and 
Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers and Positive Steps Consulting
PRESENT
THE FAITH COMMUNITY ROLE OR RESPONSIBILITY
MENTAL HEALTH AND TRAUMA IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
A FREE WORKSHOP FOR THE FAITH COMMUNITY
Date: July 29, 2023
Time: Time: 9am – 12pm (Breakfast will be provided)
Location: Mt. Olive Baptist Church 701 East Delavan Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT DESIGNED FOR faith- based and grassroots leaders and community members, behavioral health providers, volunteers, and caregivers.
A FOCUS ON THE FAITH COMMUNITY: A workshop created 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.
WORKSHOP INCLUDES: Keynote speaker, Panel discussion, Breakfast and Engaging Discussions
BE INSPIRED BY: Keynote Speaker, Dr. Myra Mathis, MD Myra L. Mathis, MD, is a faculty member and board-certified General Adult and Addiction Psychiatrist at the University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry. She is currently the Medical Director for Strong Recovery, UR Medicine outpatient dual-
diagnosis clinic which houses an Opioid Treatment Program and provides a full range of addiction and
psychiatric services.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
PANEL DISCUSSION: Panelists include: Reverend Jeff Carter, Pastor Shannon Carter and Charles
Anthony Rice
Reverend Jeff Carter is Pastor of Ephesus Ministries. Ephesus Ministries is a vibrant, community involved congregation on the east side of Buffalo. Ephesus is a church and a ministry on the “EDGE” – Evangelism, Discipleship, Growth, and Empowerment.
Assistant Pastor Shannon L. Carter currently serves as an Elder, and Minister of Music. Shannon Carter is the founder of a Grief Symposium that allows people who are grieving and broken-hearted a chance to come together and find healing and wholeness.
Charles Anthony Rice
Charles is Community Engagement Specialist for NYS OMH Bureau of Crisis, Emergency and Stabilization Initiatives
WHY THIS TRAINING IS IMPORTANT:
The aftermath of the Tops Massacre on May 14, 2022 and persistent systemic racism has 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.
PLEASE RSVP by July 26, 2023 to hisom@bfnc.org
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