In 2008 the US House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. In celebration of
Speakers:
Marin Swesey | Manager, NAMI Multicultural Action Center
Marin Swesey began her work with NAMI Multicultural Action Center in May 2006. Now serving as Manager of the NAMI Multicultural Action Center, Ms. Swesey provides technical assistance to the field in areas of cultural competence, multicultural leadership development
Elnora L. Jenkins-Christie | Executive Director, National Leadership Council on African American Behavioral Health
Elnora L. Jenkins-Christie currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Leadership Council (NLC) on African American Behavioral Health, WLT Consulting, LLC and the Gertrude Wood Community Foundation (GWCF). Ms. Jenkins-Christie retired from the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) in August 2007 after 30 years of service in local and state government. While at ODMH she served as the Administrator for Prevention Initiatives, Office of Children’s Services & Prevention, and was instrumental in designing and launching the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation in partnership with The Ohio State University. Ms. Jenkins-Christie also served as the Acting Chief of the Office of Children’s Services and Prevention and as Assistant Office Chief, Child Care Division, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Tracee’ L. Black-Fall | Mental Health and Co-occuring Disorders Advocate
Tracee’ L. Black-Fall, has a genuine commitment to advocate for those that live with mental health issues and co-occurring disorders. This commitment stems from unconditional love for her daughter, Tova who lives with bipolar disorder and her own brain aneurysm that led to the development of Tova’s N.E.S.T. which “Gives a bridge of hope as people move toward new beginnings.” The vision of Tova’s N.E.S.T. is to educate and raise the awareness of the African American faith-based community, populations at risk, and other systems regarding mental health issues, co-occurring disorders, suicide prevention and to eliminate stigma while promoting recovery and resiliency. The mission of Tova’s N.E.S.T, Inc. embraces all families and communities, with an emphasis on the African American faith based community and populations at risk. Traceé has received several awards, including the “Voice Award” in 2005, with national recognition for her advocacy work from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in Los Angeles, California. She was also honored at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Ohio 2005 annual conference where she received the “Stigma Buster” Award.
Gilberto Romero | NLBHA Board Member & Tenemos Voz Organizer/Leader
At age 28 Gilberto began his road to abstinence from alcohol. His mental illness had interrupted his education in the 6th grade. Living a life of maladjusted misfit Gilberto did many odd jobs in order to survive. Gilberto’s first attempt at acquiring professional skills was in 1971 when he started doing photography. Today he is a Public Health Advocate with a radio program broadcasted across New Mexico for over 18 years. Over the last two decades Gilberto has been instrumental through his trail blazing efforts to improve mental health services for consumers and their families. As a recovering mental health consumer, he is a gifted photographer, philosopher and leading international mental health advocate.
Blanca DeLeon | NLBHA Board Member & Tenemos Voz Organizer/Leader
Blanca Deleon has been involved in the mental health client self-help and civil rights movement for the past 15 years. She currently works at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health at Northeast Wellness Center. Born in El Salvador, Blanca has been an ardent advocate for the rights of all people who have been diagnosed with mental illnesses, in general, and for the Latino population, in particular. Blanca has spoken at conferences on the local, state and national levels as well as being on numerous advisory boards and committees.