Taking action toward racial and economic justice

An interview with Rebecca L. Toporek

Abstract

On November 21, 2024, we had the great honor, privilege, and pleasure to conduct a highly revealing, engaging, and intimate interview with Professor Rebecca L. Toporek about their lifelong investment in social justice and action work. Professor Toporek serves as a faculty member in the Department of Counseling at San Francisco State University. They have been a psychologist and counselor educator for 20 years after serving as a community college counselor and associate dean. Their scholarship has focused on social justice advocacy and activism, backlash, racism, economic justice, and college and career counseling. They have written or co-written over 70 journal articles and book chapters, were co-editor and co-founder of the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, co-developer of the American Counseling Association Advocacy Competencies, and co-edited five books on multicultural practice and social justice including Taking Action: Creating Social Change through Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability. They co-produced the video, Helping counselors and psychologists as advocates and activists. They are also a daughter, sister, partner, and mother of two awesome 20-somethings. Our interview with Professor Toporek addressed their long-standing experiences that led to their social justice and action work, their role models and mentors, and their challenges and opportunities. Professor Toporek also shared their thoughts on how counseling and psychology have evolved in terms of social justice and action work, and where the fields were heading. Finally, Professor Toporek reflected on the 18-year history of the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, and they presented recommendations to strengthen the journal.