be “truly international”? For that we took the following measures: (1) we promoted the conference at the greatest possible number of international psychology events; (2) we sent emails to everyone and every user list we could get; and (3) we set up communication networks with colleagues in different universities across the world. Another of the measures we took was to ensure that of the seven special guests, only one was from the United States and the rest from different continents and countries. The special guests were asked to give their presentations from a global overview, so that we could identify commonalities in our work. The last achievement I want to highlight has to do with promoting a sense of community and a culture of community. For that we took the following measures: (1) we provided breaks in the program so that those attending could establish networks of collaboration, for example a common break of 1 ½ hours for lunch; (2) we developed an entertaining and fun program of cultural activities, so that those attending could get to know some of the features that distinguish our culture and enjoy it (e.g. we set up a sub-committee for social and cultural activities which was chaired by Dr. Blanca Ortiz-Torres); (3) we tried to obtain participation from academics, students and communities, not only in the organizing committee but also in the various working sub-committees that we organized; and (4) we organized a community fair, which lasted two days and to which we invited 50 Puerto Rico community organizations. This was an extraordinary space where those attending could learn about the community work carried out on the Island. As I've tried to show, those of us who organized the first conference put all our energies into making that event a success. Today, when I address you I'm still gripped by the excitement of having co-directed that effort and of having contributed to what in Puerto Rico would be written of as an important page in the short history of international community psychology. To our friends & partners in Portugal I congratulate for the courage of having organized this second conference. To our friends & partners in Puebla I wish the greatest success and I'm sure that the third conference will be one of which we can all feel proud. To that end, I place at your disposal all our experience and knowledge. I expect that there we can continue enjoying and promoting what it is that characterizes us, fellowship, collaboration, respect and sensitivity towards those who speak and think differently to us, so that in the end we can keep on sharing common agendas in diversity.
To Welcome to Lisboa, Portugal. We are honored that you have chosen to participate in the 11 International Conference on Community Psychology held underthe title"Building participative, empowering & diverse communities" from the 2nd to the 6th of June 2008 (www.2iccp.com). For this event we have received over 500 abstract proposals on a wide·variety of themes and formats for the presentationof work developed on community research and practice from 36 different countries. We have organized our Conference program in order to convey and support the idea of an international spirit of Community Psychology. The challenge of building participatory, empowering and diverse communities is our common ground to enhance local as well as global platforms of understanding amorig researchers & practitioners in the field of community psychology and other human sciences. Each and everyone is welcome, and we hope to contribute for the strengthening of Community Psychology worldwide Lisboa, 2nd of June, 2008
 José H. Ornelas Conference Chair Associate Professor ISPA-Portugal Sociedade Portuguesa de Psicología Comunitária Agreement for International Cooperation for the Advancement of Community PsychologyCommunity Psychology has grown to become an international field of study and practice. Around the globe there are academic programs and practitioners promoting and advancing community psychology. Community psychologists share some core perspectives and values in each of these countries and regions of the world. In every inhabited continent of the world, community psychology has grown and has its own unique origins, influences, and evolution. The common core belief is that community psychology shows great promise in addressing the most pressing social and health issues locally and globally. Many national and regional associations and other organizations of community psychologists have developed around the world. These associations have elected leaders, journals, conferences, newsletters, and other mechanism to support community psychologist and advance the field. The time has now come to bring together these associations to determine as equals how community psychology can advance through international cooperation. By sharing the knowledge and experience of community psychologist from around the world, community psychology can advance and make even greater contributions. Potential goals for international cooperation for the advancement of community psychology include:
We, the undersigned representatives of community psychology organizations and associations commit to participating in a process to plan how a best to pursue international cooperation for the advancement of community psychology. We commit to a planning process that will:
We, the organizations signed below, make this commitment in order to advance community psychology as a field of study and as an approach to promoting public health and welfare around the world. |
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Facilitate communication and learning about community psychology internationally;