This year's Diversity Summit was a great success thanks to the expert speakers, generous sponsors, dedicated staff and the attendees. The virtual format allowed for participants to join from all over Erie County, Pennsylvania and even nationally!
Keynote: Dr. Randal D. Pinkett
Dr. Randal Pinkett is an entrepreneur, innovator, speaker, author, media personality and DEI expert leading the way in business, technology and equity for all. He is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a global, multimillion-dollar research, training, consulting, technology, and data analytics firm whose mission is to leverage diversity, insights and innovation to transform lives, accelerate equity and create lasting change.
Dr. Pinkett is an expert in several areas relating to emerging technologies, “big data” analytics, social innovation, culture, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and is a regular contributor on MSNBC, CNN, and Fox Business News. An international public speaker, he is the author or co-author of several books including Black Faces in High Places, Black Faces in White Places, Data-Driven DEI, Campus CEO, and No-Money Down CEO. He holds five degrees including: a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University; a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Oxford in England; and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering, MBA, and Ph.D. from MIT.
Workshop Speakers
The Race Obsession-Avoidance Paradox: The Historical Rhyming of Racial Rhetoric Rebecca Willow, EdD
Racial fear, and the rhetoric it stimulates, have been infused in the American psyche since the birth of the nation. The objective of this session is to examine the current racial dynamics through this historical prism. This presentation will review the through-lines between the racial language of the 1820s and the 2020s. The session will demonstrate how perennial, virulent racial fear has contributed to the character and conflicts that have defined the country. Examples will be provided that illuminate the rhetorical parallels between the nineteenth century language and contemporary rhetoric like wokeness, CRT, and DEI. Parallels throughout history also exist in educational and institutional policies that have emerged in response to racialized rhetoric. The Race Obsession-Avoidance Paradox will be introduced as a model that provides a visual representation of this national phenomenon. Implications for educational and mental health experiences will be considered. Discussion with participants will be invited and encouraged.
Reaching At-Risk Kids Brittany Patterson, PhD
Dr. Patterson is a licensed psychologist and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). She will be exploring how to develop a strength-based approach for reaching children and adolescents who are frequently labeled adults as "fighters" or "troublemakers."
Cultural Considerations for People at Risk for Suicide Shannon Stewart, LPC
Providers must be self-aware of their biases when providing care and support to others, but especially for those at risk for suicide. As suicide rates remain high, engaging in mental health care can be a protective factor for these patients. By learning the cultural characteristics to consider, you will gain competency and skills in providing inclusive, mindful, and equitable care for those you serve.
Cross Cultural Considerations in Psychiatry Clarice Dixson, DO
Sarah Reed psychiatrist, Dr. Clarice Dixson, will help participants explore multiple considerations regarding cross-cultural psychiatry including the expression of mental illness, diagnostic considerations, help-seeking behavior and the role of stigma, and treatment preferences.
Spirituality and Indigenous Psychology Syed Rizvi, M Ed.
Spirituality is a universal concept that is found in nearly every society from past to present. This seminar examines the role of faith and spirituality in traditional models of psychology including indigenous worldviews. Participants will explore key differences between Western-based healthcare and traditional ways of healing. Clinicians will leave with tangible ways to integrate spirituality in both assessment and treatment.
Keynote: Dr. Rueben Brock
Dr. Rueben Brock is an assistant professor of psychology at PennWest University. He holds a PhD in counseling psychology from West Virginia University. He specializes in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, cultural issues, leadership development, and wellness in his consulting. He recently aided in the development of an implicit bias training initiative for the California Department of Social Services. With over 25 years of mental health experience, Brock also maintains a small counseling practice.
In 2024, Brock released his first feature film, entitled Black Pittsburgh, which explores the history of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Black community. The film documents a pivotal moment in the city’s history, in the election of it’s first Black mayor.
Film Screening & Discussion
In the evening, we held a documentary film screening of Black Pittsburgh at the Historic Institute of Culture and the African American Experience. Following the film, Dr. Brock led a discussion of the content and how the situations in Pittsburgh parallel with Erie. Attendees were highly engaged and got a lot out of the experience.
Sponsored by
