and 
PRESENT
The Faith Community Role or Responsibility: Mental Health & Trauma in Communities of Color.
***A FREE WORKSHOP FOR THE FAITH COMMUNITY***
Date: May 18, 2023
Time: 11am – 2pm (Lunch will be provide)
Location: Mt Olive Baptist Church 701 East Delavan Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215
WHAT: A FOCUS ON THE FAITH COMMUNITY: A workshop specifically for faith-based community leaders and members, grassroots leaders, behavioral health providers, and volunteers and caregivers that will provide resources and support in addressing mental wellness, and trauma in communities of color.
IT’S A HEALING TOGETHER: BIPOC FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEARNING
WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
KEYNOTE Presentation, Panel Discussion, Conversation, Lunch
BE INSPIRED BY: Keynote Speaker, Rev. Dan T. Butler of Rochester, NY:
Rev. Dan T. Butler serves as the senior pastor of St. John Baptist Church of Rochester. Rev. Butler is the Equity and Advocacy Division Director of the Urban League of Rochester. He was born and raised in Rochester, NY and attended Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT, and received a certificate in Behavioral Health Care Specialist Track I and Associates Degree in General Studies. He returned to Rochester to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management and a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan University. Additionally, Dan received the Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in HR Management from Corexcel in January 2022 and training from the Racial Equity Institute. Recently Rev. Butler was recognized by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce as a DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) 2022 Colors of Success Award Nominee. Dan is married to Marcella Cunningham-Butler, who is also involved in the Rochester Community. They have a wonderful, blended family of three daughters, one son (deceased), and three grandchildren and one on the way. Rev. Butler believes there is life after bad choices and in leadership who are willing to serve.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Panelists include: Pastor George Nicholas, Evangelist Lynne Parker and Rabbi Simcha Weinstein
Pastor George Nicholas, MDiv is the Senior pastor of Lincoln Memorial United Methodist, Buffalo, NY. He has been recognized by the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist for his work on urban ministries. Pastor Nicholas is an advocate for social justice and community revitalization. He has particular passion for public health, as a result he is a founding member of the African American Health Equity Task Force which birthed the Buffalo Center for Health Equity where he is the Board Chair and Chief Executive. As a recognition for his work in public health, Pastor Nicholas was awarded with the Benard J. Tyson Health Equity Award in 2022. Pastor Nicholas serves on multiple Committees including, the Executive Committee of the Board of Population Health Collaborative, HEALTeLINK Board of Directors, Board of Directors of the Bills Foundation, and the Advisory Committee for New York’s Master Plan for Aging.
Lynne C. Parker is an educator, minister, faith-based consultant, author, freelance writer, and consummate orator. God favors her to bring powerful, thought-provoking messages encouraging members of our community and those serving in ministry to walk in our God-given authority!
Lynne considers her years in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors as part of her journey for personal and spiritual development. Lynne holds credentials for adult learning and continued her education to receive a MA in Psychology Counselling. Lynne operates under God’s grace as she serves leaders, families, teams, ministry, and community. She is the founder and Vision Steward™ for the IC4U-Intensive Care for You, Inc. nonprofit para ministry. Lynne and the IC4U, Inc. team serve in ministry and community settings by making information and resources available. The IC4U team provides success strategies to elevate quality of life and promote holistic wellness for the eight dimensions of health.
IC4U, Inc. has developed curriculum, faith-based counseling, and the “Good Grief” series to address grief and loss for individuals, families, and ministries. Partnership and collaboration resources are an integral component of this organization. IC4U is partnered with LPC-MH (licensed professional counselor in mental health) providers as part of a referral program for additional support services. Lynne is honored to serve existing and potential kingdom citizens with empowerment resources for victorious living!
RABBI SIMCHA WEINSTEIN is an internationally known author, speaker and inclusion advocate. He has appeared on CNN and NPR and has been profiled in leading publications, including the New York Times, Miami Herald, and London Guardian. A syndicated columnist, he writes for Tablet Magazine, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Condé Nast, and many other agencies. He is the DEI coordinator at Families Together in NYS and is the Founder of the Jewish Autism Network.
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WHY THIS TRAINING IS IMPORTANT: The aftermath of the Tops Massacre on May 14, 2022 and persistent systemic racism have been devastating for East Buffalo communities and now is the time to take bold and intentional action. This tragic incident provides an unprecedented opportunity to address mental health and trauma differently, with freshly informed equity lenses at all levels.
This free intentional learning and community engagement opportunity is specifically for faith-based and grassroots leaders and community members, behavioral health providers, volunteers, and caregivers.
Our goals and community learning objectives include:
- Provide a cross system community educational opportunity to offer long-term strategies for addressing trauma and mental health in communities of color and highlight the diversity of needs related to “healing”
- Improve awareness and understanding of needs related to mental health and trauma in the communities of color
- Advance opportunities to address the intersection of Social Determinants of Health and Behavioral Health Care through the lens of Equity
- To elevate community voices across systems with intentional and targeted goals of promoting neighborhood outreach models that include natural healers
- To provide a forum to build collaborative partnerships that elevate the voices of patients, parents, caregivers, faith leaders and grassroots neighborhood centers to inform and improve policies and practices through system change and collective impact activities.
REGISTER: PLEASE RSVP BY MAY 15th:
You may register at this EventBrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/622557806157
Or email Hope Isom at: hisom@bfnc.org
BE SURE TO LISTEN TO A PODCAST CONVERSATION by Chandra Redfern and Rev. Dan T Butler about the role of the faith-based community in assisting with community healing.
DOWNLOAD FLYER and PRINT
BFNC BIPOC flyer_May18_V3