Beyond Cultural Competence in Health and Social Services

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Schedule of the Day

12:30-1:00 Registration

01:00-2:00 Welcome

2:00 -300 Plenary A--Navigating NYC Social Service Agencies

315-430 Breakout Session A

430-5:15 Refreshments & Relationship Building

5:30-7:00 Breakout session B

7:00-7:45 Plenary B

7:45-8:00 Closing Remarks

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Welcome MEC Welcome Community
1:00-1:10 ICL Introduce the Beyond Cultural Competence Initiative

Speakers Importance of Engaging Communities

Plenary A Navigating NYC Social Service Agencies
2:00-3:00 New York City offers numerous supports and services through its
agencies and community-based organizations. Representatives from
several agencies will share initiatives that are relevant to Brooklyn
Communities and throughout New York.

Set-up:
This conference is: Beyond Cultural Competence in Health (mental and
Physical) and Social Services. As Mayor De Blasio has committed
Questions for consideration

Session A
3:00-4:30

A-1 Power and Privilege in Health & Social Services
In a commitment to deliver meaningful services in diverse communities,
acknowledging the role of power and privilege within our health and
social service systems is critical. The focus of this workshop will be on
approaches for reducing the negative effects on the people we serve.

A-2 Understanding and Reducing Implicit Bias in Health & Social
Services We begin with the idea that everyone holds implicit biases
based on the internalization of messages we receive in our society. This
workshop will focus on identifying our own implicit biases and how they
influence decision making. There will be opportunities to discuss ways to
reduce the negative effects of implicit bias on building relationships.

A-3 Independence and People with Disabilities
“Dignity of risk” is a concept that affirms the rights of people with
disabilities to self-determination and to take risks to live life fully. The goal

of services and interventions are to support independent community
living at ICL. This workshop will explore how support and services are

provided.

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A-4 Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression
Panelists will discuss several key issues impacting the LGBTQIA
community regarding relevant health and social services. Participant will
be encouraged to explore their implicit and explicit biases that may
inform how services are developed and implemented.

A5 Practices that Honor People who have Served
In honoring those who have served, panelists will discuss issues unique
to our returning heroes, their families, friends and communities. Ongoing
assistance may (or may not) be required to help service members
reintegrate and emotionally reconnect to their lives outside of the service,
and to secure employment and housing.

4:30-5:15 Refreshments and Performance
Session B
5:30-7:00

B-1 Historical and Intergenerational & Community Trauma
Trauma is often thought of in the context of a specific horrific event that
has emotional and psychological consequences for individuals. In efforts
to deliver more meaningful services, participants will consider historical,
intergenerational and community oppression that can lead to traumatic
responses.

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B-2 Oppression, Trauma and Substance Use and Misuse
Current critical issues, as well as an intergenerational perspective will be
presented. This workshop helps participants understand the implications
of power, privilege and culture in treating substance use and misuse.

B-3 Supporting Community members who live in Homelessness and
Home-insecurities
With shifting populations and the subsequent increases in rent and
mortgages, many long-term residents are being displaced from own their
neighborhoods. This workshop will identify critical issues impacting
Brooklyn communities, as well as programs and services.

B-4 Addressing Community Violence
This workshop will present a multidimensional perspective regarding
violence in our community. It will focus on teens and young adults and
their strengths, challenges and relevant supports.

B-5 Immigration and Migration in 2018
New York City is the most diverse city in the world, this workshop will
highlight significant policies affecting the lives of so many in Brooklyn and
throughout New York.

B-6 Engagement and Support within our Faith-based Communities
Natural supports within the community are the first place that people turn
to when life-stressors occur. Historically, faith-based leaders and
members have provided counsel and support. Partnerships between
health and social service entities can be key in fully serving communities.

B-7 Understanding and Reducing Implicit Bias in Health & Social
Services We begin with the idea that everyone holds implicit biases
based on the internalization of messages we receive in our society. This
workshop will focus on identifying our own implicit biases and how they
influence decision making. There will be opportunities to discuss ways to
reduce the negative effects of implicit bias on building relationships.

Plenary B Navigating NYC Social Service Agencies
7:00-7:45

7:45-8:00 Closing Remarks

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Read More About Many of Our Guest Speakers and Panelists:

Archbishop Eugene James Blount
Archbishop Blount is the senior pastor of The Elim International
Fellowship, The Protestant Cathedral in Brooklyn, New York. He
is also the Chief Prelate over the International Fellowship of Elim,
Inc. and Senior Pastor and Founder of The Wall Street
International Fellowship.

As a young boy, Archbishop Blount began to experience the early
stirrings of what would later become his prophetic mantle. At 10
years of age he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. By his teenage years,
the voice of the Lord had become a familiar and constant companion as the cry ‘holy’,
‘holiness unto the Lord’ resounded in his ear. A mark of distinction was placed upon his
life forever and Archbishop Blount began to wholly follow the Lord.

In 1990 Archbishop Blount joined The Elim International Fellowship and his life was
revolutionized under the tutelage of his mentor, teacher and spiritual father, Archbishop
Wilbert S. McKinley, the Founding Father of The Elim International Fellowship. His
dedication and devotion to the work of the ministry led him to emerge through the ranks
serving as Deacon, Elder, Pastor, Chief of Staff, Provost and Bishop.

On July 25, 2009, the then Bishop Eugene James Blount was elevated to the highest
Episcopal office of the church of Jesus Christ, Archbishop. Seated upon his cathedra,
he presides as the chief prelate and visionary leader of several churches based both
locally and abroad. Internationally renowned, his influence reaches far beyond the
borders of Brooklyn to Europe, the Caribbean and to the continent of Africa.

As a licensed facilitator of the world famous Franklin Covey Institute, Archbishop is
adept in organizational leadership, certified in training managers and facilitating skill
building workshops. In 1993 Archbishop Blount founded the Visionary Institute,
providing entrepreneurs the proper tools to become successful managers.

A skillful and proficient administrator, Archbishop took on the massive task of restoring
the over 100 year old headquarters of The Elim Archdiocese, overseeing an extensive
renovation project with very little capital but an abundance of faith.

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Archbishop’s desire to bring honor and glory to our great God, led him to found Brooklyn
Center for the Arts where artists from every genre can come and present their gifts and
talents before the Lord.

Archbishop is a man of faith and prayer. He spends much of his time interceding and
seeking the face of God. His prophetic counsel is sought after by bishops, pastors,
businessmen, political officials and the laity alike.

With the help of the all sufficient God, Archbishop continues to impact the lives of men,
women and children for Jesus Christ across this city, nation and the world.

WALEEK BOONE, MSW
Waleek Boone is a Student Life Specialist at Medgar Evers College
of the City University of New York (MEC/CUNY). He received his
Master of Social Work Degree from Silberman School of Social Work
(Hunter College) and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from
Medgar Evers College, CUNY. He is currently pursuing a Master in Education and
Administration degree from Baruch College, CUNY. He served as a former President of
the student chapter of the Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) at Medgar Evers
College.

As a Student Life Specialist, some of his responsibilities include but is not limited to
conducting college workshops at MEC for students who are homeless, facing eviction,
and food insecure. In addition, he establishes and maintains relationships with community
based organizations and social services agencies. He also served as the Admissions
Advisor/Recruiter at MEC for approximately four years. Some of his responsibilities
included but were not limited to: conducting college workshops at high schools and
community based organizations; assisting with direct recruiting in schools, housing and
other targeted locations; establishing and maintaining relationships with high school
counselors and prospective students; and assisting with the direct admission process.
His professional affiliations and community service include; mentoring students both at
MEC and in the public schools; serving as a resource for the MEC ABSW members

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DORI BRAIL, LMSW
Dori Brail is the Social Work Supervisor at Neighborhood Defender
Service of Harlem (NDS) and helps a staff of Social Workers, Parent
Advocates, Civil Social Workers, and Social Work Interns in the
Family Defense Team ensure Harlem parents, affected by the Child
Welfare System, receive holistic, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive,
high quality legal defense. In addition, Dori is a member of the NDS
Equity Initiative, the Mental Health Interagency Clinical Working Group, the Manhattan
Family Engagement Workgroup, the Mental Health Interagency Clinical Working Group,
the Coalition on Race, Diversity and Intersectionality (NASW-NYC) and is co-chair of
the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Collective (NASW-NYC) as well
as the ASFA Mental Health Subcommittee. Dori consults with a variety of NYC non-
profit organizations on issues surrounding Trauma, Suicide Intervention, and needs
unique to the Queer and Trans/GNC communities. Dori has a private practice where
she mostly serves Queer families and members of the Deaf community.

Candida Brooks-Harrison, LCSW
Candida Brooks-Harrison is the Immediate Past President of
the National Association of Social Workers-New York City
(NASW-NYC) and Founding Chair of the Coalition on Race,
Diversity and Intersectionality (CRDI). Candida continues to
bring leadership and support to the NASW’s policy positions
and legislative priorities, including the initiation of the REAL Bill.
Candida is a nationally recognized consultant and clinician who
holds degrees in social work and special education. She is the principal and founder of
the Village Enrichment Associates, LCSW, PLLC which provides organizational
consultation, professional development, reflective clinical supervision, and relationship-
based direct services for individuals, children and families across race, diversity and
intersectionality (RDI) ™.

Candida is dedicated to increasing efficacy in working with diverse communities and
increasing workforce diversity in education, social services and health care. She is the
Clinical Coordinator for Graduate Programs in Special Education at Brooklyn College-
CUNY developing community partnerships with schools and mentoring next generation
of educators. Her interdisciplinary work also includes serving as the RDI reflective
practice consultant on the federally funded grants: Embracing the Challenge (2004-

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2009), Achieving Diversity: Increasing Workforce Diversity in Nursing (2012-2016), and
the Heroes into Healthcare: Veterans entering the Nursing Workforce (2014-2018) at
the University of Massachusetts-Amherst School of Nursing. In addition, she provides
consultation and training for New York City agencies that have included the
Administration for Children’s Services, Department of Health and Mental Health,
Department of Education and the New York City Housing Administration.

She is a founding member of the AntiRacist Alliance (ARA), a collective of clinicians,
educators, and organizers in the Northeast region. Utilizing the principle of the People’s
Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB), the focus of the ARA is to develop capacities
to understand the impact of structural racism and oppression on all of our lives and to
integrate anti-oppression principles into every aspect of practice and practice settings.

M CAMPBELL, MSW

M T. Campbell currently works as a Relationship Abuse
Prevention Program (RAPP) Coordinator with Day One. They
run a youth peer leadership program and provide individual
and group counseling, relationship workshops, and parent and
professional development workshops at Essex Street
Academy high school. M has also worked as a consultant social worker with GLSEN's
2017 National Student Council Summit and at The Door with the Youth Leadership
Council. They have also been a supervisor of training and capacity building and project
co-lead for the Connections to Care mental health initiative through the Mayor’s Fund.
They are a facilitator and trainer on race equity and anti-oppressive social work
practices.

M received their Master’s of Science and Social Work from Columbia University where
they currently teach Foundations of Social Work Practice: Decolonizing Social Work and
Advocacy in Social Work Practice. They are also a member of the Coalition on Race,
Diversity and Intersectionality (CRDI) at the National Association of Social Work, New
York City Chapter (NASW-NYC).

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Monique Chandler-Waterman, MBA
Monique Chandler-Waterman is a public servant, advocate, and activist
who believes in community. Her term as President for the East 29th Street
and East 46th Street Block Association, marked her foundational work in
civic engagement, which is guided by her desire to improve lives, by
meeting the community where they are at.

As an active, lifelong resident of East Flatbush, Monique recognizes the needs of the
community and works tirelessly for everyday families and residents. In 2005, she
served on the Youth Committee and Block Association Committee for Brooklyn
Community Board 17. She currently serves as a board member for Community Board
17. She also had the privilege to serve as the Civilian Advisor for the NYPD 67th
Precinct.

In 2008, Monique founded East Flatbush Village, Inc. in response to the lack of
resources and programs in the community. East Flatbush Village, Inc. now provides
wrap around services for youth including resources to families including mental health
tools through S.T.A.N.D. (Self-care, Tender-love, Always, Needed, Daily) and solution-
driven initiatives to eliminate violence in the community through E.N.O.U.G.H.
(Educating, Neighborhoods, Organizing, Underserved, Grassroots-organizing and
Health Enrichment) Anti-violence Initiative. For the past six years she has lead occupy
the corners where she mobilizes community leaders to engage various "hot spot" areas
to have solution drive conversations on how to reduce community violence.

With a Master’s in Business Administration under her belt and a PHD candidate, she
later served as Director of Community Outreach with New York City Council Member
Jumaane D. Williams in 2012.

Monique is a recipient of the Caribbean Life Impact 40 under 40 Award. She has also
been recognized for her work in the community with the Brooklyn Distinction Award,
Shirley Chisholm Woman of Distinction Award, Sesame Flyers International Community
Award, Community Board 17 Women of Distinction Award and much more.
She currently resides in East Flatbush with her husband, Eric Waterman and four
children: Eynique, Erique, Eynee and Erynn.

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Carmen Collado, LCSW-R
Carmen Collado is Chief Networking and Relationship Officer at ICL
(Institute for Community Living) where she leads the organization’s
strategy for building collaborations and partnerships throughout the
community. As she has done throughout her career, at ICL she is
building cultural competence and advancing agency policies and
practices through a diversity lens.
Previously, Carmen served as Government & Community Relations
Officer at Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, where
she also served as Director of the agency’s Foster Care Initiative, a very successful pilot
project/study that provided on-site mental health services to children, reducing
disruption of foster-care placement and overall time spent in care.

Carmen has built strong and lasting relationships with public officials at every level of
government to support mental health and social services. She has collaborated with
leaders of New York’s Hispanic human services community to inform and educate on a
range of critical policy issues including adolescent suicide; school dropout rates; and
racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity in higher education.

Carmen served as President of the Association of Hispanic Mental Health Professionals
(AHMHP) from 2009-2017. In 2010, she was appointed to the New York State Board for
Social Work to advise and assist the Board of Regents and the State Education
Department on matters of professional regulation. In 2014, NYU Silver honored Carmen
with the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2016, the school’s Center for
Latino Adolescent and Family Health presented her with the Latino Leadership Award at
the Sí Se Puede®: Social Workers United for Latino Advancement conference.

CHRIS COPELAND, LCSW
Chris Copeland is the Chief Operating Officer of the Institute for
Community Living where he oversees the agency’s 110 programs.
He blends an appreciation of standards of clinical excellence and
fiscal responsibility and is an expert in transforming service systems
to be trauma-informed. Chris has led a number of initiatives at ICL
aimed at improving health outcomes and client experience and
reducing system-wide costs of care. When he came to ICL in 2011,
he had more than 30 years clinical and administrative experience in

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the US and England. He received his social work degree in 1985, was involved in inner
city projects and served as administrator for a psychiatric social work team at St. James
University Hospital in Leeds. Moving to Maine in 1993, he served in various positions at
Tri-County Mental Health Services becoming its CEO in 2005. Active on the state level,
Chris served as President of the Maine Association of Mental Health Services.

Chris is the Chief Operating Officer of the Institute for Community Living where he
oversees the agency’s 110 programs. He blends an appreciation of standards of clinical
excellence and fiscal responsibility and is an expert in transforming service systems to
be trauma-informed. Chris has led a number of initiatives at ICL aimed at improving
health outcomes and client experience and reducing system-wide costs of care. When
he came to ICL in 2011, he had more than 30 years clinical and administrative
experience in the US and England. He received his social work degree in 1985, was
involved in inner city projects and served as administrator for a psychiatric social work
team at St. James University Hospital in Leeds. Moving to Maine in 1993, he served in
various positions at Tri-County Mental Health Services becoming its CEO in 2005.
Active on the state level, Chris served as President of the Maine Association of Mental
Health Services.

JEANINE D. COSTLEY, DSW, LCSW-R, RYT
As a clinical social worker for over 17 years, Dr. Jeanine Costley has been committed to
creating safe spaces and anti-oppressive programming for individuals and agencies in
the process of facilitating positive change.
Focusing on client resilience and clinical leadership, Jeanine has served at the Institute
for Community Living (ICL) for 8 years and is currently the Vice President of Transitional
Services for the agency, providing oversight of eight programs throughout NYC for
individuals, women and Veterans who are experiencing homelessness and/or at risk.
Jeanine graduated from the inaugural Doctorate in Clinical Social Work (DSW) program
at New York University and is also a proud graduate of Howard University in
Washington DC. She began her career in Social Work providing HIV/AIDS Case
Management services and HIV Maternal Transmission drug trials during the early
1990’s. This led to pursuing her Master’s degree in Social Work at Columbia University
in NYC with a Minor in International Social Welfare. While in graduate school, she
continued to provide services and develop programing for individuals living with
HIV/AIDS. This work inspired an integrated understanding of how trauma, poverty, and
oppression relate.

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Upon graduating from Columbia University, she obtained a Post-Graduate Certificate in
Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice from NYU, certificate training at The Institute for
Contemporary Psychotherapy’s Trauma Studies and Treatment Program, EMDR I, II
and III, Trauma Focused -Cognitive Behavioral Therapy training and a Post-Graduate
Certificate in Advanced Trauma Studies from Adelphi University. She was also was
appointed by the NYC Mayor to the NYC HIV/AIDs NYC Planning Council for 2014-
2016. As therapist in private practice and fee for service, her training in trauma
disorders has informed her commitment to providing clinical services for women and
clinical supervision of social work students and new professionals. As a Kundalini yoga
instructor, her appreciation and commitment to the healing power of the therapeutic
process continues to inspire her endeavors.

As a leader in trauma informed care, she has over 12 years of directorships in domestic
violence and mental health shelter programs, and has served internationally with
Doctors without Borders in rural Zimbabwe, Africa, directing their HIV/AIDS
Psychosocial department.
Elevating and inspiring new Social Workers to the value of clinical practice in
oppressed, impoverished communities, brings a caliber of excellence to clients who are
most in need of our services. As a clinician, administrator and a lifelong student, she is
committed to the growth of the profession and is honored to serve.

Jose Cotto, LMSW
Jose Cotto is the Vice President for Residential, Rehabilitation and
Support Services at ICL, Inc. He oversees more than 700 scatter-site
beds occupied by people coming from shelters, state hospitals and
prisons that are struggling with mental illness and/or substance use.
Mr. Cotto helps to ensure that people are enhancing their
connectedness to their communities and furthering their recoveries.
He’s facilitated trainings on Person Centered Planning, Harm
Reduction, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and more. Mr. Cotto
is also a clinician for another agency where he focuses the work on children and
families from different Latina/o backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses.

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May Dobal, PhD, RN
Dr. May Dobal earned her PhD in Nursing from The University of
Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree from Louisiana State
University where her focus was Nursing Administration. She
specializes in health disparities research and has conducted
research focusing on health-related decision making. Currently,
she is the Director of Care Coordination Services at Bishop Orris G. Walker Health Care
Center, Interfaith Medical Center. The services address the social determinants of
health and assist patients with financial, health education, and behavioral health issues.
She has had projects exploring African American men and their decisions about
prostate cancer screening, African American women and their decisions about weight
loss, and African American mothers and the effect that their decisions about food and
exercise have on their school age daughters.

Dr. Dobal is committed to the Nursing and Social Worker Professions and the
intersection of the two in the area of social justice. She is an adjunct member of the
National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter (NASW-NYC), a
member of the Coalition on Race, Diversity and Intersectionality (CRDI), and a member
of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and mentors nursing and Social Work
students. She has given numerous lectures at professional meetings and has
publications in peer-reviewed journals.

John Flateau, PhD
Dr. John Flateau is a Professor of Public Administration, and he received his Ph.D in
American Politics and Public Policy from the City University of New York Graduate
Center. Dr. Flateau was Chief of Staff to Mayor David Dinkins; Senior Vice President of
the NYS Urban Development Corporation; Dean of the School of Business, and Dean of
Institutional Advancement at Medgar Evers College. He also served as a
Commissioner, of the NYC Districting Commission; Advisor to the NYS Legislative
Advisory Task Force on Demographics and Reapportionment; Chairperson of the US
Census Advisory Committee on the African-American Population; and Executive
Director of the NYS Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus. He is a Senior Fellow and
co-founder of the DuBois Bunche Center. He is a generalist and strategic thinker, with
expertise in urban policy, economic development, voting rights, legislative redistricting,
census demographics, campaigns and elections, diversity management, and

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governmental processes. Dr. Flateau is a published author, media commentator, and
public speaker; and strategist and advisor to federal, state and local officials; community
and clergy leaders; minority and women businesses, corporations, and institutions; and
immigrant, civil rights, non-profit and worker organizations

Cruz Fuksman, MSW
Cruz Fuksman brings with her mental health experience learned in both academia (BS
in Human Services from Boricua College and Masters Degree in Social Work from
Hunter College School of Social Work) and more than a dozen years working as a
caseworker, casework supervisor and director for a variety of mental health programs.
Having achieved success in academia and having faced many of the same challenges
that have been experienced by many other immigrant individuals and families. Ms.
Fuksman became a Licensed Master social Worker, serving the Brooklyn community
as a Case Worker, Case Work Supervisor and Director for a variety of mental health
programs. In addition to helping underserved individuals and families throughout
Brooklyn for over two decades, Ms. Fuksman has worked as an Adjunct Professor in
the AA program at La Guardia Community College. Ms. Fuksman sits in several boards
where her expertise and passion is shared to enhance the quality of life of children,
parents and the community as a whole. Ms. Fuksman currently works as the
Community Liaison of New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center.

Eliot Goldman, PhD
Dr. Eliot Goldman currently works at the NYC Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene as a Research Scientist in the Mental Health Innovation Lab. He holds a faculty
appointment at the CUNY School of Public Health. He also held an appointment as
Assistant Professor at Columbia University. Eliot does research in Behavioral Science,
Clinical Psychology and Program Implementation. Their most recent publication is 'Child
Mental Health: Recent Developments with Respect to Risk, Resilience, and
Interventions'. He co-founder of Westchester Integrative Therapy, a child and adult
psychotherapy and educational services group practice located in Rye Brook, NY. He
received his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University.

Mary Ruth Govindavari, LMSW
Mary Ruth Govindavari has extensive managerial experience in the non-profit sector.
She most recently worked at NADAP within their Human Resources and Health Home
Care Coordination Departments where she actively recruited, hired, and trained team
members that serviced populations with chronic medical and mental health diagnoses.

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Prior to her experience at NADAP, Mary Ruth was a Program Manager at The Doe
Fund, overseeing a program servicing homeless veterans, and also worked as the
Associate Director of Social Services at HELP USA, in a men’s shelter program. Mary
Ruth, in addition to her supervisory roles, has served in multiple capacities as a
Community Organizer, and has had an integral role in planning Undoing Racism
workshops.

Robert L. Hawkins, PhD
Dr. Robert L. Hawkins is the McSilver Associate Professor
in Poverty Studies and Assistant Dean at the New York
University Silver School of Social Work. He is an expert on
poverty, race, social capital, diversity, and social policy.
Dr. Hawkins’s current research focuses on the structural
and psychological effects of poverty and systemic racism
as trauma, exploring risk and resilience factors for policy
and applied interventions. He is also currently conducting
research on poverty and decision-making and on low-
income women’s community health and resilience in the
Philippines. Further, he is developing research on Asian
students and mental health needs. Dr. Hawkins consults,
teaches, speaks, writes, and presents nationally and internationally on a range of topics
related to social problems, including low-income families and communities, poverty as
trauma, structural racism, oppression, and community economic development. Dr.
Hawkins teaches courses on racism, oppression, and privilege, poverty reduction, social
policy, and international poverty. He holds an endowed chair in poverty studies and is a
recipient of the NYU MLK Teaching Award, the Dorothy Award for Distinguished Faculty
Award from the NYU Silver Students of Color Collective, the 2015-2016 NYU Silver
Distinguished Teaching Award, and the 2016 NYU Distinguished Teaching Award.

Lenard J. Hébert, II, MS, CASAC, BCP
Lenard Hébert has practiced in the human services, behavioral and mental health field
since 1977. Mr. Hebert is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran whose honors
and decorations for distinguished military service include the Purple Heart, Vietnam
Gallantry Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Medal, Good Conduct Medal
among others. He is the former Executive Director of Reality House, Inc. in New York
City. In addition to his responsibilities as the CEO of a major substance abuse
treatment agency, he is a former member on the executive board committee of the New
York State Association of Substance Abuse Providers (ASAP), and is the veteran’s

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liaison for its Cultural Diversity Committee. He is Co-founder and Vice President of the
Foundation for Cultural Improvement, Inc., and a former Board Member of the
Committee of Methadone Program Administrators (COMPA). Mr. Hébert continuously
strives for enhanced quality services in the chemical dependency treatment, and the
behavioral health field, including the pursuit of cultural competence, and social justice,
through an anti-racist lens. He served on the board of the New York Statewide Black
and Puerto Rican/Latino Substance Abuse Task Force, and is an officer on the
executive committee of the Coalition for Community Services, Inc., as well as being a
member of the Black Agency Executives, Inc., and the Federation of Black Cowboys.
Since January of 2000, Mr. Hébert serves as an Adjunct Professor at Metropolitan
College of New York, and Kingsborough Community College, NYC. In addition, he is
also a professional trainer/instructor, and facilitates a variety of human services and
behavioral health workshops. Mr. Hébert’s other activities include his extensive
involvement in military Veteran’s initiatives and treatment. He also was co-chair of the
Media Committee for the NYC Anti-Racist Alliance. He holds a Master’s degree in
Human Services Administration, and is a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance
Abuse Counselor for NYS and a Human Services Board Certified Practitioner. His most
current accomplishment was the completion of a capital construction project in Jan,
2013, which resulted in the opening of a new veterans substance use and behavioral
health residential and outpatient program in Queens, NY.

SHAUN B. HENRY, LCSW
Shaun B. Henry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the
State of New York, and has over 15 years of experience
working with adults, children, and families. Shaun currently
works at the VA New Jersey’s Center for Health & Wellness,
one of three VA “Centers of Innovation” in the country, and a
clinical learning laboratory and patient care site. He serves as a
primary care clinical provider and consultant, and also holds
roles responsible for leading staff in innovative processes that
support the mission of the Center for Health and Wellness.
Shaun earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Penn State University, and his
Master of Social Work degree from New York University in 2006. Shaun is the current
President of the Caribbean American Social Workers Association (CASWA), and a
Board member of the NYC Chapter of NASW.

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Edward Hernandez, PhD
Dr. Edward Hernandez has been Assistant Professor of
Social Work at Medgar Evers College since August, 2012.
He was elected Chair of the Social Work Department in
August, 2017. Dr. Hernandez is faculty advisor to the
Transition Academy, a one stop center for housing and
food insecure students. He also teaches online classes in
Social Work and Human Services at several colleges. Prior to coming to Medgar
Evers College, Dr. Hernandez has served as Deputy Commissioner of the
Suffolk County Department of Social Services from 2004 until 2012. His career
includes over 30 years of government and not for profit agencies positions in
largely administrative and management capacities. He has also been involved in
homeless and day laborer issues, as well as appears in the documentary film
“Farmingville.” Dr. Hernandez received his PhD in Social Welfare from Stony
Brook University.

TIFFANY HAYATT, BA, BSW
Tiffany Hayatt is deeply rooted in her Panamanian culture and comes from a family that
believes in serving and giving. She is a member of the United States Air Force
Reserves going on her 30th year. During those 30 years she has accumulated a total of
eight years of Active Duty time due to either deployments or special duty tours. While
serving the United States Armed Services, she made school a priority and
accomplished Associate degrees in Public Administration, Social Work, Health Services
Management, and Addiction Studies, her Bachelors in Public Administration, and Social
Work, and is in the process of completing her Master’s in Social Work in May of 2020.
She has six children, and says her best title will always be MOM.
In addition to her military service, she enjoyed giving back to different communities. She
has volunteered for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), assisted in building
homes for families, supported mailings for deployed members, assisted in shelters, and
also serves the addiction population as well. While fulfilling her need to give back and
serving in the military, the one theme that is constant is culture and different types of
trauma and the way it fits into all aspects of life. This is the reason she continues to
serve her community.

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Tyler Asa James, MPH
Tyler Asa James has worked with the New York City
Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Workforce Institute
since February 2016. As the Director of Workforce Operations
and Improvement, Mr. James serves as the project lead in the
development of learning programs for ACS frontline staff,
supervisors and managers, and staff from ACS contracted
provider agencies. Several learning programs that were under
Mr. James’s direction were Motivational Interviewing: Engaging
Fathers, Motivational Interviewing: Engaging Families That Have
Repeat Involvement with the Child Welfare System, Applying the Mental Health
Principles and Identifying and Working with Families of Native American Heritage. Mr.
James has a great passion for racial equity within child welfare proven through his
commitment as an active member of the ACS Racial Equity and Cultural Competence
Committee and its training subcommittee. Mr. James is the ACS project lead in the
development of a new learning program focused on implicit bias in NYC’s Child Welfare
System. Prior to joining the ACS Workforce Institute, Mr. James was the Program
Director for the New York State Collaborative Care Initiative, an initiative focused on
training primary care programs on how to best integrate mental health services within
primary care.

DAVID KAMNITZER, LCSW
David Kamnitzer is ICL's Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Vice
President at ICL where he oversees close to 1500 units of
housing throughout all five boroughs of NYC and leads several
committees related to clinical excellence and outcomes. David
received his BA in 1985 from SUNY Albany and his MSW in 1991
from NYU. He attended the Ackerman Institute for Family
Therapy and received his certification from The Eastern Group
Psychotherapy Society. He has been in the field of Psychiatric
Rehabilitation for almost 30 years and was appointed by Mayor
Bloomberg to the NYC HASA Advisory Board. He serves on
Mayor de Blasio's Task Force addressing criminogenic behaviors in New York City. He
is a frequent speaker on issues related to person-centered planning, young adults and
delivering services using concepts of hope and resiliency. He has been published in
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills and is tackling systems issues such as housing reform

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in a managed care environment and forensic re-integration. For the past eighteen years
David has been an Adjunct Associate Professor at NYU Silver School of Social Work.
David also serves as a Program Surveyor for CARF (Commission on the Accreditation
of Rehabilitation Facilities) that ensures high standards of Behavioral Health excellence.

ELEANOR LALOR, ACSW, LMSW
Eleanor Lalor is Vice President of the Treatment Apartment Program
Services at ICL, Inc. and oversees a large cluster of Treatment Apartment
Program (TAP) beds. These TAP beds are occupied by individuals from
other ICL Residential program, State Psychiatric Hospital, Shelters and
Prison with mental Illness and Substance Abuse. Eleanor is extremely
diligent in her role as she continuously teaches her staff about the
importance of safety protocols, risk management and adhering to practicing in an ethical
and sound manner. Eleanor is a firm believer in Harm Reduction, Person Centered
Approach while utilizing Motivational Interviewing as a tool to engagement and was
successful in the development of a 44 bed CR/SRO for individuals struggling with
Mental Illness and Substance abuse. As a Social Worker/ Minister one of the values
that she holds dear is her committed to marginalized communities’ strength-based
practices and spirituality. Recently she has taken a particular interest in focusing on
integrated care and has worked closely with our agency Psychologist to develop a
service model aimed at helping Older Adults age successfully in community. Eleanor is
thrilled to be a co-presenter on Aging in the Community at this year ACL Conference.
Eleanor is a Licensed Social Worker with accreditation from NASW as ACSW. Eleanor
Co-authored an Article with colleagues “ICL Housing: Like a nice piece of CAKE –
“Kindness” featured in Behavioral Health Newsletter 5(1)4. Eleanor earned her Bachelor
of Science in Social Welfare and her Master’s Degree of Social Work at Adelphi
University.

Gwendolyn Lewis, DNP, RN, CMCN, NEA-BC
Dr. Gwendolyn Lewis is the Vice-President, Ambulatory Care and
Clinical Services at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Lewis is responsible for the leadership and operational oversight of
the Bishop Orris G. Walker Health Care Center, and the Primary Care
Center of Interfaith Medical Center.

Dr. Lewis worked closely with the leadership of Interfaith’s Sickle Cell Program to open
an infusion therapy center at Interfaith Medical Center in 2014 as part of a clinical trial

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study. Dr. Lewis has worked in a variety of settings including medical-surgical, intensive
care, rehabilitation, managed care and a public school setting. She has held numerous
leadership positions over her 39-year nursing career including Assistant Director of
Nursing, Nursing Rehabilitation for Acute and Long Term Care for a 618-bed facility,
Associate Director of Nursing, Clinical Learning and Development, Director, Family
Center and Beacon Program, Director of Nursing Education, and Chief Nursing Officer.
Dr. Lewis also served on the Board of Trustees for Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center
and the Rutland Nursing Home for twelve years and is a former member of the Board of
Directors for the American Association of Managed Care Nurses. She is currently a
member of the board of the New York State Board of Regents to the State Board of
Nursing.

Dr. Lewis is the President and Founder of A Family Place, Inc. a Brooklyn-based not-
for-profit organization, founded in 2000, that provided educational and social service
support for children and families. She is the President of the Newman Memorial United
Methodist Church Community Development Corporation. Under the umbrella of the
Community Development Corporation is an emergency food program which has served
approximately 15,000 community residents each year for more than 35 years.
Dr. Lewis has held certifications in Rehabilitation Nursing, Gerontology, and nursing
administration and currently holds certification as a RUGS II and PRI assessor, certified
screener (IPRO), Master Trainer, The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program,
Stanford University Patient Education Center, Master TeamSTEPPS trainer, Greater
New York Hospital Association, and holds a certificate in the Fundamentals of Magnet
through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is a board certified Nurse
Executive, Advanced and a Certified Managed Care Nurse. Dr. Lewis holds a Bachelor
and Master’s Degrees in Nursing from New York University, and a Doctoral Degree in
Nursing Practice, Nursing Executive Leadership from American Sentinel University. Dr.
Lewis was a 2007 fellow and 2008 Mentor in the Leadership Institute for Black Nurses,
New York University College of Nursing, New York University. Dr. Lewis is a member of
the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Managed Care Nurses
and the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr. Lewis is married, the mother of
three sons and the proud grandmother of two little boys!

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Justin Lioi, LCSW
Justin Lioi is a graduate of NYU Silver Social Work School. He
has worked for ten years in child welfare for several agencies and
is currently the Clinical Coordinator at the Women's Prison
Association. He is the co-chairperson of SWEDAR (Social
Workers of European Descent Against Racism) at NASW-NYC
and serves on the chapter's board as a Member-at-Large. He has
a private practice in Brooklyn focusing on men and dads and has taught workshops for
NASW for social workers on clinical work with fathers.

Camille Lowe-Davis, MA, MSW, LMSW
Camille Lowe-Davis is Vice President of Residential, Rehabilitation,
Recovery and Support Services at ICL. She works with adults with
serious mental illness and substance use disorders living in
subsidized permanent rental apartments. During her 17 years of
experience in the field of Social Work 13 have been with ICL, Camille
continues to utilize an effective and compassionate approach that
“sees the person and not the diagnosis.” This mindset reflects her
deep commitment to helping tenants lead safe and successful lives when they
encounter daily challenges. In fall 2017, Ms. Lowe-Davis co-authored an article with her
colleagues “ICL Housing: Like a Nice Piece of CAKE- Accountability” in Behavioral
Health News, 5(1):4. Camille is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Science from Binghamton University.
She also holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University at Albany.

Lisa Munro-Robinson, MSW
Lisa Munro-Robinson obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
at the City College of New York. I went on to obtain a Master’s
Degree in Social Work at New York University Silver School of
Social Work. I have been practicing in the Social Work field for over
25 years. My early social work career started in foster care –
working and collaborating with children & families, and other
systems and provider agencies (legal/courts, schools, mental health & substance
abuse providers, etc) toward attaining permanency through reunification or adoption. I
continued direct practice working with families and children in a preventive services
setting. The focus was on providing clinical counseling from a structural family

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perspective, while assisting family members to identify and reduce factors that place the
children at risk of removal from the home environment. My career continued with a
specific focus on clinical social work, where I have provided psychotherapy to adults,
children and families in several community mental health Article 31 clinics in Brooklyn,
New York. I am presently the Clinical Director at ICL’s Rockaway Parkway Clinic based
in Canarsie, Brooklyn.

Gilford T. Monrose, BA
Gilford T. Monrose, a native of the US Virgin Islands and founder of Brooklyn Center of
Quality Life, moved to New York in 1999 to pursue his studies in the form of a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Theology and Bible Studies at Nyack College and Alliance Theological
Seminary and to marry the love of his life, Dianne Thomas.

Gilford always had a lifelong dream of serving the church, especially the youths, and as
such functioned as Youth Director for five years, developing programs for our young
people at the now historic Mt. Zion Church of God 7th Day. He worked at their level,
demonstrated that he understood their struggles, and worked tirelessly with them to
enhance their spiritual maturity. In this capacity, Gilford flourished , and became a
ministerial and visionary trailblazer, and spiritual shepherd to many. In May 2005,
Gilford was ordained to the ministry as Pastor, where he continues to show great and
unyielding love for his church and its members.

Pastor Gil's need to give in a capacity beyond himself, goes beyond the four walls of the
church, and has motivated him to serve locally and beyond, to create, as well as partner
with many organizations. He has established the Catch The Vision (CTV) Youth
Conferences, which has empowered youths, leaders, and marriages, and has attracted
youths and adults alike from around the world since 2002. He also initiated the Unity
Gospel Fest at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center to bring together spiritual and
physical wellness. Pastor Gil was instrumental in the establishment and development of
the East Flatbush Ready When the Time Comes Disaster Team, which through the
American Red Cross in Greater New York, provides disaster-relief training to volunteer
teams from local community groups. Gilford serves as Team Leader for the local East
Flatbush team.

Gilford's life of service is further portrayed through his work as Chaplain for the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Serving as Director of the Faith Based and
Clergy Initiative at the Brooklyn Borough President's Office, Pastor Gil proves that not

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only is there a thin gap between church and state, but that this gap can be bridged. He
currently serves as a Board member for the Flatbush YMCA, and on the Advisory Board
for Boys Town. Gilford, a man who puts no limits, or restrictions on his life of service,
currently Chairs the Community Leadership Council of the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical
Center.

Pastor Gil has exhibited great interest in social justice and love for community work, and
is an Alumni Chair for We Are All Brooklyn, an organization that brings diverse leaders
together to solve quality of life issues affecting their communities. He served as a board
member of Community Board #17, on the Community Advisory Board for the Brooklyn
Healthcare Improvement Project, as an Advisory Board Member for Explore Charter
School, and on the Advisory Board for Kings County Behavioral Health Community
Council. Pastor Gil also served as Team Leader for the Neighborhood Housing
Services Invest in Brooklyn Initiative, and Chaired the Caribbean Tourism Organization,
Inter-Faith Celebration.

Furthermore, Pastor Gil served as Vice President of various organizations; The St.
Lucia House Foundation, Church of God 7th Day Pastor's Network, Inc., and, Churches
United to Save and Heal. Pastor Gil's dedication to save youth from gun violence and
gangs prompted him to become the founding President of the 67th Precinct Clergy
Council, which serves as a liaison between the police and the community. He is a
graduate of the New York Police Department Citizen Academy, as well as the FBI
Citizen Academy. Mr. Monrose has travelled extensively across the United States, and
has partnered with groups across the Caribbean. Africa, Brazil, Moscow, England, and
Israel, as a guest speaker to youth, and likewise adults, empowering them to become
active in their communities, and to be responsible citizens of the world. Locally, Pastor
Gil works with various elected officials and community leaders as a moral voice and
spiritual counsel on issues affecting the community at large. As the loving husband of
wife Dianne, and father to Gianne and Joshua, Gilford is a passionate advocate for
families and children. Mr. Monrose and his family live in Weeksville, Brooklyn.’

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Anna Morgan-Mullane, LCSW-R
Anna Morgan-Mullane serves as Vice President of Mental Health
Services for Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC). Ms. Morgan-
Mullane conducts an extensive training program for MSW interns,
licensed social workers, psychiatrists, and art therapists on site of
CPNCY and oversaw the establishment of the first Article 31 mental
health clinic that services children and adolescents annually impacted
by parental incarceration. Ms. Morgan-Mullane has also developed
clinical policies and practice guidelines and launched an evidence-based treatment
models that are at the forefront of trauma-informed clinical practices for children of
incarcerated parents. Ms. Morgan-Mullane’s work explores the intersection of clinical
social work, social policy, and criminal justice. She is currently a doctoral candidate at
the NYU Silver School of Social Work where her present research was published in the
Clinical Social Work Journal which focuses on the intergenerational effects of
incarceration, the unique psychological factors experienced by children of incarcerated
parents, and the causes and effects of mass incarceration. Anna is an adjunct professor
in the NYU Silver School of Social Work where she teaches a course she developed on
the intersectionality of criminal justice reform and mental health implications for those
impacted by mass incarceration. Anna recently presented her research at the Global
Prison Conference in South Africa at the University of Johannesburg.

David Nish, MSW
David Nish is the Associate Commissioner for Training and
Workforce Development at ACS where he leads the ACS
Workforce Institute and the ACS James Satterwhite Academy.
David received his MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work
and has more than two decades of experience as a supervisor,
manager, and high-level executive in the child welfare and mental
health fields. He began his social work career at The Gay Men’s
Health Crisis overseeing the “Buddy” Program and then spent many years in a variety of
progressive positions overseeing Safe Horizon’s Streetwork Programs for homeless and
street involved young people. Most recently, David was the Chief Program Officer at
Spence-Chapin Adoption Agency.

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David has a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School
and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from SUNY at Stonybrook, He spent many years
as a concert pianist and music teacher.

Moya M. O'Connor, JD
Moya M. O’Connor serves as a Senior Trial Attorney at MetLife.
She is admitted to the New York State Bar as well as the US
District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of NY.

Moya's practice focuses on the defense of complex matters in
State, Appellate, and Federal Court. More specifically, Moya
provides litigation counsel in the fields of premises liability,
automobile liability, property damage, subrogation, personal injury, and other intricate
tort matters.

Moya graduated from Georgetown University in 2006, receiving a B.A. in Government
with a Sociology minor. In 2009, Moya received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School,
where she was inducted into the Moot Court Honor Society and served as a coach for
the Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Team.

Outside of the office, Moya is very active in the legal community. She is the Founder &
CEO of Caribbean Attorneys Network, Inc. (CAN), a professional organization geared
towards the development of attorneys, law students, and legal professionals of
Caribbean descent. CAN was the 2016 recipient of the Bar Leaders Innovation Award
from the New York State Bar Association. In 2017, The Network Journal recognized
Moya as a 40 under Forty Honoree, and the publication, News Americas Now, included
Moya on it's list of "12 Caribbean Executives You Should Know." In 2016, Moya was
also chosen to be a member of the Defense Association of New York's Diversity
Initiative Class of 2016.

Further, Moya is a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee of the Claims &
Litigation Management Alliance, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, Association of
Black Women Attorneys, and Corporate Counsel Women of Color. Moya has also been
published in the New York State Bar Association Torts, Insurance, & Compensation
Law Section Journal.

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Gladys Palma de Schrynemakers, PhD
Dr. Gladys Palma de Schrynemakers joined Medgar Evers College in November 2015
as the new Assistant Vice President/Associate Provost. She is head of Academic
Technology, Advisement and Institutional Effectiveness at Medgar Evers College. Dr.
Schrynemakers earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint John’s University;
three masters’ degrees from City College, Long Island University, and Teacher’s
College Columbia University; and a doctorate from Teachers College Columbia
University.
She has served on several Accreditation Teams for the Middle States Commission on
Higher Education and as a Periodic Reviewer for the Commission, as well as serving on
Accreditation Teams for the New York State Department of Education. Serving her third
three-year term as the Executive Vice President of APACS, Association of
Administrators of CSTEP and STEP, she works closely with over 200 CSTEP/STEP
directors and program staff to create a statewide professional development network.
She chaired the annual APACS Conference and Meeting, as well as Co-Chairs the
Annual CSTEP Statewide Student Conference. Dr. Schrynemakers taught in the
University Honors Program, Anthropology/Sociology Department, secured over 18
million dollars in grants, and published frequently in peer-reviewed venues on theory
and practice of constructing theory, teaching and technology, and assessment.

Myrla Parrish, LCSW
Myrla Parrish is the Senior Counselor/Education Coordinator of
the Mount Sinai Health System’s Employee Assistance
Program. Myrla has been teaching, coaching and developing
curriculum for over twenty years in the beauty/fashion industry
prior to attending the Silberman School of Social Work. She is a Board Member for the
NASW-NYC chapter, and serves on the following committees: Executive, Coalition on
Race, Diversity & Intersectionality (CRDI), and Continuing Education.

Gerardo Ramos, MSW, MPA
Gerardo Ramos presently serves as the Senior Vice President of Transitional, Family,
Youth and HIV Services for ICL. Mr. Ramos provides executive oversight for program
planning and innovation, staffing and professional development, program management,
health and safety procedures, as well as contract and budget compliance for ICL’s other
shelter programs, adult and youth community residences, and the Family Resource
Center.

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Mr. Ramos has more than 25 years of experience working with individuals experiencing
homelessness and at risk for homelessness. Through his career, he has presented
exemplary leadership successes and solid clinical judgement in managing adult
homeless shelters, supportive housing programs, as well as their respective support
programs. Mr. Ramos’s programs include intensive case management, medical and
psychiatric case management, entitlements specialists, educational/vocational services,
Veterans supportive services and rehabilitation services for individuals with Severe
Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Disorders.

As an Executive Administrator and Social Worker, Mr. Ramos is guided by Recovery
Orientated, Trauma Informed and Person Centered theory. These models guide his use
of best practices and are primary for client success in our communities. Mr. Ramos also
utilizes and trains staff in Evidence based practice models such as Critical time
Intervention (CIT) designed for shelter based programs and adjusted to behavioral
health residential settings, Crisis Management, Motivational interviewing, and has
created vocational internship training/programs for clients with mental health disorders.
Mr. Ramos balances these skills with concrete nonprofit leadership skills in budget
management, strategic planning, compliance practices, quality assurance, and grant
writing.

He meets each demand with competence, enthusiasm and creativity, while valuing
client strengths, diversity and capabilities. In developing new innovative programs Mr.
Ramos understands the vital importance of team building and customer service in each
client’s success.

Nicole Robinson-Etienne, JD
Nicole Robinson-Etienne is an accomplished, versatile
government and community affairs professional with a stellar
career history of accomplishments in strategy, engagement
and development. A strong, strategic planner, problem solver,
and persuasive negotiator, Nicole has demonstrated success
propelling initiatives leading to substantial program support
funding, constructive coalitions and alliances, and zoning
changes.

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Nicole began her professional career as an immigration attorney in a small law practice
working on asylum and family unification cases. She later went on to work as Special
Counsel to Assemblywoman Rhoda S. Jacobs, for over 8 years helping constituents
expedite and resolve problems relating to the delivery of social services, assisted clients
with immigration related concerns, developed a summer resource guide for parents and
managed special events including health fairs, job fairs, educational workshops, and an
annual luncheon for senior citizens. Skills that came in handy when she transitioned to
work for the New York City Economic Development Corporation as the Senior Project
Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator, where she engaged residents and
stakeholders in dialogue around the issue of the Strategic Plan for Coney Island and
later as Assistant Director of Government and Community Affairs at the Wildlife
Conservation Society’s (WCS) New York Aquarium and Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn.
During her tenure at WCS, Nicole served as the Zoo and Aquarium’s liaison with State
and City elected officials; government agencies; community boards; the amusement
industry, and community stakeholders. Nicole was also actively engaged with the newly
formed Alliance for Coney Island, serving as Advocacy Committee co-chair and
member of the Coney Recovers campaign that mobilized efforts to assist local residents
in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. In addition, Nicole coordinated the Aquarium and
the Zoo’s extensive community engagement efforts, overseeing the Community Access
Program, where underserved youth and seniors from around Brooklyn received
complimentary access to the Aquarium; hosted annual Older Americans Month
celebrations, Disabled Veterans Recognition events, Employment Information
workshops, and managing the ticket donation program. In 2017, Nicole joined Institute
for Community Living (ICL) as Vice President of Community and Government Affairs.
ICL is one of New York City’s largest not-for-profit human service agency serving over
10,000 people a year via supportive and transitional housing, counseling with
individualized therapies, rehabilitation and other support services for adults, veterans,
children and families.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Nicole holds a BA in Political Science and Urban Studies
from Fordham University and a JD from Northeastern University School of Law.
Despite her busy work schedule, Nicole continues to multitask at home. Nicole is a
married mother of 2; daughters, Arielle and Dominique. Nicole also spends her free
time mentoring young women and volunteers as a leader and coordinator of 6 Girl
Scout troops at PS 276 in Canarsie, Brooklyn. She is also a Board member of the
Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, East Flatbush Village and member
of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Midwood, Brooklyn.

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Brian Romero, LMSW, CASAC-T
Mr. Romero is a bilingual Mental Health Counselor in the Mental Health Services
program at GMHC. In his role, Brian provides trauma-informed psychotherapy to
individuals living with HIV/AIDS who have mental health and co-occurring substance
abuse issues across the spectrums of sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression. He provides mental health services to individuals, couples and groups. He
is a consultant with The Village Enrichment Associates, PLLC.
Brian served for two terms as Chair of the LGBT Committee at the NYC Chapter of the
National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NYC). Currently, he serves as Co-Chair
of the NASW-NYC Coalition on Race, Diversity and Intersectionality (CRDI). He
received his Master of Social Work (MSW) at Silberman School of Social Work and is
licensed in New York State. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology at
John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Counselor Trainee (CASAC-T). He is also in training at the Two Year Psychodynamic
program of the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (ICP).

Balé Shabaka Kaza-Amlak
Balé Shabaka Kaza-Amlak was born to parents who originally
immigrated to NYC from Trinidad and Tobago. After slowly
migrating back south, his family finally relocated to the Virgin
Islands during his youth. To the island of St.Croix USVI, where
he would spend the remainder of his youth and adolescence
living on his family farm in the beautiful tropical mountain forests.

Between the ages of 16 and 20, Balé worked and studied at then Virgin Islands
Sustainable Farm Institute where he learned Permaculture and sustainable living
practices, while also gaining experience in farming and building trades as an apprentice.
In his final year at VISFI (now Ridge to Reef Farm) Balé discovered Ayurveda, an
ancient healing system, and immediately found that it resonated with his already natural
way of life as he fell in love with this ancient practice. He then began to learn and
incorporate Ayurveda into his life and cooking.

From 2009 to 2015 Balé, along with his business partner, operated a well know
wellness center on St.Croix. This center, Renuatum, included a Spa, yoga studio, Café,
and Skincare line. In 2015, this main wellness center was closed in favor of hosting
yoga retreats in various destination locations. During the year 2016, prior to moving to
NYC for the first time, Balé worked as a Chef/Concierge/Organizer for yoga retreat

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groups in places such as Puerto Rico and Florida.

Most recently Balé relocated to NYC from his home island of St.Croix after the impact of
Hurricane Maria in September of 2017. Balé currently works in Manhattan as a chef as
well as continuing the production of Renuatum Skincare products here in Brooklyn, NY.
As a Certified Ayurvedic Chef, Balé also teaches workshops and private cooking class
to help people improve their diets and find balance in a practice he refers to as the yoga
of food. Other studies include: a certificate of Permaculture Systems Design; extensive
meditation study and practice with teacher Chinello Haney of the Divine souls - Lineage
of Swami Sri Kaleshwar; studied Vastu with Michael Mastro founder of The American
Institute of Vastu; and 100 hour Universal Yoga teachers training with master teacher
Andry Lappa, Founder of Universal Yoga, July 2016.

Norma Urigüen, LMSW, PHR
Norma Urigüen is a graduate of Penn State University and the Hunter
College School of Social Work. As the daughter of parents who
migrated to New York from Puerto Rico in the 1950’s, she has personal
experience and understanding of the various challenges and struggles
that families may face when migrating from places outside of the U.S.
She has had a distinguished 25+year career, serving in diverse
capacities in our profession ranging from clinical to managerial to
pedagogical. As a bilingual and bi-cultural practitioner, Norma is well-versed in the
importance of the cultural context in shaping human beings. This privilege has allowed
her to work with young people in foster care and survivors of domestic violence who
emigrated from other countries, and faced many challenges without the support of their
families. She chooses to utilize an expansive lens, seeing the positive, the resilience
and the common quest for a sense of purpose and accomplishment in each human
being. Currently, in her role as the Director of the Professional Development
Department at the Administration for Children’ Services Workforce Institute, and as an
adjunct lecturer at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College where she
teaches Social Work Practice Lab with an Anti-Oppression focus, Norma has the
privilege of supporting, guiding and mentoring students who are pursuing their graduate
degrees in social work and other disciplines. In these capacities, she is working to
ensure quality front- line social work practice in our field while advocating for equity and
social justice.

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David Woodlock, MS
David Woodlock’s career as an innovator and leader in healthcare
spans across the private, non-profit and government sectors.
He is President and CEO of ICL, an award-winning not-for-profit,
human service agency offering health care, mental health care,
family support, residential assistance, and treatment to nearly
10,000 adults, families, and children throughout New York City and
Montgomery County, PA.
Previously, he was CEO at Four Winds Hospital, a private
psychiatric system in upstate New York, where he was responsible for the overall
executive leadership of the 88-bed inpatient services for children, adolescents and
adults, an Adult Partial Hospital Program, and a Child and Adolescent Outpatient
Program that serves over 5,000 individuals annually. During this time, he also led a
major collaborative primary care and child psychiatry initiative.
Prior to his success at Four Winds, David Woodlock served in the New York State
government for 32 years, including four years as a Deputy Commissioner of the NYS
Office of Mental Health where he was responsible for the children and families system
of care. During his tenure, he was successful in securing the largest annual
appropriation for children’s mental health services in the New York State history;
spearheaded an early intervention strategy that focused on schools and primary care;
and, led the development of the first ever statewide Children’s Plan. The Children’s
Plan represents a consensus of stakeholders throughout the system of care, 125
workgroup members and over 1000 participants in public forums, on best practices in
comprehensive, coordinated social, emotional and developmental health for children.
Mr. Woodlock received both his Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and a Masters of
Science in Special Education from Syracuse University. He was an Associate in Clinical
Psychiatry at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as a
Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Mr. Woodlock has presented nationally and has written for several publications
including Modern Healthcare regarding mental health systems and leadership, as well
as programs for improving the mental health care of children and families. He has
served on the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Psychiatric Health
Systems and is currently Treasurer of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies and
Member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental
Health Services.

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He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Extraordinary Leadership Award
from New York State Coalition of Children’s Mental Health Services; Special
Congressional Recognition Award; and, the Social Justice Award from Syracuse
University.

Assembly Member Latrice Monique Walker, JD
Latrice Monique Walker was elected to the New York State
Assembly in 2014 to fill a vacant seat. A native of the
Brownsville section of Brooklyn, Assemblywoman Latrice
Walker is a licensed attorney, and has made a name for
herself as a strong voice and advocate from the streets of
Brownsville to the Halls of Justice.
Assemblywoman Walker was educated in the New York City public schools. She went
on to receive her undergraduate degree from SUNY Purchase College, where she
double-majored in Sociology and Political Science. She achieved a Juris Doctorate
Degree in Law from Pace University and was admitted to the New York State Bar in
2007.
Assemblywoman Walker has dedicated her life’s work to advocacy. For nearly a
decade, Assemblywoman Walker has worked with local elected officials to preserve
affordable housing while advocating for residents of the New York City Housing
Authority (NYCHA). Born and raised in Prospect Plaza, a NYCHA development
demolished under a Federal HOPE VI grant, the Assemblywoman has firsthand
experience on the effects of displacement and the need for adequate legislative
representation. As a litigator, she has helped tenants avoid eviction and defended
young minority victims of “stop-and-frisk” practices.

Tasha D. Young, MSW
Tasha Young resides in Westchester County, and is a founding
member of the Westchester Black Political Conference.
Executive board member of Lower Hudson Valley Progressive
Action Network, committee chair for social justice and
Executive Committee Chair for the New York Progressive
Action Network, criminal justice committee chair, she
represents the Westchester/Rockland. Tasha is a lifelong
public servant. Her career of service began at the age of 16
when she and her best friend developed a dance group for
younger girls in their community that focused on performance

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and building a positive self esteem and image! Since then, Tasha has allowed her love
for people to propel her into a career of social work with a concentration on clinical
interventions for individuals, couples and families.

Tasha is a catalyst for service delivery that both honors the recipient as being the
‘expert’ of their own experience, that enables social work and health professional to be
collaborators in service provision, and not the only authority in how services are
provided. Alongside her professional career, Tasha has maintained a meaningful and
successful volunteer life as a Missionary with her current house of worship. Over a ten
year period, she gave leadership to food service efforts where well over 11,000 families
were fed. She has worked with children in foster care, brought children to interact with
the elderly in nursing homes, and collaborated with Prison Fellowship to bring gifts to
children of incarcerated parents. She has also led AIDS outreach work in southern
Africa, as well as child welfare reform in the same region. Tasha has since moved from
missionary and clinician work to employment as an administrator in social work, and is
in the forefront of the Medicaid managed care roll-out in New York State. This puts her
front and center of the healthcare issue and gives her firsthand knowledge of how the
lack of insurance affects families.

Tasha is a District leader in Westchester County, a founding member of the
Westchester Black Political Conference, where she works on legislative drafts for real,
and meaningful policy changes, and a featured writer for Black Westchester magazine.

Currently Tasha serves on the executive committee for NYPAN and lends a unique
perspective as to how government policy affects people on the ground in “real-time.”
She doesn’t have to rely on reports or hear stats as much because she has experience
and expertise from the communities being served, or not served. Tasha heads the
criminal justice committee for NYPAN and is currently working on policy to combat the
horrendous school to prison pipeline. Tasha is also working on a collaboration between
NYPAN and Just Leadership with the goal of decreasing the prison population by 50%
by 2030. Tasha is a mother to one daughter and grandmother to one brilliant
granddaughter.

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