Distinguished Guests
Keith S. Howard
Keith Howard was appointed Commissioner of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) by Mayor Eric Adams in June 2022. Commissioner Howard formerly served as NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) Associate Deputy Commissioner of the Sidewalk Inspection Management Division. He also was an Adjunct Professor at Queens College and the Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies. Commissioner Howard has dedicated 30 years of his professional career to public service and held various senior level positions in New York City government.
While education and career are priorities in his life, there are more layers. As a child, he was taught by his parents about the importance of service to the community. So, in the summer of 2002, Commissioner Howard started the non-profit Harlem Group. The organization sponsored health fairs with government agencies and community-based organizations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. In collaboration with Health Plus Incorporated, the Harlem Group successfully enrolled over 100 families in free health care programs underwritten by the New York State government.
As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first Black Greek fraternity, Commissioner Howard has seen the need to build on the fraternity and a commitment to community service by creating a non-profit organization called Servants of All (SOA). For ten years, SOA has escorted more than 700 underprivileged high school and middle school students on college tours to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The goal of the tours is to bring college awareness to students who may not have the resources or access to visit college campuses across the country.
Commissioner Howard is married and the father of two young adults. He is a proud alumnus of John Jay College, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree in public administration.
Lisa Furst
Lisa Furst, LMSW, MPH has more than 20 years of experience in the mental health service sector. In her current role, Ms. Furst provides direction and support to Vibrant’s community programs, the H2H Contact Center and the Center for Policy, Advocacy and Education. Her expertise includes program development and implementation, training and technical assistance, quality improvement, fundraising and advocacy. She is an author of and contributor to several books on mental health, with particular expertise on older adult mental health. She also has published articles in Behavioral Health News, Geriatric Medicine, the Journal of Care Management, and others, as well as being interviewed by national news outlets, such as The New York Times and CNN. Ms. Furst holds a master of social work degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work and a masters of public health degree from the CUNY School of Public Health & Health Policy.
Denice Williams
Denice Williams is a native New Yorker dedicated to disrupting policies, practices, procedures that obstruct the advancement of people of color and their opportunity to live their best lives. Denice has dedicated her professional life in service to others in nonprofit and government settings. Currently, she serves as Deputy Commissioner for the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development overseeing the Bureau of Planning, Program Integration and Evaluation.
Susan Haskell
As Deputy Commissioner, Youth Services, Susan Haskell supports DYCD’s after school programs, community centers, and services for Runaway and Homeless Youth. Susan works to strengthen social-emotional development and infuse mental health strategies, within the workplace and into the experiences of program participants.
Mike Bobbitt
Mike Bobbitt is the Deputy Commissioner of Community Development at DYCD. This Division includes the Discretionary, Literacy and Immigrant Services, Neighborhood Development Areas Initiative, Fatherhood Initiative, and Neighborhood Advisory Board Liaison Units. Mike strives to promote integration and strengthen referral relationships with other City agencies that assist New Yorkers with low-incomes. Mike represents DYCD as a Board Member of the NYS Community Action Association. Prior to joining DYCD, Mike’s focus was in the field of criminal justice, having served in various capacities at the JEHT Foundation and the Vera Institute of Justice. Mike is a 2018 graduate of the City’s New York Leadership Institute. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Harvard University and was a Ford Foundation Research grant recipient.
Miguel Bonilla
Miguel Bonilla has been working in the public sector for over 30 years and is currently Senior Director of Capacity Building for the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). He is also an Adjunct Professor for Alfred University’s Masters in Public Administration program, earned his M.S. in Urban Policy from the New School for Social Research, and M.A. in Organizational Development from Antioch University Los Angeles. He was Vice President of the Organization Development Network of New York and has published several articles on Organization Development in journals such the OD Practitioner and the Journal of Nonprofit Management.
Keynote Speaker
Jeffrey R. Gardere, M.Phil., M.S., D.Min., Ph.D., ABPP
Board Certified Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Jeff Gardere, known to TV audiences as “America’s Psychologist,” is a Haitian-American born in Manhattan and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Dr. Jeff attended Brooklyn Technical High School, earned a BA at the University of Rochester, a master’s degree from Columbia University, a master’s and PhD in philosophy and clinical psychology from George Washington University and a D.Min. from The New Seminary New York). He is the author of Smart Parenting for African Americans (Kensington, 1999 & 2002); Love Prescription, Ending the War Between Black Men and Women (Kensington, 2002); Practical Parenting (co-written with Montel Williams) (Hay House, 2001); and a contributing author to several other books including The Causes of Autism.
Dr. Jeff is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist, an Associate Professor and Course Director of Behavioral Medicine, Cultural Competence and Behavior, and Public Health, at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City. He is also a Clinical Associate Director of Training and Associate Professor for the Touro University Dcotor of Psychology Program in NYC. He has a successful private practice in which he works with families, couples and individuals. He also treats and serves as a life coach to celebrities and professional athletes alike. He provides evaluations for IVF donors and also screenings of ministerial candidates for ordination. In addition, he is a top psychological and forensic evaluator and expert witness who has worked on police brutality, malpractice, wrongful death and other civil cases, including some of the highest profile cases in the New York tristate area.
Dr. Jeff has been a contributor to FOX-TV, the Today Show, MSNBC, and CNN. He was the host of VH1’s Dad Camp and recently the psychologist on The Housewives of Atlanta and Potomac. He is the principle psychologist on: For My Man on TV one, and Celebrity Damage Control and They Got Away With It on the Reelz Channel. He is also the aftercare coordinator and psychologist for Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and Couples Court. He is also a regular guest on: The NBC Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, HLN, The Maury Povich Show, The CBS Early Morning Show, FOX News, and NewsMax.
Workshop Speakers
(alphabetical by last name)
Sarah Blas
Sarah Blas is a NYC native, mother of six children, public speaker and non profit professional with a background in social sciences. As a social justice champion, she has used her career to dismantle identity-based oppression within vulnerable communities, with a speciality in advocacy for BIPOC and disabled families. As a thought leader, she uses her expertise in developing DEI-A infused professional development curriculum and community advocacy to transform both mental models and policies for over 2 decades across NYC. She has served as the Executive Director of Staten Island Therapeutic Gardens, fighting for food sovereignty. Additionally, she has served as the Director of Health and Wellness for House of Community, Baitul Jamaat and the Director of Diversity. She currently serves as an elected member of the Community Education Council for District 31, chairing both the Special Education and Diversity and Inclusion Committees. Sarah is the founder of Community Impact Strategies, a minority women-owned business working alongside non profits across NYC.
She was named Staten Island Woman of Achievement in 2020 for her heroic efforts during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She is the recipient of the State of NY Executive Chamber, Gubernatorial Certificate of Recognition in 2021, State Senate Proclamation for Community Impact in 2021, Harriet Tubman Purple Hat Society honoree in 2020, New York State Assembly Certificate of Merit in 2020, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition 2021, Certificate of Black Excellence in Public Health Award from the Richmond County District Attorney, City Council Citations 2018, 2019, 2020 and Community Peacemaker with Peace Action Network of Staten Island in 2018. She is a current National Finalist Woman to Watch with Non Profit HR.
Workshop: The Intersection Between Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities [In-Person]
Bidyut Bose, PhD
Bidyut Bose, PhD, is the Founder and Executive Director of Niroga Institute, the Center for Mindful Stress Resilience. Niroga is an 18-year-old non-profit that has brought trauma-informed Dynamic Mindfulness (DMind) programs directly to hundreds of thousands of children and youth, and trained tens of thousands of adults around them – parents and teachers, health professionals and violence prevention officials. Bidyut conducts DMind trainings nationally and internationally and is committed to developing stress-resilient individuals and families, equitable organizations, and communities.
Workshop: Stress and Trauma Resilience [Virtual]
Melissa Elliot
Melissa Elliot combined all of her experiences as a Christian, Black, Woman, Wife, Mother, Bi-cultural, American-born, Barbadian heritage, and Nigerian (Yoruba roots) coupled with her professional training, skills, and expertise and formed AGAPE Family Therapy & Coaching a Group Private Practice, Minority, Women Business Enterprise with the city of New York, whose vision is to provide services with unconditional love. She is known as a mentor, a servant leader, a cheerleader, and a barrier breaker. Entrepreneur Non-for-Profit Leader Adjunct Professor/Faculty Advisor Clinical Supervisor Consultant Psychotherapist Executive and Life Coach.
Workshop: Centering Intersectionality and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace [In-Person]
Hilda Marie
Hilda Marie is a master's level mental health professional, interfaith minister, and alternative healing practioner. Throughout her 35-year career, Hilda has supported individuals and families on their journey to healing from trauma. Her practice incorporates multiple healing modalities that honor mind, body and spirit. Hilda is a training consultant at Vibrant Emotional Health, and formerly served as program director for The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), a JP Morgan Chase program that provides emotional wellness support to young men of color. Hilda is committed to the welfare of animals and has rescued and rehomed dozens of abandoned animals from Puerto Rico. She currently travels to Ecuador to study the role of herbal and plant medicine in healing trauma and addiction.
Workshop: Engaging Young Men of Color (YMOC) in Mental Health Services [Virtual]
Michelle Quiba
I found woven through the ups, downs, and in-betweens of my life were gifts of experience to humble me, surprise me, and refine me. I am a survivor of abuse. I am a survivor of injury. I was led to teachers and mentors who showed me ways to manage my pain. I was introduced to Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong, and learned how my physical body was deeply tied to my emotional one. 10 years ago I became a Personal Trainer and Group Instructor to help others the way others have helped me, to find healing thru movement.
Workshop: Qigong with Michelle Quiba [In-Person]
Adela M Rodriguez
Adela M. Rodriguez is the Mental Hygiene Response Chief and Field Response Coordinator for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) where she manages mental health and field response activities in the aftermath of local crises, disasters, and public health emergencies.
Ms. Rodriguez is a seasoned emergency manager with over 15 years of experience serving in a wide range of disaster operations including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, fatal fires, building collapses, vaccination efforts, and weather-related emergencies such as Hurricanes Sandy, Maria, and Ida (NYC, Puerto Rico), and earthquakes (Puerto Rico). Most recently Ms. Rodriguez led a mental health team in the Mayoral Subway Safety initiative, and she coordinates on-site mental health services at the Resource Navigation Center serving newly arriving asylum seekers.
Ms. Rodriguez earned her Masters degree in Social Work (Fordham University); is the recipient of DOHMH distinguished service awards “Making It Happen” (2013) and “Professional Excellence” (2021); and was awarded the Emerald Gem Award for 15 years of Excellency by National Association of Social Workers (2022). A native New Yorker and long-time resident, Ms. Rodriguez has also studied and worked in Europe and Asia.
Workshop: Addressing Mental Health and Trauma Needs of the Influx of New Immigrant Populations [Virtual]
Dr. Elizabeth Speck
Dr. Elizabeth Speck has been working across NYC human services for about three decades. With roots in community-based theater and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, she gravitated to program management in an effort to build healthy internal organizational cultures while advocating for systems change, which led to pursuing a doctoral degree in Organizational Development. Elizabeth channeled her passions into founding MindOpen Learning Strategies in 2017, which, in collaboration with dynamic co-conspirators, has delivered customized trauma-informed, anti-racist professional development and capacity building for thousands of employees in a wide range of specialities including workforce development, legal advocacy, public safety, civic engagement, criminal legal system reform, K-12 and higher education– and, of course, many wonderful DYCD community-based contract agencies.
Photo of presenter, Melissa Elliot
Workshop: Centering Intersectionality and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace [In-Person]
Damon Watson, LPC, MPH
Damon Watson, LPC, MPH (he/him), is a planner and healer who currently works as the Program Director for The Fellowship Initiative. Damon has been with Vibrant for almost 5 years, starting out as a Specialized Counselor for the SAMHSA OASAS helpline and the National Football League (NFL) lifeline and growing into supervisory and agency-wide leadership roles. He is a 1st generation college graduate from rural central Virginia and holds a dual bachelor's degree in Psychology and Health & Physical Education from Morehouse College as well as a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Virginia with a concentration in Health Policy and Community Advocacy.
Damon has been developing person-centered programs with mental health nonprofits for 15 years with education-based work ranging from counseling in the public school system to implementing and running a private school dedicated to the emotional and academic well-being of adolescents and young adults. In his current role, he collaborates with national and local community programs to provide holistic support to the black and brown young men that they serve through local TFI programs. Damon leads a fantastic team of advocates and healers across the country to provide TFI fellows with resources to support their continued psychological growth. Damon’s commitment to his work honors the power of our individual identities, especially our subjugated identities, as a means to envision a world in which we intentionally disrupt and dismantle cultures of white supremacy that continue to cause harm.
Workshop: Engaging Young Men of Color (YMOC) in Mental Health Services [In-Person]
Lisa C. White, LCSW-R's career spans 30 years as a clinician, creator, and administrator of various programs. She has worked across multilayered and challenging systems where she successfully developed, managed, and enhanced services in many organizations, including hospitals, community-based organizations, criminal justice spaces, and public officials' offices. She has transformed this experience and established L White Consulting, LLC, where she and her team offer consulting services to organizations specifically focusing on leadership development, talent development, employee engagement, workplace culture, and health and wellness. As a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, she also provides therapeutic and coaching services to a diverse clientele focusing on trauma and navigating the workplace.
Lisa received her master's degree in social work from Columbia University, a bachelor's degree in business management from Hampton University, and is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Certified Professional Coach. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work at the Institute of Clinical Social Work in Chicago, IL.
Workshop: Centering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace [Viirtual]