Workshops - Virtual
Description
Engaging Young Men of Color (YMOC) in Mental Health Services will support helping professionals to enhance their understanding of the unique emotional wellness needs of YMOC and the barriers and inequities that prevent them from seeking mental health care. The workshop will highlight the roles that brotherhood, positive masculinity, mentoring and community-building can play in supporting YMOC. During the 45-minute workshop participants will:
- Identify and address YMOC's unique barriers to seeking mental health services.
- Learn strengths-based strategies to build trust, engage YMOC and create new narratives that highlight positive masculinity.
- Create safe spaces for YMOC to explore the impact of violence and trauma.
About Your Presenter
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.
Description
Workshop Objectives:
- Increase awareness about the mental health impact on Asylum Seekers
- Discuss 5 common traumatic stress reactions
- Share strategies to help you support our newest community members cope with traumatic stress reactions
- Share resources and tools to help you put best practices into action
About Your Presenter
Adela M Rodriguez
Mental Hygiene Response Chief and Field Response Coordinator for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
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.
Description
This workshop explores root causes and upstream solutions for developing resilient individuals, families and communities. Stress and trauma are ubiquitous, and disproportionately greater in underserved communities; equity and social justice efforts require bringing these solutions with disproportionately greater intensity to those who need it the most. This presentation will be highly interactive; we will discuss the latest research in neuroscience and trauma, and participants will get a taste of a powerful practice-based solution.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn about the impact of stress and trauma on brain and behavior.
- Connect stress and trauma resilience to equity and social justice.
- Experience practices that provide upstream solutions personally and professionally.
About Your Presenter
Bidyut Bose, PhD
Founder and Executive Director of Niroga Institute, the Center for Mindful Stress Resilience
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.
Description
Nonprofit agencies often aim to create positive change in the world, but in order to do so, they must first ensure that their own workplaces are equitable, inclusive, and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. This condensed workshop will provide an introduction to key concepts and strategies for centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the nonprofit workplace. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define key DEIB concepts and articulate their importance in the nonprofit workplace.
- Identify common DEIB challenges and barriers in their own agency.
- Identify strategies for promoting DEIB in the workplace.
About Your Presenter
Lisa C. White, LCSW-R, CPC
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.
Workshops - In-Person
Description
There is a mental health emergency happening with children of color. This workshop will discuss how this emergency impacts young black and brown boys. Engaging in conversations around anti-black racism, stigma, and culturally responsive care will help increase our ability to support young black and brown boys. Learn skills for working with black and brown boys in crisis and holistic approaches to improve mental health access/resources, and reduce barriers to address their mental health needs using culturally responsive approaches.
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe how young black and brown boys' mental health is challenged by racism.
- Understand and describe how negative perceptions are barriers to appropriate treatment
- Describe successful treatment types for young black and brown boys, both traditional and innovative.
About Your Presenter
Damon Watson, LPC, MPH (he/him)
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.
Description
This workshop will provide an overview of common mental health and developmental disabilities many youth face. Utilizing a trauma-informed lens participants will examine case studies, relevant resources and strategies to better service youth and enhance accessibility and inclusion.
Participants will:
- examine developmental disabilities and it's potential impact on youth and young adults
- examine common mental health concerns and it's potential impact of youth and young adults
- co-create strategies to increase accessibility and inclusion during services
About Your Presenter
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.
Description
Qigong - The Eight Brocades
Cultivate strength, harmony, and health through slow, silken movement. This workshop teaches you a traditional qigong sequence – The Eight Brocades – alongside essential qigong philosophy. For centuries, practitioners have used these eight silken forms to balance vital energy, align with the natural world, support the body’s organs and meridian systems, and live grounded, centered, healthy lives.
3 Learning Objectives:
Five elements/phases of qigong:
- Wood
- fire
- earth
- metal, and
- water
Five key movement principles in qigong:
- Song 松/鬆 Relaxed
- Zheng 正: Aligned
- Yuan 圆: Round/Centred
- Tong 通: Connect, open
- Zhong 中: Middle, balanced
5 qualities of breathing in qigong
- Long (长chang)
- Slow (慢man)
- Fine (细 xi)
- Even (均 jun)
- Deep (深 shen)
About Your Presenter
Michelle Quiba
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.
Description
Recent research shows what nonprofit staff have long known: it’s not a pipeline issue, it’s a systemic issue that leadership in too many nonprofit human service organizations is not reflective of the community members served. Today’s emerging leaders have a valuable role to play in creating representative, inclusive, equitable organizations to sustain a future of healing and resilience. Key to this is naming and working with power dynamics within supervisory relationships. This workshop facilitates a brave space to:
- Reflect on the intersections of social identity, trauma, and the supervisory relationship
- Center the experiences of members of marginalized groups that have been systemically undervalued and unsupported in the human service professions
- Activate your professional mission and sphere of influence in marathon of social justice
About Your Presenter
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.
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.