Celene Craig, MPH, MS is a dynamic health communication strategist currently working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She is also a health and wellness digital content
creator and public health practitioner with a mission to amplify Black women’s voices at the blend of wellness, media, and health equity. With dual master’s degrees in Public Health and Biotechnology, Celene brings a culturally informed, science-driven lens to storytelling, translating complex health guidance into content communities actually trust and use. As a content creator, Celene has built an engaged audience by sharing her journey to medical school, her path as a public health professional, and what it actually takes to build a personal brand, from creative strategy to working with non-profits.

LaVerne Price’s journey into healing began during a pivotal period in her life when she recognized the need for deeper, more sustainable self-care. After experiencing a toxic and emotionally draining work environment, she turned to grounding practices such as nature observation and plant care, eventually discovering meditation and Reiki as powerful tools for restoration.

Deboorah Simmons, LCSWA is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate. She is a proud graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she earned her Bachelor of Social Work followed by a Master of Social Work degree from University of New England. With 15 years of dedicated experience in the field of Social Work her background is rooted in Child Welfare, specifically at-risk youth. Currently working dual roles as a Care Manager, with Mecklenburg County Public Health in the Child Maternal Health department and therapist with Intentional Steps Counseling Services.

Shawnti Boswell is a Master Certified Mental Health Coach, guided journaling expert, author, and transformational speaker who helps people stop performing strength and start actually healing. As the founder of Shawnti Refuge Journals, she creates spaces where honesty, emotional awareness, and real-life healing can exist without judgment. Her work is rooted in lived experience.

Dr. Margo Lewis-Jah, Ph.D., LCSW, M.Ed., MOML, is a sought-after speaker and clinical expert, multi-state clinician and speaker, American Board-Certified Sexologist, and Certified Trauma-Informed Specialist specializing in intergenerational healing within Black communities. As the Founder and Clinical Director of Synergy Consultants & Psychotherapy Practice, PC, an outpatient mental health organization serving Delaware and Pennsylvania, she leads a growing multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering culturally responsive, transformative care to individuals, couples, and families.

Dr. Nikki Brooks Seevers is a Doctor of Science, wellness entrepreneur, and speaker at the intersection of fragrance, emotional wellness, and the lived experience of Black women. She is the Founder of Zen In A Jar — a multisensory wellness and fragrance brand that has partnered with institutions including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Boston Consulting Group, and the Salamander Washington DC, and was among the first indie beauty brands sold on DoorDash. ZIJ's Rich Auntie fragrance was named the #1 gift for your Rich Auntie by Essence Magazine — one of four features in the publication since 2016.

Reggie Hubbard is the founder/Chief Serving Officer of Active Peace LLC. He has done many things, but is most proud of being a caring human, a stroke survivor, teacher/wisdom steward, strategist, organizer, spiritual advisor, minister of sound and devoted seeker of truth, compassion, health, well-being and justice for all. Through Active Peace, he teaches all walks of life through wisdom, movement, meditation and sound, ways to cultivate well-being as a foundation rather than an afterthought.

Ashley H. Francis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and perinatal mental health specialist licensed in Maryland and multiple states across the country. She is the founder of Haven Room Therapy Services, LLC, a telehealth private practice specializing in perinatal and postpartum mental health, grief, and care for women veterans and first responders. Ashley currently serves as the Maternity Care Senior Social Worker at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, where she develops and pilots perinatal mental health programming across the full continuum of care — including pregnancy support, postpartum support, postpartum depression prevention, and perinatal loss.

James Harris attended St Paul’s College and has a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology. After his freshman year, he joined the Army. James has eight years of service with an Honorable Discharge. He has two deployments, one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. After his military duty, he earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) from South University. He is a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LPC).

Derrick M. Roberts II, is a clinical psychology doctoral candidate (anticipated May 2026), speaker, and mental health professional whose work sits at the intersection of clinical practice, community engagement, faith, and the arts. He is currently completing his doctoral internship at Harvard Medical School, where his clinical training is grounded in evidence-based care across diverse and high-acuity settings.

Dr. Justin S. Hopkins is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic scholar in Washington, DC. He founded and owns Hopkins Behavioral Health, a BIPOC-focused therapy practice specializing in psychoanalytic therapy. This type of therapy explores the unconscious motives and conflicts that disrupt the joys of life. Dr. Hopkins obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, a Doctorate at Regent University, and completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in psychoanalytic therapy at George Washington University. Dr. Hopkins is a sought-after speaker on identity, trauma, and a variety of mental health topics.

LeNaya Smith Crawford, M.A., LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Holistic Mental Health Educator, and trauma-informed facilitator dedicated to advancing integrative approaches to mental health and healing. She is the creator of the Holistic Therapist Model, a framework that supports whole-person healing through the integration of the five layers of self: physical, energetic, mental and emotional, spiritual, and communal. LeNaya holds a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in trauma and spiritual integration from Richmont Graduate University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Spelman College, where she graduated with honors. She is also an advanced certified yoga, breathwork, and meditation teacher (ERYT-500+) and a certified sound healer.

A proud alumna of Hampton University, Brianna earned her B.S. in Psychology, delving into the complexities of the human mind and behavior. Recognizing the profound impact of mental health, she embarked on a path to empower individuals to overcome obstacles and cultivate resilience. Her insatiable hunger for knowledge led her to Liberty University, where she achieved an M.A. in Counseling, equipping her with the skills to guide others toward their own transformative journeys. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Change Management at Pepperdine University, further deepening her expertise in leading transformational growth.

Dr. Christian Frazier is a keynote speaker and mental health educator/strategist who helps organizations build resilience, emotional clarity, and high performance under pressure using his Happiness Triggers framework. With a direct, no-fluff approach, he blends real-world story telling with evidence-based tools and has spoken to over 125 CEOs in 2025 alone, reaching across a wide range of industries, including higher education.

Tanika Barber, LCSW, known professionally as The InnerG Healer, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holistic wellness leader serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. With over 15 years of experience in mental health and five years as a successful wellness entrepreneur. Tanika’s work bridges clinical expertise with holistic integration. She is a Reiki Master, Sound Healer, Trauma-Informed Yoga Practitioner, and Breathwork Practitioner who specializes in helping individuals regulate their nervous systems, release emotional barriers, and reconnect with their most grounded, authentic selves.

Sierra A. Porter is a Georgia State University alumna, graduating in May 2018 with a B.A. in journalism. As an accomplished journalist, she has interviewed prominent figures in media and entertainment, including Bobby Brown, Cee Lo Green, Jermaine Dupri, KISS’ Paul Stanley, Andre 3000, Boyz II Men, and more. Porter previously served as an entertainment writer for The Des Moines Register and was awarded the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)-New York University Journalism Scholarship for the Magazine and Digital Storytelling program. In 2021, she earned the Sheila Brooks NABJ Entrepreneur Scholarship and gained valuable experience interning at LinkedIn News, The New York Post, and Billboard. During her time at NYU, Porter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type II after years of being misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and severe depression.

Veleda Simpson is a storyteller, mental health advocate, and former public library director who uses her voice to break stigma and build community through honest, lived-experience narratives. After more than 20 years in public libraries, including leadership roles within the Chicago Public Library system—Veleda began a new chapter rooted in healing, creativity, and purpose. Following her own journey navigating suicidal thoughts, a PTSD diagnosis, and recovery through an intensive outpatient program, she turned to storytelling as a pathway to healing. She is the creator and host of Vee Speaks Life, a digital platform and YouTube podcast where she shares real conversations about mental health, resilience, and the power of speaking up.

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Dr. Sherronda Banks, DSW, LCSW, LISW-CP, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina and Virginia and a Licensed Independent Social Worker–Clinical Practice in South Carolina. She is an educator, clinician, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing mental health, resilience, and equity across diverse communities. Dr. Banks serves as a Lecturer and Practicum Education Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Social Work, where she prepares the next generation of social workers through teaching, advising, and mentorship grounded in real-world application and critical reflection.

Dejah Alston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker licensed in North Carolina. Dejah is the owner of The Serene Collective PLLC. She believes that your mental well-being is one of the most valuable decisions you can make for yourself. She is passionate about mental health and supporting individuals along their journey to living a healthy life and lifestyle. Dejah is also passionate about education and serves as a lecturer with the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Bridgette Reed is a published author, EMDR Trauma-Trained Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Associate, and Co-founder of Relationality Counseling, a faith-integrated group practice serving couples and families across the Dallas–Fort Worth area and beyond. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Liberty University, where her research explores the psychological mechanisms behind intergenerational relational patterns and what it takes to interrupt them.

Pastor Shak Taylor was born and Raised in Brooklyn, NYC. He is a Dynamic & Heartfelt Communicator. His Gift of speaking is often used in the Local Church he pastors, High Schools, Colleges, Church services and Fatherhood spaces. Being raised without a father to help guide him through his journey, he had to navigate manhood on his own. This experience has given him a heart for the broken but also a passion to build up healthy families.

Bernasha Anderson King, PhD is a licensed psychologist, somatic practitioner, certified yoga teacher, and breathwork and meditation facilitator who has dedicated over 15 years to nurturing healing and wholeness within Black individuals and communities. Her work is grounded in the understanding that healing is both personal and collective—and that alongside intergenerational trauma, we also carry intergenerational healing, ancestral wisdom, and an innate capacity to restore ourselves.

Dr. Dasha Carver (she/her) is a postdoctoral fellow at the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine where she is completing additional training related to sexology, relationship science, trauma-informed care, and diversity science. Dr. Carver received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University Bloomington where she also completed her doctoral minor in Human Sexuality from the Kinsey Institute and holds a master’s degree in Family Therapy from Saint Louis University.

Dr. Kimberly Gordon-Achebe is a nationally recognized thought leader, double board-certified psychiatrist, and passionate advocate for healing, health equity, and social justice within Black communities. As Past President of the Caucus of Black Psychiatrists, Jeanne Spurlock Awardee, and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, she has dedicated her career to dismantling systemic barriers in mental health care and centering the lived experiences of those who have too often been overlooked by traditional systems. With deep roots in New Orleans and a faith-centered approach to healing, Dr. Gordon-Achebe brings both professional expertise and personal witness to the work of intergenerational wellness.

Dr. Shon D. Smith, has been a professional counselor for over 30 years, a clinical supervisor for more than 25 years, and a Counselor Educator for 24 years. His primary research interest’s area addresses the intersection of mental health disparities and public policy, counselor education program design and evaluation, use of technology in counseling and preparation programs, multicultural; social justice issues in community mental health; counselor programs, clinical supervision, leadership, and advocacy competency development, intimate partner violence prevention relapse prevention and working with military personnel and families.

Nyerere Billups, widely known as "The Growfessor™," is a former Fortune 100 executive turned Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. Anchored by his 2026 book, Unscripting, he helps mental health advocates and clinical leaders dismantle intergenerational "shadow scripts" and "performance masks". Through his state-accredited entities, The Growfessor LLC and The Nyemoji Institute, Nyerere empowers professionals to transition from surviving societal expectations to authoring a resilient, sovereign life.

Khiara “Mills” Mills, LCPC-NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and CEO of Motivating Minds Mental Health Counseling PLLC, serving the states of Texas and Illinois. With over a decade of experience supporting teens and adults, Mills specializes in helping individuals navigate anxiety, stress, trauma, and life transitions through a nervous system–informed approach.

Anwar Taylor is a Resident Marriage & Family Therapist, speaker, and founder of United Insights, a mental health-informed wellness company dedicated to strengthening individuals, relationships, and workplace culture. With advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Attachment Theory, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), Anwar brings a systems-oriented lens that integrates internal experiences, relational dynamics, and generational influences into both his clinical work and speaking engagements.

Sherri Jones, MBA is a grief educator, author, and social work practitioner whose work sits at the intersection of cultural identity, faith, and loss. A Newark, NJ native now rooted in Houston, Texas, she brings lived experience and academic grounding to conversations that Black communities have too often been expected to navigate alone. Her debut book, The Mourning After Sunday: Grieving While Black (2026), blends personal memoir with cultural critique to name what mainstream grief frameworks have long overlooked — the distinct weight of grieving while Black, within faith spaces, and in the face of collective loss. The book speaks to clinicians, community members, and faith leaders alike.

Tonisha D. Patterson, M.S, LGPC, is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor, youth mental health leader, and advocate dedicated to advancing culturally responsive care for Black youth and families. She serves as a part-time therapist with Path 2 Purpose LLC and has spent the past year as a Mental Health Phone Crisis Counselor with the Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System, providing crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and emotional support to individuals in acute distress. Beginning next month, she will expand this work as a Mobile Crisis Clinician, delivering in-person crisis response and stabilization services throughout the community.

Aaliyah Strong-Bailey is a motivational speaker, author, and Founder & Executive Director of Tyme to Thrive Beyond Grief, a nationally recognized, survivor-led organization transforming how communities respond to grief, trauma, and loss. Her work is not rooted in theory, but in lived experience, resilience, and the power of choosing to rise with visible scars.

Rev. Dr. Xenia Barnes is a trauma-informed behavioral scientist, author, and speaker who helps individuals and organizations understand the unseen impact of trauma on performance, leadership, and everyday life. With more than 25 years of experience in the New York City school system, she brings both professional insight and lived experience to every stage she steps on. Her life and work took a profound turn in 2017 following the tragic murder of her nephew, an experience she describes as the moment grief took over her mind. In 2021, she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a life-altering condition that forced her to confront how trauma can also live in the body. These defining moments reshaped her path and deepened her commitment to understanding human behavior, leading her towards earning her PhD and expanding her work in trauma, grief, and chronic illness.