Filipino American Psychology: Past, Present, and Future Inaugural Conference

On January 30, 2016, the Division on Filipino Americans (DoFA) of the Asian American Psychological Association hosted an inaugural conference, "Filipino American Psychology: Past, Present, and Future", at the Wright Institute.

Pioneers of Filipino American psychology presented on its history, current theory and research, as well as future directions. Dr. E.J.R. David, author of "Brown Skin, White Minds: Filipino-/American Postcolonial Psychology", delivered the keynote address. DoFA was proud to present its very first Virgilio Enriquez Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service of the Filipino American Community to Assemblymember Rob Bonta.

In 2012, Assemblymember Rob Bonta was sworn in as the first and only Filipino to serve in the California State Legislature. In his first year in office, Bonta authored AB 123, which Governor Jerry Brown signed, to teach students about the contributions of Filipino Americans to the California Farm Labor Movement. Bonta is chair of the Assembly Health Committee and the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color in California.