Jenni J.V. Wilson, LMFT
President, LA-CAMFT

Representation Matters

I was catching up with incoming President-Elect Leanne Nettles a couple of weeks after the 2020 election, and we found ourselves giddy over the outcome. Being biracial women, we both shared a particular elation watching Senator Kamala Harris ascend into her new role as Vice-President Elect. We spoke of how exciting it was that more women and children of color will see someone who looks like them in the history books, and from that, perhaps more will come to believe that there’s a place for them in leadership, that their voices matter.

Expanding representation means new generations may be inspired to pursue previously discouraging paths and change the world in some unimaginably positive way. Every time someone from a marginalized group is elevated and offered a seat at the table, we are closer to realizing the American Dream.

When another mixed-race traveler, Barack Obama, won the presidency in 2008 and 2012, I felt an undeniable sense of pride in my country. I never held any illusion that after 400+ years, an ingrained system of racial oppression could be magically undone with the election of one politically-moderate, exceptional man of color—an acceptably light-skinned color, to be clear—but I did recognize progress and felt hopeful that our government was beginning to look more like the world I was living in. However, what to me and others felt like an important baby-step in course correction, unearthed a fear-of-otherness from the forgotten working class and an ironically elite underground vein of the pale and privileged that, admittedly, I was not prepared for.

Since President Obama left office in 2017, my heart seemed to break on a daily basis as it became obvious to me that we hadn’t grown as much as I’d hoped. I watched as the hidden or denied depths of hatred found in racism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism, and other forms of discrimination bubbled (at times exploded) to the surface in both subtle and violent ways. As a result, my baseline of optimism became skewed.

My deepest and most annoying Suzie-sunshine, silver-lining-seeking positions were thrown into question and were internally wrestling with rising cynicism, anger, and an overall existential concern. Feeling impotent against the forces of division, and trying not to be seduced by them, I found myself sustained and continually energized by the people in my life—including clients, colleagues, and my fellow LA-CAMFT brothers and sisters—as we focused on what we might do to be part of the change we wished to see in the world.

From where I’ve been positioned in this life, I’ve come to understand white guilt and white fragility, about as well as I understand the pain and intergenerational trauma that stems from belonging to an oppressed or marginalized group. Growing up, I witnessed my Mexican-American father being targeted, harassed, sidelined, and underestimated, feeling how his experience impacted him and our family.

Unlike my father, I’ve navigated the world unencumbered by others routinely projecting their fears onto me. Like many biracial children, consciously or not, throughout my life I’ve found myself caught in a space that is neither the belonging nor the not-belonging, assigned to a place I call The In-Between.

I believe that existing in the In-Between allows me to seek out and recognize human commonalities, with respect and curiosity for individuality and difference. As a result, I prefer and gravitate towards groups that promote cultural diversity and inclusion, over homogeneity and exclusion. It is hardly a surprise then that the promotion of LA-CAMFT as a welcoming group encouraging people to come as they are is paramount to me. 

I’ve been proud to be a part of LA-CAMFT leadership in the era that has seen the formation of The Diversity Committee and the Therapists of Color Support Group. As Speaker Chair and Co-Chair for the past four years I’ve focused on increasing representation amongst our slate of presenters. I was honored to be one of the board members coordinating with the Diversity Committee on the recent Anti-Racism Roundtable event and the creation of a Declaration of Inclusion, Diversity, and Anti-Racism Statement. I’m always interested in finding ways LA-CAMFT can more aptly reflect the beautiful diversity of our community, of the city and populations we serve.

I’m excited to welcome and be part of the most diverse Board of Directors LA-CAMFT has seen, yet. While some seasoned LA-CAMFT leaders remain, providing deeply appreciated continuity and stability, other beloved board members willingly and gracefully stepped up by stepping aside to create room for new voices on the board, redirecting their board experience to strengthen the organization through mentoring and spearheading new projects.

The reality is that we’re an all-volunteer driven association that needs the involvement of its enthusiastic members who are willing to offer their skills, creativity, and energy for the survival and betterment of the larger group. Expanded representation and succession in leadership are fundamental for evolution, to avoid stagnation, encourage regeneration, and ensure longevity for LA-CAMFT.

Personally, and professionally, we have all been challenged to rethink our approach to the micro as well as the macro in our everyday lives. Being more involved with LA-CAMFT right now is an opportunity to further a sense of community during these disconnected times, giving and receiving support from others who know what this work can ask of us.

On my end, I invite you to write to me at President@LACAMFT.org with your visions for LA-CAMFT, sharing your best, your craziest, and your most ambitious ideas. I can’t promise we’ll make them all happen, but I’ll definitely listen and who knows! Presidents come and go, only steering the ship for a year before peacefully transferring power to the next President-Elect—but your great ideas could impact the future of LA-CAMFT forever.

In this first President’s Message, I want to emphasize that LA-CAMFT is about supporting its membership, and I’m a member, just like many of you. What matters isn’t just what I see LA-CAMFT being, it’s about what we see LA-CAMFT being. And representation matters! So, whether we gather in the Zoom-iverse or in-person, I hope you will be inspired to raise your voices, join in, and help make this a truly transformative and Happy New Year ahead.

With warm regards,

JJVW—Jenni June Villegas Wilson

As a collaborative conversationalist, Jenni uses an integrative approach based on post-modern and existential principles. She works with creative and co-dependent clients on improving, avoiding, and eliminating Toxic Relationships, while increasing authentic expression. She has a BA in theatre from Occidental College, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University LA, and completed certification training in Narrative Therapy from Caspersen Therapy in Minnesota. She produces and co-hosts The Relationship Show podcast, facilitates creative expression groups at Valley Hope Outpatient Clinic in Van Nuys and sees individuals in private practice in West LA and the Valley. Contact Jenni June Villegas Wilson at president@lacamft.org.