When we sat down to review this year’s submissions, we didn’t expect to receive the highest number of submissions in SPSSI’s history. But, given the moment we are living in, maybe we should have.  

Our conference theme emerged from reflecting on the question, “What does our field need right now?” In a time when many have felt dejected, it was evident that “hope” was the answer. The Haitian Creole phrase “Lespwa Fè Viv” - which translates to “hope makes us live” - captured the sentiment we sought to convey at this year’s conference. Thus, our title was born: “Lespwa Fè Viv (Hope Makes Us Live): Using Research and Action to Cultivate Joy, Resilience, and Liberation.” Across nine decades, SPSSI scholars have challenged systems of oppression, defended human rights, and advanced psychological science in the service of social justice. This year, it was clear that our community is not slowing down.  

New Orleans is a fitting home for this anniversary, a city where joy itself is a form of resistance and where communities have rebuilt again and again in the face of structural neglect, racism, and displacement.  

What struck us most during the review process was how many submissions reflected scholars doing urgent work under increasingly difficult conditions. From studies about anti-DEI rollbacks to community partnerships focused on studying collective healing, from research on political distress to intersectional frameworks for understanding belonging and collective action, the program reflects a field that is both clear-eyed about the present and committed to building something better. The methodological range was equally striking:  quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, participatory action research, and decolonial approaches were all represented. This is what our psychological science looks like when it takes the full complexity of people’s lives seriously.  

We want to extend our deep gratitude to the reviewers who gave their time and expertise to evaluate every submission thoughtfully. Their care made it possible for us to build a program we are proud of.  

We are also honored to welcome keynote speakers whose work embodies SPSSI’s mission. Dr. Susan Opotow, this year’s Kurt Lewin Award winner, will deliver the award address. Drs. NiCole Buchanan and Michael Kraus will offer keynote presentations, and SPSSI President Dr. Kimberly Kahn will deliver the presidential address.  

Every conference is a snapshot of where our field is and where it’s headed. This one captures a community that refuses to look away from what’s happening and refuses to stop imagining what’s possible. What keeps organizations like SPSSI vibrant for 90 years is the people who keep showing up, keep asking hard questions, and keep insisting that our science serve the communities who need it most. This June, we will be in the room together. In the words of Angela Davis, “It is in collectivities that we find reservoirs of hope and optimism.” We hope to see you there.