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DAY 1 - IN PERSON SPEAKERS
( LIVE IN KALAMAZOO, MI)
D'Andrea Bolden, MA
Faith and Mental Health- Embracing Spirituality While Integrating Clinically Sound Practices:
This talk will explore the intersection of faith and mental health, highlighting how embracing spiritual beliefs can coexist with and support clinically sound mental health practices. Learn how faith can offer hope, resilience, and a sense of purpose, while also recognizing the importance of evidence-based therapies and professional care. By understanding the role of spirituality in healing, individuals can integrate both faith and clinical approaches to achieve holistic well-being. This session aims to empower individuals to navigate mental health challenges with a balanced approach, where both spiritual and clinical support work together to promote healing and growth.
Breaking the Repetitive Cycle: Addiction, Incarceration, and Trauma:
This insightful session delves into the repetitive cycle of addiction, incarceration, and trauma, examining how these issues interconnect and contribute to ongoing criminal activity. Participants will explore the deep impact of trauma on individuals caught in this cycle and how addiction and incarceration often reinforce it. Through real-world examples and practical solutions, this talk will offer strategies for breaking free from these patterns, highlighting the importance of support systems, rehabilitation, and community involvement in creating lasting change.
Emmett Hall, MS, LLPC, NCC,
DP-CAADC
Dr. Kym Leonard
What to Do and When: Real Tools for Real-Life Mental Health Struggles:
Mental illness doesn’t come with a manual, but knowing how to recognize the signs and respond can make all the difference. This practical and compassionate session is designed for caregivers, pastors, and family members who want to support someone facing mental health challenges. You’ll learn how to identify a crisis, offer real help without burning out, and know when to step in—or step back—and connect them with professional care. Whether you’re in ministry or simply walking alongside a loved one, you’ll leave with tools you can use right away.
Tiffany Cunningham
Faith, Fitness, and Nutrition: The Powerful Impact of Diet and Exercise on Mental Health : This talk will explore how faith, fitness, and nutrition work together to enhance mental health and overall well-being. By understanding the connection between what we eat, how we move, and our mental state, individuals can make informed choices to support their emotional and psychological health. Diet and exercise are not just tools for physical health—they are powerful allies in managing stress, boosting mood, and improving cognitive function. Learn how incorporating healthy habits, grounded in faith, can lead to a more balanced and resilient mind.
John Bolden
Restoring Dignity and Care: Navigating the Challenges of Caregiving for Those with Mental Health Struggles: This talk will provide caregivers with essential tools and insights on how to effectively support individuals facing various mental health challenges while preserving their dignity and well-being. Learn how to approach caregiving with empathy, patience, and respect, while managing the emotional and physical demands of the role. Explore practical strategies for handling difficult situations, setting healthy boundaries, and recognizing when professional help is needed. By focusing on compassionate care and self-care, caregivers will gain the confidence and resources to provide meaningful support, creating a positive impact on both their loved ones' mental health and their own.
Taieshia Tindall, MT- BC
Healing Through Sound: Using Music Therapy to Promote Mental Health:
This interactive workshop will explore the therapeutic power of music and its positive effects on mental health. Music therapy can help individuals express emotions, manage stress, and improve overall well-being by tapping into the healing properties of sound. Learn how music therapy can be used to reduce anxiety, enhance mood, and foster emotional resilience. Whether through listening, creating, or engaging in structured music therapy, discover how music offers a creative and effective tool to support mental health and promote healing.
Shaquona Espinoza
The Healing Power of Art: Using Creativity to Promote Mental Wellness: This workshop will highlight and demonstrate the transformative role of art in promoting mental wellness. Through creative expression, art provides an outlet for emotions, reduces stress, and fosters personal insight and healing. Learn how engaging in art—whether drawing, painting, or other forms of creativity—can support emotional well-being, improve self-awareness, and help manage anxiety or depression. Discover the benefits of using art as a tool for mental health, offering individuals a meaningful way to express themselves, reflect, and find peace.
DAY 2 - VIRTUAL SPEAKERS
2025 Summit Scholarly Authors
McCarthy Anum-Addo
Faith as a Catalyst for Mental Resilience: Integrating Spirituality in Trauma Recovery
This manuscript delves into how faith can serve as a healing instrument while addressing
misconceptions about mental health within religious communities. It examines barriers to seeking help, the role of spirituality in fostering emotional resilience, and the importance of integrating faith with professional mental health resources.
Clementina Jose, LMSW
Healing and Empowering: Culturally Competent Approaches to Mental Health in Black and Brown Communities
In Black and Brown communities, mental health is intricately connected to cultural identity, spirituality, and religious beliefs. Faith-based practices, in particular, have long played a central role in promoting psychological resilience and well-being, offering not just coping mechanisms but also a sense of community and support. Despite the critical role that faith and spirituality play in the mental health of many individuals, mental health professionals often fail to incorporate these dimensions into therapy, leaving a gap in treatment for many clients. This literature review examines research that highlights the importance of faith in mental health treatment, focusing on the cultural practices and beliefs of African American and Latino populations. The review synthesizes findings on the integration of spirituality into therapy, cultural competence in mental health care, and the role of community-based faith practices.