NTTAC Lived Experiences 365 Presents

365 Black - One Community United in Blackness: A Celebration of Working While Black

Monday, February 26, 2024

12 - 1:30 p.m. ET / 11 - 12:30 p.m. CT / 10 - 11:30 a.m. MT / 9 - 10:30 a.m. PT / 8 - 9:30 a.m. AKT / 7 - 8:30 a.m. HT (view your time zone)

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SERIES WILL MEET MONTHLY THROUGH JUNE.

SESSION DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED.

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SERIES DESCRIPTION

NTTAC is excited to announce the launch of its 2nd Annual Lived Experiences 365 programming. Lived Experiences 365 will honor the culturally diverse lived experiences and voices of youth, young adults, families, community members, and providers who are navigating and advocating for equitable mental wellness in their personal lives, organizations, and communities. 

In February, we are launching a monthly learning and action series, 365 Black: One Community United in Blackness!

The first session will focus on "A Celebration of Working While Black." In this session, we will take a moment to pause, breathe, and honor the lives and work of our everyday and unsung Black heroes working in mental health and wellness. Individuals, providers, and community members who actively support mental wellness and embody NTTAC’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Join us for this celebration to learn more about the upcoming sessions and to meet our phenomenal series facilitators. 

AUDIENCE

For Black individuals receiving, working in, and advocating for premier mental wellness for Black youth, young adults, families, and communities. Blackness and Black voices will be centered and amplified! This event is open to those who are sincerely excited about celebrating Black Lives and Black Brilliance. Allies who are committed to LISTENING and learning are welcome to attend.

Meet the Facilitators

Dr. Tonicia Freeman-Foster is the Co-Founder of LEIDOSWEL. She is a transformational and solutions-focused leadership and organizational culture expert with nearly 20 years of experience working with individuals and organizations nationally as a consultant, coach, mentor, and trainer. Dr. Freeman-Foster is most passionate about addressing inequities, workforce and client engagement, and mental wellness for youth, young adults, and historically marginalized individuals and communities.

Christopher Warren, PhD - With 18 years of innovation and engagement in the corporate, education and social service sectors, Dr. Warren has led the development of diverse talent recruitment and retention programming and global partnerships at the corporate level with Jabil; financial and programmatic development of college-prep charter schools for IDEA Public Schools Tampa Bay; established critical, community-based youth/family service grant programs through the SpringZone St.Pete non-profit; led nationally recognized federal grant programs for USF-St.Petersburg; served as a case worker and youth/family advocate for Pinellas County CINS/FINS agencies, and served as an instructor at Purdue University, University of South Florida, St.Petersburg College, Xi’An Jiatong University, and East China Normal University.  

Shaun Worthy (He/Him) is a full custody father, entrepreneur, author, and thought leader. The CEO/Owner of IAMWORTHY & Associates LLC is a purpose-pushing youth development professional. He is using his life experiences, contagious passion, and good trouble mentality to impact his community and the field of youth development. Shaun has dedicated his life to social justice work and being a servant to worthy causes. Some of his goals are to help others become professional youth workers, become a leader in youth development, and impact as many lives as possible. Shaun wants to inspire, provoke thought, and provide value to anyone he can.

Dr. Carmen Reese Foster is an Assistant Professor at Belmont University. She previously served as the Interim Online MSSW Program Director, an Assistant Professor of Practice, and the Director of Alumni Affairs at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Coalition of Black Social Workers, which exists to engage, connect, and empower Black social work students and professionals. Prior to transitioning into higher education, Dr. Reese Foster’s social work practice experience focused on working with youth and families from marginalized communities. Her research areas include race-based trauma, mental health, community well-being (self-care), and resilience. She recently published an article on the impact of COVID-19 and race-based trauma in the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work. Dr. Reese Foster was the 2023 NASW-TN Social Worker of the Year. 

Stacy Thompson is the founder and CEO of Equalibrium LLC, an organization created to educate, build community, provide peer support, and advocate for non-conforming individuals, particularly in the area of Mental Health & Neurodivergence.

Stacy is a certified Peer Support Specialist with over a decade of cumulative lived experience in peer-run program management, training, facilitation, self-advocacy, and recovery education. As a Program Manager, she has coached leadership teams of local organizations on staff inclusion and integrating trauma-informed, equitable, and accessible peer and recovery practices. As a Peer professional, Stacy highlights the significance of lived experience in all areas of behavioral health including development, service provision, and oversight.  

By sharing her stories of perpetual “de-conformity,” and initiating difficult, yet authentic, discussions, Stacy’s leadership and community appointments become platforms to share insight, challenge, promote visibility, and amplify the voices of people historically targeted for oppression. 

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