The daughter of mental health professionals — a mother who is a licensed clinical social worker and a father who heads a behavioral health care organization — Amanda Parks says she was “taught at a young age to use my voice to uplift those who may be voiceless as a result of what I now know to be oppression.” She is currently using her voice and training to advocate for Black and Brown children and their families as a doctoral student in clinical psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Previously, as an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Parks says she immersed herself in community work that included working as an after-school mentor, a teacher’s aide and a reading intervention specialist.
“Over my four years, I witnessed the disparities, not only in education and academic outcomes but also in mental and behavioral health for Black and Brown children, in addition to the role higher education institutions played in perpetuating systemic racism and contributing to these health disparities,” she recalls.
Dr. Heather A. Jones, associate professor of psychology and Parks’ advisor at VCU, commends her frequent volunteerism and community service activities.
“Since the start of the pandemic, Amanda has been helping with a support group for Black young adults, again volunteering her time, due to her devotion to service for the Black community,” says Jones.
Jones adds that Parks received the first VCU College of Humanities and Sciences Rising Star in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Award, “the highest level of recognition that our college offers for graduate students doing diversity, inclusion and equity work.”
Jones also commends Parks for her involvement in Jones’ integrated pediatric primary care team “due to her strong interest in working with Richmond-area Black families.” Parks rose through the ranks to become a peer supervisor, offering supervision to her junior colleagues on the team.
