Conference Presenters
“Meet the professionals helping us address Black fatigue and advance mental wellness.”
Keynote Speaker
John Burton Jr.
TEDx Speaker/Clinical Therapist/Filmmaker/Podcaster
Some people find their calling. John Burton, Jr. was built for several — and for the tension between them. Part clinician, part clergyman, part brand architect, he has spent his career standing at the intersection of pulpit and clipboard, boardroom and altar, refusing to let any one title define the whole.
For over a decade, Burton served as a Youth & Children's Pastor, investing in young lives long before the platforms and accolades arrived. Today, as an itinerant preacher, he moves by calling rather than calendar — going where he's needed, when he's needed there. His range shows up everywhere he works. As former chaplain for the Los Angeles Clippers, he spoke truth to professional athletes navigating pressure most people never see. In private practice at A Talk with John Counseling and Consulting, he counsels the people behind the pressure. And in the marketing world, he's built campaigns for Disney, Warner Bros., and Wells Fargo — proof that his gift for connection translates across industries.
Burton is also a trusted voice on mental health in national media: a weekly contributor on The Nightly Spirit with Darlene McCoy, the nation's #1 evening syndicated radio show on the Stellar Award-winning Urban One network; recurring host of the international Black Mental Health Matters; and mental health expert on BlackDoctors.com's Soulibration podcast. His own daily podcast, Grace Notes, has built a national following on the same principle that guides everything he does: excellence should never come at the cost of authenticity.
A graduate of Winston-Salem State University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School, Burton carries an impressive list of honors: 40 Under 40, WSSU Legacy Maker, Who's Who, Forbes Black, and a rare induction into the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College. He serves on the executive boards of Black Male Therapists of Charlotte and the Charlotte Film Society, and is a proud life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Yet for all the credentials, he wears the weight of legacy lightly; humility and grace, not status, are what he leads with. His debut documentary, Hush!
Somebody's Calling My Name, premiered at the Charlotte Black Film Festival. His TEDx Talk landed. His podcast keeps empowering listeners, one episode at a time. Because this is what John Burton, Jr. does: he doesn't just build brands. He builds people brave enough to become one, from the inside out.
Breakout Session Presenter
Rev. Dr. Jaye Lynn Peabody Smith
DMIN, MPA, MDIV, MS, LPC, CPCS
Rev. Dr. Jaye Lynn Peabody Smith is a licensed professional counselor and a certified professional counseling supervisor. She is also the Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care & Counseling at BSK Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
She earned a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling, a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling, and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health from Mercer University. She also earned a Master of Public Administration from New York University. She has a wealth of training in Clinical Pastoral Education.
She has presented inspiring and engaging workshops on a diverse segment of topics. State and national conferences include the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Licensed Professional Counseling Association of Georgia, and the American Mental Health Counselors Association.
Breakout Session Presenter
Dr. Destiny Huff
Lpc
Dr. Destiny Huff, LPC, is a neuroaffirming mental health therapist, special education advocate, author, and nationally recognized speaker whose work centers the intersection of race, disability, education, and mental health. As a Black autistic and ADHD professional, parent, and advocate, she brings both lived and professional expertise to conversations about advocacy fatigue, institutional harm, racial bias, ableism, and access. Her work equips families and professionals to recognize systemic barriers, reduce the burden placed on Black disabled individuals, and create more culturally responsive, affirming, and equitable systems.
Breakout Session Presenter
Marcia Blane
LPC, CPCS, CHt, CCTS, CCTS-I
Marcia Blane is a licensed professional counselor, certified professional counselor supervisor, author, speaker, and founder of Peculiar One Counseling. With extensive experience in trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and culturally responsive mental health care, she specializes in helping individuals and organizations understand the impact of chronic stress and trauma on emotional well-being. Marcia is the creator of the Decolonizing Mental Health continuing education program and a passionate advocate for integrating neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility into clinical practice. Through her presentations, she equips helping professionals with practical, evidence-based strategies that promote resilience, healing, and sustainable wellness within diverse communities.
Breakout Session Presenter
Kimberly Ward
ICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, RPTl
Kimberly Ward is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist, EMDR Certified Therapist, and Founder of KimCares Wellness Services, LLC. She serves as a School Social Worker with DC Public Schools and has more than 20 years of experience providing trauma-informed mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and families.
Kimberly specializes in trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, emotional regulation, and culturally responsive clinical practice. She is passionate about translating neuroscience and evidence-based interventions into practical strategies that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and promote healing.
An accomplished national presenter, Kimberly has delivered workshops for NASW National Conference, NASW state chapters, Black Mental Health Conference, Millennial Social Work Conference, NAMI, and numerous professional conferences across the country. She obtained the 2026 Visionary Social Work Awards in the Advocacy in Action category. She is recognized for creating engaging, interactive presentations that blend clinical expertise, cultural humility, and real-world application. Through education, advocacy, and compassionate practice, Kimberly is committed to advancing mental health awareness and helping individuals break cycles of trauma to build healthier, more resilient lives.
Breakout Session Presenter
Dr. Tatyana Kitchen
LMSW
Dr. Tatyana Kitchen, LMSW, is a social work educator, licensed master social worker, and scholar-practitioner whose work centers Black women, mental health, culturally responsive practice, and health equity. She earned her Doctor of Social Work from the University of Kentucky and Master of Social Work from Savannah State University. Her scholarship and professional presentations have addressed Black maternal mental health, culturally responsive supervision, racialized experiences, and the experiences of Black women within healthcare and professional settings. Drawing from clinical practice, social work education, and lived-informed scholarship, Dr. Kitchen advocates for approaches that move beyond narratives of resilience to recognize the complex emotional, social, and systemic factors shaping Black women’s well-being.
Breakout Session Presenter
Breakout Session Presenter
Travis Thompson
LPC, NCC, CPCS
Travis Thompson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) with nearly twenty years of experience across clinical mental health practice, program leadership, and school counseling. He has served as a high school counselor for nearly a decade, including the last two years as head counselor, and previously held clinical and supervisory roles across several community mental health agencies. From 2013 to 2015, he helped train Georgia law enforcement on recognizing and responding to child and adolescent behavioral health crises through the state's Crisis Intervention Team program. He has delivered more than twenty professional presentations on topics including stress, resilience, and equity in access to care
J. Tekulvē Flower de Jackson-Vann
MFT
J. Tekulvē Flower de Jackson-Vann is a native of Milledgeville, Georgia, where he graduated with Distinction from Georgia Military College Prep School. He earned a BS in Marriage, Family, and Human Development with an emphasis in Family Life Education from Brigham Young University, an MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Valdosta State University, and is currently completing a Doctorate in Behavioral Health at Arizona State University, where he is focusing on the experiences of gender and racial minorities in primary care. Tekulvē is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 20 years of clinical experience across multiple states. He is also an AAMFT-approved supervisor and Clinical Fellow. In addition to his clinical work, Tekulve has been a clinical educator for nearly 15 years, and he has co-authored two books exploring the intersection of race, spirituality, and sexuality. He currently resides in Oregon with his husband and children.