Redefine Strong: Black Women's Mental Health Conference

Elisha Arnold (she/her) is a first-year Ph.D. student at New York University, studying developmental psychology within the Applied Psychology department. Elisha serves as a graduate research assistant in Dr. Lauren Mims' Homeplace Research Collective. Her research is focused on exploring the school experiences of Black girls during adolescence and their navigation of gendered racial stressors. Moreover, Elisha adopts a strengths-based approach, delving into the ways these individuals heal from such stressors within school contexts. By concentrating on the collective resistance and healing mechanisms employed by Black girls, Elisha's work aims to contribute to support Black girl’s mental health wellness.

Kimberly Blair recently joined as the Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy for Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) NYC, an intergenerational, Black feminist organization. There, she leads the strategy for the organization's policy, lobbying and organizing at the city, state, and federal levels on behalf of Black girls and gender expansive young people of color. Prior to this role, she worked as the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for NAMI-NYC where she set a robust policy agenda and recruited, trained and led over 200 ambassadors in grassroots advocacy efforts in support of the mental health of all New Yorkers. 

Kimberly holds her Master’s in Public Health in Health Policy and Law, with a Certificate in Maternal and Child Health from the Boston University School of Public Health and a Bachelor's in Women's and Gender Studies with minors in Government and Portuguese from Georgetown University. While at BUSPH, she was selected as a Public Policy Fellow for the Harvard Kennedy School’s Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston where she worked with Massachusetts Representative Jay Livingstone on a cost analysis of the “I AM.” bill to increase menstrual equity in all state public schools, prisons and jails, and homeless shelters and on other research and advocacy initiatives to pass the R.O.E. Act to expand access to reproductive health across the state. During this time, she was also awarded a grant-funded fellowship with Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts to work on health equity and racial justice outcomes as part of PPLM’s multi-year strategic plan.

Kimberly currently serves as a Steering Committee member of Correct Crisis Intervention Today-NYC (CCIT-NYC), which advocates for peer-led, nonpolice response to mental health crisis calls. She has been recognized by and named in City and State New York’s 2023 Who’s Who in Government Relations list and in Marquis Who’s Who in America Honoree List. Kimberly identifies as queer, Black and Latina and is fluent in Spanish in Portuguese. Outside of her field, she is the proud mom to a rescue Yorkshire Terrier mix named Teddy.

Sophia Herring (she/her) is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the College of Arts and Science at New York University. She is pursuing a B.A. in psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. Sophia has been working with Dr. Mims in the Homeplace Research Collective since the fall of 2022. Her research has focused on the identity development of children in multiracial families. She has also conducted literature reviews for the Black Youth Mental Health Initiative (BYMHI) on the effects of microaggressions and “misogynoir” on the mental health of Black youth. Sophia hopes to bridge the gap in research on Black childhood development, as it has been an omission in developmental psychology literature.

Assembly Member Chantel Jackson, LMSW, stands at the forefront of progressive change, representing District 79 with unwavering dedication and a tireless commitment to her constituents. Serving the neighborhoods of Concourse Village, Melrose, Morrisania, Claremont, Belmont, and East Tremont, she has become a beacon of hope and empowerment for the diverse communities she serves.

Born in the heart of Harlem among six siblings, Chantel's journey to public service was shaped by her upbringing in a close-knit family deeply rooted in their community. Her mother, who immigrated from Belize, instilled in her the values of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Chantel draws inspiration from her father, a business-savvy Workshop and Business Opportunity CEO who started and ran multiple companies. Their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community service serve as guiding lights in Chantel's pursuit of social justice and economic empowerment for all.

After earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from City College and completing her graduate studies at Adelphi University, Chantel dedicated nine years to assisting low-income, first-generation students in navigating college admissions and securing vital financial aid. For four years, Chantel was an NYC public high school social worker, assisting students with their mental and physical wellness.

During the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chantel demonstrated exceptional resilience and compassion as she served her community. In addition to running for office, Chantel balanced providing essential mental health services to her students through teletherapy and distributing food to her community seven days a week.

In her first term in the Assembly, Chantel achieved a significant victory with the passage of a bill requiring a license to purchase or possess a semiautomatic rifle, a crucial step in addressing gun violence in communities across the state. Since assuming office, she has allocated $80,000 in funding toward entrepreneurship initiatives within her district. Additionally, Chantel has dedicated $133,000 towards bolstering mental health programs. She is the chair of the subcommittee on Micro Businesses and serves on the Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Cities, Education, Housing, Small Business, and Mental Health committees.

Beyond her legislative work, Chantel is deeply invested in fostering health, wellness, and entrepreneurship in her community. Through initiatives such as "Strolling for Life," an advocacy event focused on combating infant mortality, and "Secure The Bag: Small Business Resource Fair," she empowers residents to take charge of their well-being and economic futures.

As she enters her second term and fourth year in office, Chantel remains steadfast in her commitment to serving as a voice for the voiceless and a champion for progress. Her dedication to her role and experience as a licensed social worker, college professor, author, and devoted mother to her daughter, Skye, and son, TJ, informs every aspect of her work, driving her relentless pursuit of health, wellness, education, and generational wealth for her community.

New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis (she/her) represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, New York, which includes the diverse neighborhoods of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Flatlands, and Marine Park. Council Member Louis has fought for the affordability and livability of New Yorkers as a champion for fair and affordable housing.

During her tenure in the New York City Council, she prioritized critical legislation to protect survivors of Domestic Violence; she spearheaded policies to improve public safety measures, launched equitable contract opportunities for MWBEs and nonprofits, and expanded STEM programs in public schools. In addition, her staunch advocacy on maternal health and quality mental healthcare helped launch a citywide response in underserved communities garnering over $5M in funding.

As the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, and Dispositions, she seeks to preserve our city’s cultural institutions, historic neighborhoods, and housing infrastructure, especially in Historic Brooklyn. She plans to continue to protect the rich architecture symbolic of the beauty of New York City that represents our history and cultural diversity.

Council Member Louis, a first-generation Brooklynite, was raised in an immigrant and pro-union household. She continues to utilize her platform to tackle social issues to advance fair representation and justice for all.

Lauren Christine Mims, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Dr. Mims was formerly Assistant Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans during the Obama Administration. Dr. Mims earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology: Applied Developmental Science at the University of Virginia School of Education. Dr. Mims obtained a B.A. in English and Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2012 and a M.A. in Child Development with a concentration in Clinical Developmental Health from Tufts University in 2014. Dr. Mims’ mixed-methods program of research uses culturally grounded developmental frameworks to explore how sociocultural stressors impact Black children’s learning and development, with the goal of identifying and amplifying the strengths and assets in children, families, and schools that may buffer the deleterious academic, social, and psychological effects that Black youth experience in response to bias and discrimination. The ultimate goal of her research is to freedom dream (Kelley, 2002) with Black children and their families, and then use that brilliance to guide the development of new research, policies, practices, and narratives.

Racquel Reid, LCSW, is an entrepreneur, social change agent, professional speaker, therapist, and founder of Inklusive Therapy. She leads an organization committed to making therapy inclusive across intersecting identities and cultural norms. She has been a mental health professional for 14 years and is engaged in developing future therapeutic leaders and assisting community based organizations to meet the needs of their community members.

KerriAnne’s clinical training encompasses a blend of psychodynamic therapy and relational cultural therapy. She believes in the power of an integrated therapeutic approach, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Beyond psychodynamic and relational cultural therapists, she incorporates other evidence-based modalities such as mindfulness and emotion-focused therapies. This eclectic approach allows for a versatile and personalized therapeutic experience, ensuring to address the specific concerns and goals the client brings to sessions.

Therapy is a collaborative journey, and active participation is central to the workr. By co-creating a supportive and trusting therapeutic relationship, KerriAnne explores the depths of client’s experiences, promote self-awareness, and develop strategies that resonate with values. KerriAnne is committed to providing a safe space where clients can openly express themselves and work towards positive, lasting change.

Dr. Kalisha Smith, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Master Counselor in New York State. She has worked in the behavioral health field for the last decade, explicitly focusing on substance misuse, mental health, and co-occurring disorders. Kalisha currently holds a leadership role as the Clinical Director of the Bushwick Outpatient Treatment Program with the organization’s Start Treatment and Recovery Center. Kalisha Smith completed her doctorate of Social Work at Simmons University, with a capstone focused on the impact of burnout on Black Women in Social Work Leadership Roles, and culturally responsive interventions to promote proactive self-care. Kalisha’s interests include the effects of racism on leadership, mental health and wellness equity, and maternal health equity. Kalisha is currently a board member of a mental health non-profit, The Darkness Rising Project, advocating for accessible and equitable mental health care.

Esther Tambe is a New York-based weight-inclusive Registered Dietitian passionate about helping women recover from eating disorders and disordered eating. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Long Island University and another in Health Science-Public Health from Stony Brook University. She also has a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Long Island University. 

Esther is committed to increasing awareness of eating disorders/disordered eating in Black communities, which are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. She strongly believes culturally appropriate nutrition care is essential for the Black community. 

In addition to providing nutrition counseling for eating disorders, Esther is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist who helps clients manage diabetes from a weight-inclusive lens. Before opening her private practice, Esther worked in underserved communities providing nutrition education and counseling to individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and HIV/AIDS. Now, she blends her passion for eating disorders with her clinical background to help clients heal their relationships with food while managing other health conditions.

As a weight-inclusive provider, Esther believes women of all body shapes and sizes deserve respect and high-quality care. She provides individualized nutrition care for all her clients, regardless of their body shape or size that centers on health-promoting behaviors rather than weight.

You can find Esther traveling around the world, taking Zumba classes, and spending time with her family outside of work. She is also the co-founder of Fight Through Flights Inc., a non-profit organization that aims to empower and support the healing of Black women living with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors through wellness experiences and travel.

Shakera Tems (she/her) serves as a New York State Excelsior Service Fellow within the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul’s Women's Affairs Office. Shakera was previously with the New York State Department of Labor's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) where she worked on DEI strategic planning, programming, policy, and training. Prior to that role, she completed a Fellowship in Women and Public Policy from the Rockefeller College Center of Women in Government and Civil Society at the University at Albany.

Shakera advocates for the understanding of critical socio-political issues that affect the treatment of women, specifically women of color, within medically related spaces, and is passionate about removing barriers that prevent equitable, inclusive, and holistic reproductive health care. She has garnered experience in public health, education, public policy, public relations, research, and project operations. These varied professional and personal exposures have kept her motivated to examine society through the lens of healthcare equity, women's issues, civil and human rights, public policy, and advocacy.

Shakera earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a double minor in Entrepreneurship and African and African American Diaspora Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017. She earned her Masters in Public Administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany in 2022 and holds two graduate certificates: one in Women and Public Policy from Rockefeller College and the other in Maternal and Child Health from the University at Albany School of Public Health.

New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers {#SW-0012}.

New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors {#MHC-0083}.

For Mental Health Practitioners: Please check with your state, if you are not licensed in New York, to determine if these credits will be accepted for licensing renewal.