Cheryl Grills, professor of psychology, has added to her many achievements with two new awards, the Community Coalition’s Charlotta Bass Award and the Black Student Alliance at Yale’s Achievement Award.
The Charlotta Bass Award recognizes community leaders who are impacting social change in South L.A. The award’s namesake, Charlotta Bass, was the editor of the oldest African American newspaper on the West Coast, an astute political theorist, and activist in her community. Congresswoman Karen Bass presented Grills with the award during the Community Coalition’s annual gala at L.A. Live. Bass praised Grills for her expertise in the areas of racial stress and conducting community based research, but more importantly for her ability to implement real solutions that impact people in real time.
In addition to community based research addressing health disparities, homelessness, and education reform, Grills also focusses on training associated with racism, racial stress, implicit bias, and the development of community based self-help models to address the negative effects of racism on people of African ancestry in the U.S. and globally. Getting out into the community and making a difference is at the heart of her work and she continues to conduct research and trainings in a variety of settings including hospitals, medical schools and a host of universities.
Grills was also recently selected by the Black Student Alliance at Yale to receive their Achievement Award. An alumna of Yale, Grills received the award during the Yale 50th Anniversary Commemoration weekend.
Grills’ spirit for psychology and social justice is contagious, so it is no wonder that her office continues to fill with awards recognizing her leadership and contributions.
