1. The Appalling Silence by Dr. T. Leon Williams on 01/19/2023
Our keynote speaker Dr. T. Leon Williams provided a monologue via zoom focused on the "appalling silence" of good people!
2. The Importance of Seeking Mental Health Services by Bertha L. White on 02/16/2023
Bertha L. White, is a Licensed Certified Social Worker Clinical (LCSW-C), in private practice in Maryland and Virginia.
3. Dreaming Big and Failing Forward by Julie Prebula on 03/30/2023
Ms. Prebula is the owner and director of The Prebula Family Agency where she mentors life agents across the country interested in building their own independent agencies.
4. One Life Changing Decision by Joyce Bender on 04/13/2023
Joyce Bender continues as an international leader in the area of disability employment through her role as CEO at Bender Consulting Services. A person living with disabilities, epilepsy and hard of hearing, Joyce founded Bender Consulting Services, Inc. in 1995 after immersing herself in the disability community after a life-threatening accident due to a seizure.
5. You are Destined to Become Everything They Said You Can't by Jordan Pierre on 09/12/2023
Jordan Pierre is a graduate of Syracuse University. He is a Journalist, social justice advocate, motivational speaker, commentator, and self-established talk show Host. He speaks on the beauty and importance of being unapologetically yourself and not letting anyone dim your light.
6. Thriving in Exile: A Queer Immigrant Journey by Lyosha Gorshkov on 10/02/2023
Dr. Lyosha Gorshkov is originally from Russia.
Lyosha holds PhD in Political Science that Lyosha received in 2009 from Perm State University. Lyosha had introduced queer studies to the Russian political science, actively promoting LGBTIQA+ within the Russian academia.
In 2014, Lyosha was forced to leave Russia being persecuted as an openly queer professor and advocate for LGBTIQA+ rights. Lyosha was exiled to the Unites States.
7. Igniting Compassion: A Journey of Passion and Purpose in Serving the Homeless Community by Quincy White on 12/04/2023
With over a decade of dedicated experience managing homeless programs and shelters, Quincy White embodies a unique blend of visionary leadership and profound expertise in the field. Quincy has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of homeless individuals.
Under Quincy's guidance, the programs and initiatives he oversaw grew remarkably in size and scope. He has passionately fostered positive engagement with homeless citizens, championing the mission to create a secure haven that empowers individuals to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency. Quincy's strategic initiatives, including establishing monthly job fairs, mobile thrift stores, peer support groups, mindfulness programs, and an expanded range of medical services, reflect his proactive approach and dedication to holistic support.
8.Never Quitting, The Power of Moving Forward by Aaron Harris on 02/26/2024
Aaron Harris is a dynamic change agent, whose transforms adversity into power. Whether it’s through a creative lens or educational environment, Aaron has been dedicated to the empowerment of youth and young adults.
Currently, Aaron serves as the Executive Director of Keeping My Promise Inc. Keeping My Promise Inc. is a non-profit organization designed to serve communities through educational access, career-readiness, and industry-based mentoring.
9.Understanding Ruptured Moments In the Quest toward Visibility: Art as Praxis for Healing by Joselyn Parker on 04/15/2024
Joselyn Parker is a dynamic doctoral candidate at The Ohio State University, delving into the nuanced experiences of Black queer women and their journey towards liberation. Her research is a call to disrupt injustices and foster social change in education, utilizing artistic expressions to amplify the voices and stories of marginalized communities.
10. Queer, Black, and Getting Away With It: The Power of Hope, Struggle and Community by Kristopher Oliveira on 10/14/2024
Dr. Kristopher Oliveira, a proud Slippery Rock University alumnus ('15, psychology), directs the LGBTQ+ Equity Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. His journey in Queer and Trans advocacy began at SRU's Pride Center, sparking a career dedicated to fostering inclusivity at colleges and universities. He earned a PhD in Sociology and his research focuses on gender, sexuality, and race in the context of higher education. Prior to joining UMD, he led the LGBTQ+ centers at Princeton University, the University of Kansas, and St. Cloud State University. Dr. Oliveira is an award winning scholar and practitioner. He recently completed a national study of LGBTQ+ Resource Professionals, and is currently co-editing "Beyond the Center," a guide to queering every corner of campus. Kristopher serves as the Director of Research for ACPA's Coalition for Sexuality and Gender Identity and is the former Membership Engagement Director of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. At Slippery Rock, he was the president of RockOUT from 2012-2015.
In his talk, "Queer, Black, and Getting Away With It: The Power of Hope, Struggle, and Community," Kris unpacks his journey of joy, failure, success, grief, resilience, and resistance. To do this, he weaves together imagery, video, and storytelling to explore “hope in the face of heartbreak” and to emphasize the transformative power of persistence, struggle, and community.