Speaker Information

Pascale Jean-Noel is the Founder/Owner of a private consulting business, Purposeful Leadership Coaching, that provides executive leadership coaching and training on Positionality, Spirituality, Imposter Syndrome and Sisterhood in Leadership Roles. She is also currently the Director of Training for the ACT Institute at the Center for Practice and Innovations. Working with the New York State Office of Mental Health, she helps design, coordinate and facilitate extensive training curricula on Recovery Oriented Practices, and Person Centered Treatment planning for ACT providers throughout New York State. Pascale is also an adjunct lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work and Fordham University School of Social Work. At Columbia University, she teaches Adult Psychopathology and Wellness in a residential and on-line setting. At Fordham University, she teaches Assessment and Diagnosis, Clinical Seminar, Advanced Integrated Practice with Organizations and Communities from a Social Justice Lense and Comparative Social Welfare Policy and Advocacy. Pascale Jean-Noel presents yearly at multiple conferences nationally and statewide. Her topics include Positionality through leadership and service delivery, Person centered treatment and Supervision, Assertive Community Treatment in NYS, Strategies to Improve Mental Health Outcomes in the Black Community and Supervision in a Data Driven Environment along with many other topics related to professional development.

Speaker Information

Melissa Miralda is Deputy Director of the Community Rehabilitation Department in Belize, with over 23 years of experience in juvenile justice, child protection, and social work leadership. She specializes in program and policy development, staff mentorship, and evidence-based interventions aimed at the rehabilitation and empowerment of children, youth, and families. Melissa has led national initiatives including the implementation of Belize’s National Diversion Program, the integration of standardized assessment tools, and professional capacity-building programs across government agencies.

She holds a Master of Social Work from Galen University and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Belize. Her research focuses on mental health access, gender-responsive practice, and culturally grounded social work interventions. In her recent study, “From Silence to Healing: Barriers to Men Accessing Mental Health Services in Belize,” she examined how cultural norms, stigma, and systemic factors shape men’s engagement with mental health services, providing actionable recommendations for policy, practice, and community-based interventions.

Melissa’s work bridges research, policy, and practice, emphasizing trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and gender-sensitive approaches. She is committed to advancing inclusive, community-driven strategies that reduce disparities and strengthen social support systems in Belize.

Speaker Information

D’Wayne James, PhD, LCSW, a Boston native, is passionate about social change, mental health education, and community well-being. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University, as well as a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. As a Ph.D. student, Dr. James was a two-time CSWE Minority Fellowship recipient and instrumental in developing and executing the online curriculum for the Master of Social Work program at Howard University, ensuring the content was culturally appropriate, relevant, and applicable to real-world scenarios. His dissertation explored how cultural and contextual factors, including social media use, shape Black men’s professional identities and practices with clinical social work licensure. Dr. James is a psychotherapist supporting the mental health and wellness of medical students in Grenada, reflecting a rare ability to blend clinical excellence with cultural humility. In addition, Dr. James is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at CUNY Hunter College, where he is committed to advancing culturally responsive mental health practices and mentoring the next generation of social workers.

Speaker Information

Dr. Darron Garner, PhD, LCSW-S is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Prairie View A&M University. His scholarship centers on Afrocentric pedagogy, liberation psychology, trauma-informed and culturally grounded practice, and epistemic decolonization in social work education and mental health systems. Dr. Garner’s work integrates the Nguzo Saba principles, Ubuntu philosophy, and narrative transformation to advance culturally responsive healing and professional identity formation. He is actively engaged in international and community-based research, including Afrocentric immersion initiatives in Ghana, and is committed to advancing equity-driven education, clinical practice, and policy reform for marginalized communities.

Speaker Information

Cristino N. Chavez Jr. is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Certified Trauma Professional (CTP). A first‑generation Salvadoran born and raised on Long Island, he now resides and practices in the Bronx, New York. His work centers on comprehensive social assessments, client advocacy, and advancing policy reforms across the criminal, juvenile, and immigration justice systems.

Cristino earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from SUNY Old Westbury and a Master of Social Work from Adelphi University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Welfare at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. His research focuses on criminal and juvenile justice, immigration, and mass incarceration, with particular attention to community‑based restorative justice and critical race theory.

He serves as a Forensic Social Worker at The Legal Aid Society and sits on the Board of Directors for Hands Across Long Island, Inc. Cristino is also an Adjunct Professor at New York University (NYU), teaching graduate students at the Silver School of Social Work and undergraduate students in the Opportunity Program. His clinical experience includes roles as a Trauma Therapist with the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office and as a Psychotherapist at the Upper Manhattan Mental Health Clinic and Mental Health Providers of Western Queens. He has contributed to multiple research initiatives through positions at the Cardozo School of Law, Adelphi University, the University of Hartford, and the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Workforce Institute.

Cristino is an active member of professional organizations, including the National Organization of Forensic Social Workers (NOFSW). His commitment to social justice has been recognized through the Nassau County Executive’s Community Advocate Award and his selection as a Phi Iota Alpha 40 Under 40 honoree.

Speaker Information

Melanie A. Abongo is a public health professional, researcher, nurse, and academic based in Nairobi, Kenya, with extensive experience in maternal health, mental health, clinical research, and health systems strengthening in low- and middle-income country settings. She is currently a PhD candidate in Public Health at the KEMRI Graduate School (JKUAT) and holds a Master of Science in Public Health (Monitoring and Evaluation) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Her professional background spans clinical trials, ethical research oversight, public health programming, and academic teaching. Melanie has contributed to research in maternal and neonatal health, HIV/AIDS, antimicrobial resistance, oncology, and health systems integration, with peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations at national and international levels. She has received competitive research grants from institutions including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International AIDS Society.

Melanie is also a trained health counselor with Postpartum Support International, where she provides psychosocial support to women experiencing postnatal depression and anxiety. Her work emphasizes evidence-based screening, ethical practice, and strengthening referral and linkage systems for maternal mental health care. Passionate about equity-driven and culturally responsive approaches, she advocates for integrating mental health into routine maternal services and advancing policies that promote dignity, access, and holistic wellbeing for women and families.

Speaker Information

Dr. Jaclyn Kirsch (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her research program centers on improving global mental health outcomes in culturally diverse and resource-limited settings by integrating community-based research with transformative, mixed methods approaches. Dr. Kirsch’s recent work investigates suicide risk and social determinants of mental health in Southern Belize, exploring how cultural norms, structural inequities, and collective experiences shape pathways to distress and resilience. This project advances understanding of suicide beyond individual pathology by situating it within intergenerational patterns of socialization, stigma, and community systems, offering culturally responsive targets for prevention in low- and middle-income contexts.

In addition to her work in Belize, Dr. Kirsch examines how collective trauma impacts mental health among displaced and marginalized populations internationally. Her scholarship leverages qualitative and mixed methods designs to center the voices of community members and frontline leaders, informing equitable, culturally grounded mental health strategies. Across contexts, she seeks to transform mental health theory and practice by challenging dominant assumptions, illuminating culturally specific mechanisms of risk and resilience, and advancing actionable solutions that restore dignity and promote community healing. Dr. Kirsch’s work contributes to global dialogues on intergenerational trauma, culturally responsive intervention design, and the expansion of mental health equity in both international and transnational settings.

Speaker Information

Onando St. Bernard is a passionate social worker, counselor, and people-centered leader dedicated to strengthening human potential and building resilient communities in Belize. He holds a Master of Social Work from Galen University, where he graduated as Valedictorian in July 2025, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Korean Development Institute, with a focus on public finance and social policy. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a counseling focus from the University of Belize.

With over a decade of service in the public sector, Onando currently serves as Counseling Coordinator and Counselor within the Community Rehabilitation Department, where he leads and supervises counselors nationwide, provides individual and group therapy, develops programs, trains staff in evidence-based practices, and advocates fiercely for client well-being. His work spans juvenile institutions, community counseling, disaster response, and military and civilian populations.

Known for his high emotional intelligence, integrity, and strong therapeutic foundation, Onando connects easily with clients and colleagues alike. Outside of work, he believes in practicing what he promotes—holistic wellness. He enjoys exercising, weight lifting, and jogging, and values building and maintaining meaningful relationships. Grounded, disciplined, and purpose-driven, Onando remains committed to personal growth, professional excellence, and service to others.

Speaker Information

Dr. Robert Gipson is a behavioral health clinician and social work scholar whose work focuses on culturally responsive approaches to trauma and mental health equity. He serves in leadership and clinical roles within integrated behavioral health and social service settings, supporting populations impacted by structural inequities and trauma.

Dr. Gipson’s scholarship examines race-based traumatic stress, culturally congruent interventions, and barriers to behavioral health access among racially marginalized and African American populations. His work emphasizes evidence synthesis, practice-informed research, and the translation of findings into culturally aligned strategies that reflect lived experience, community context, and historical realities.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Gipson provides training and consultation on trauma-informed and culturally responsive practice for clinicians, organizations, and community leaders. His professional background spans clinical practice, nonprofit leadership, research, and community engagement. His work is grounded in advancing equity-oriented mental health systems that move beyond individualistic models towards culturally informed collective approaches to healing.

Speaker Information

Cheryl L. Chambers, LCSW, is a Doctoral Candidate in Social Work at Delaware State University and the Founder and Clinical Director of New Beginnings Family Services (NBFS), a community-based behavioral health practice in Milford, Delaware. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Cheryl has worked across community-based programs, inpatient and outpatient settings, residential treatment, correctional facilities, and military healthcare, including serving as a Clinical Social Worker at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Since founding NBFS in 2008, she has remained committed to providing compassionate, client-centered, and culturally responsive care for individuals and families experiencing trauma, addiction, mood disorders, and relationship challenges. Known for her direct and strengths-based approach, Cheryl integrates narrative therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic healing strategies to support lasting change.

Her doctoral scholarship focuses on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS), intergenerational trauma, and oral history as decolonizing interventions. Through storytelling workshops, community initiatives, and grant-funded programming, she advances narrative healing as a pathway for identity reclamation, empowerment, and collective wellness within African American communities.