Welcome to the 2nd Annual #BlackSELSummit!

Upon arrival, check in at the registration desk located on the second floor of NCCU’s New Student Union Center.  During this hour, breakfast will be served and the Exhibition Hall will be open (located outside of the main auditorium).

• Opening Prayer:
  • Pastor Soboma Wokoma of Legacy Center Church

Kristen Hopkins is an author, international speaker, and social entrepreneur dedicated to the holistic development of youth, young adults, and professionals. As the Founder and CEO of the Dangers Of The Mind, LLC, Kristen Hopkins Global, and the Dangers Of The Mind Education Fund, Kristen has developed and implemented culturally responsive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula, programs, Less Talk More SEL Community Parent Forums and resources in schools, not-for-profits, and corporate organizations. She has brought her teachings to school districts in Haiti, Ghana, and cities across the United States. Ms. Hopkins is an esteemed author of multiple books, curricula, and an intervention kit for in-school suspension and youth detention centers. Hopkins has also established a lifestyle brand, a virtual coaching practice, a clothing line, a podcast, and a team of brand ambassadors who advocate for the DOM movement daily. A fierce visionary, pioneer, and thought leader, Hopkins is often acknowledged for her contributions to the field of educational entrepreneurship. In 2016 she received the “30 Under 30 Award for Women of Excellence in Leadership”. Kristen and her company serve as a founding member of the national Social-Emotional Learning Providers Association, among the leading Social-Emotional providers around the nation. Kristen was a guest panelist on the Inaugural International SEL day in March 2020. She has also spoken at Philips Arena STEM WARS, World Congress Center, and the 50th Anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of America, to name a few. More recently, Kristen’s non-profit launched Black SEL, a social-emotional hub for black people, which includes the Annual Black SEL Summit and The Black Student Experience Project. She looks to continue her mission to empower black and brown communities through SEL and be the voice of culturally responsive and culturally affirming social-emotional resources for disadvantaged youth of this generation and beyond.

Stay Connected:

Instagram: blackselhub

Facebook: blackselhub

• Brought To You By:
  • Hillside High School Theatre Department
  • Written By: Kristen Hopkins

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Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel is the President and CEO of CASEL, the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization leading the global movement for evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL). She also serves as Senior Fellow, Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child. In these roles, Dr. Samuel serves as a leading voice in education and oversees strategies to elevate research, policies, and practices that support children’s learning and healthy development.  Dr. Samuel is a bilingual executive leader with expertise from early childhood through higher education. Dr. Samuel previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Local, State and National Engagement at the U.S. Department of Education and former Executive Vice President of Government Affairs & Partnerships at NWEA. She has informed state policy agendas, assisted with developing cross systems approaches to develop policy solutions to support children and families and leading systems-level change. In her role at NWEA, she led a team working on driving a state and federal education agenda. Prior to NWEA, Dr. Samuel was the Director of Education at the National Governors Association (NGA), supporting high-ranking state officials on the development of policies that impacted health, education, and workforce. In every role, she works with diverse constituents, philanthropies, national and international partners.  She has testified before Congress and has been quoted in Bloomberg, Education Week, U.S. News, and the Washington Post on various education topics, and featured on network segments such as Univision, NBC and CNN. Dr. Samuel presents at numerous education conferences and convenings nationally, internationally and is seen as a global leader. She holds an undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University, a Masters from University of South Florida, and a Specialist and Doctorate Degree from NOVA Southeastern.

Stay Connected:

Twitter: @caselorg

MODERATOR

Dr. Brandon Frame is a visionary leader, social innovator and educator. He is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc. an award-winning nonprofit that amplifies the stories of what Black Men and Boys can do. Guided by his vision TheBlackManCan, Inc. has impacted over 10,000 Black Men and Boys across the world, established a MENtor network of over 500 Black Men and built a socially conscious online community that has over 800,000 followers and generates 7 million impressions weekly. Accomplishments and accolades are no stranger to Brandon Frame, but what makes him extraordinary is the humility and servant-leadership that marks his life. Brandon Frame is the Senior Director of Social Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly where he leads a team to work with districts and schools around implementation, integration and sustainability of Social Emotional Learning. Brandon is also Co-Founder of the award-winning twitter chat #hiphoped and the Author of Define Yourself, Redefine the World: A Guided Journal for Boys and Men of color and the children’s book My First Tie. For his service to his community, Brandon has received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award, Change Maker of the Year, and was named Next in Class in the field of Education by Black Entertainment Television. Brandon’s work has been featured in Black Enterprise, Boston Globe, Essence and he has appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, HLN and NY1 as New Yorker of the Week. Brandon pursues excellence with impeccable effort in all that he does. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University, a graduate of Morehouse College and resides in Bronx, NY.

PANELISTS

DR. CYNTHIA TREADWELL

Executive Director of the Office of Social and Emotional Learning,

Chicago Public Schools

Dr. Cynthia Treadwell is the Executive Director for the Office of Social and Emotional Learning. Prior to this role, she was the Principal of Ira F. Aldridge Elementary. During her principalship, she accomplished becoming a CAHN fellow for distinguished principals and a Chicago Public Schools distinguished principal. Dr. Treadwell has been an educator in Chicago Public Schools for the past 22 years and she has fulfilled various roles. In addition to being a driven educator, Dr. Treadwell has had the opportunity to teach courses as an Adjunct Instructor to help strengthen the pipeline and development of future educators. Dr. Treadwell holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from National Louis University and she is the author of 30 Days of Encouragement for the Educator. Her goal is to create academically engaging school communities and learning experiences that fosters curiosity, kindness, and a strong focus on social and emotional skills for all.

DR. PATRICIA RUSSEL

Executive Director of Social Emotional & Academic Development, 

Hamilton County Public Schools 

Dr. Patricia Russell is a native of Chattanooga, TN, where she demonstrates her competence of highly effective teaching, counseling, and leadership while investing in her schools and community. Patricia is the Executive Director of Social Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD) for the Hamilton County Schools. In her current role, she oversees school counseling, social work, student success planning, college and career advising, 504’s, and positive school wide behavior support. She also works closely with the district executive leadership team to ensure social emotional learning and post-secondary goals are effectively executed. Patricia’s highlighted achievements include being the author of The Student Leadership Experience, Co-founder of Chattanooga Student Leadership Academy, a Public Education Foundation, Teacherpreneur, and a Chattanooga Chamber, Corporate Innovator of the Year, Finalist. Patricia’s highlighted achievements include being the author of The Student Leadership Experience, Co-founder of Chattanooga Student Leadership Academy, a Public Education Foundation, Teacherpreneur, and a Chattanooga Chamber, Corporate Innovator of the Year, Finalist. Patricia is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed in School Counseling. She also earned an ED.S in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University and an Ed.D from Trevecca Nazarene University. During her leisure, she enjoys international travel, arts, reading and outdoor activities. She is classified by Myers-Briggs as the idealist that enjoys problem solving and thrives while interacting with others.

DR. MICHAEL MALLERY

District Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning,

Windsor Public Schools

Dr. Michael Mallery is a transformative leader and educational influencer with over 14 years of experience working with educational systems at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Dr. Mallery currently leads the Award Winning Social Emotional Learning Department of Windsor Public Schools in Connecticut. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Southern University and A&M College. M.A. in Survey Research and a Ph.D. in Learning, Leadership, and Educational Policy from the University of Connecticut (UConn).

GREG LUCAS

Founder | Joy Roots LLC

Director of Social and Emotional Learning | New Visions for Public Schools 

Greg Lucas is an educator, trainer, and non-profit leader with over 20 years of school-based youth development experience. Greg has coached and led schools in the implementation and assessment of social emotional learning, school climate, restorative practices and culturally responsive student engagement. Greg is the founder of Joy Roots LLC. Joy Roots is a training and consulting collective focused on equity-centered social and emotional development and restorative practices. Greg also serves as the Director of Social and Emotional Learning at New Visions for Public Schools where he oversees the implementation and continuous improvement of social emotional learning, restorative practices, equitable policies, and positive school climate for a network of New York City schools. Greg is also an equity fellow with the Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship and has served as a consultant for both local and national organizations including the NYC Administration for Children’s Services, NYC PRIDE, World Vision, Fresh Air Fund, City Relief, and Girls Scouts of America. Greg is a school coach with the National School Climate Center where he advises school leaders from across the country on issues of school culture and climate. Greg also serves as a trainer and consultant for Ramapo for Children where he has led the development of training content and facilitates training for schools and community based organizations. Greg serves as associate pastor for New Light Baptist Church of Harlem, NY. Greg holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Long Island University, a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from the University at Albany and is currently completing a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in Social and Emotional Learning at Antioch University.

LaTrayl Adams is the SEL and Restorative Practices Director at Winston Salem-Forsyth County Schools. Prior to this role, LaTrayl Adams served as a Social Emotional Learning Specialist in Guilford County Schools. In both roles, she has worked in partnership with the Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL) and executed a district-wide plan to lead the systemic implementation of social and emotional learning. She has also designed and lead ongoing professional learning focused on equity and strengthening adult SEL for teachers, administrators, district personnel, and parents. Prior to serving as a district leader, Adams served as a secondary professional school counselor for 13 years. During this time, she had a vital role in increasing graduation rates, student scholarships, and assisting first generation students with the college application process. Adams holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications and Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also holds a master’s degree in Agency/Human Resources Counseling from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Most recently, Adams was named a CASEL Fellow as well as selected by her district to participate in Cohort I of the federally funded SEED grant at High Point University to participate in Project Ascend, an educational leadership graduate program. Adams is passionate about students, culture and climate, equity, wellness, and is committed to being a lifelong learner. Ms. Adams understands the power of a restorative community and the critical need for social and emotional learning to ensure equitable and safe spaces for all. LaTrayl Adams is also a certified Restorative Practices and Trauma Informed Trainer.

• During this hour, lunch will be served and the Exhibition Hall will be open
• (located outside of the main auditorium).

• We are excited to host five (5) breakout sessions this year!  Scroll below to learn more about breakout session hosts and session topics.  Each breakout session host has provided a downloadable resource related to their topic.

BLACK SEL AND EVALUATION

Session Description:

This breakout session will examine the ways to effectively evaluate Black SEL programs and their success with Black youth. The session will provide participants with up to date research concepts and practices. This will be an engaging session that will prepare participants to better integrate research practices into their everyday work with children and families.

Meet Your Host:

Taneisha Brown, Ph.D. is a Program Evaluator with over 18 years of experience as a director, educational program developer, grant writer and manager, and program evaluator. Dr. Brown’s expertise is with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and she has evaluated programs funded by the National Science Foundation, US Department of Education, US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Brown received a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs from Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master’s of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies Program with a concentration in Research, Measurement, and Statistics from Georgia State University.

BLACK SEL & THE DATA

This session will provide participants an opportunity to take a further dig into the data that has been collected by The Dangers of the Mind Education Fund. The participants will review and discuss the current data. Facilitators will provide information around how data can support best practices.

Meet Your Host:  Ashley Mathews is currently working as a School Social Worker at Windsor Public Schools. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bennett College for Women (2005) and her MSW from the University of Connecticut (2009). She is currently a doctoral candidate in the DSW program at Southern Connecticut University. Over the last 15 years she has worked with various organizations to support children and their families’ socioemotional needs. Her advocacy work within the school system has been impactful to many children and their families. She is passionate about early childhood social-emotional development, positive self-concept among youth, and racial equity in education.

BLACK SEL AND THE CLASSROOM

Description: This session will provide participants culturally responsive strategies that can be utilized in the classroom to support Black youth SEL development. Participants will engage in hands-on learning opportunities and will leave with take home items.

Meet Your Host:  Jahara Davis was born in Darmstadt, Germany. She grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where her father is retired military and her mother is currently a chaplain for the VA Medical Center. She graduated from North Carolina Central University with an undergraduate degree in English Literature. In 2014, she began teaching as an English I teacher at E.E. Smith High School (Fayetteville, NC). A few years later, Davis taught at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, NC. It was there, she received her first award for Teacher of the Year and made it to the top nine in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County by becoming the 2017-2018 PROJECT LIFT Learning Community Teacher of the Year (Charlotte, NC). That same year, she won the 2018 CIAA Food Lion High School Educator Award. Davis has worked at three Historically Black High Schools (HBHS) in the state of North Carolina. Currently, she works at Hillside High School (Durham, NC) where she teaches English II, is the English Department Chair and the advisor over three school organizations. Davis’ motto stems from the community philosophy, “It takes a village to raise a child,” because that is what inspired her catchy thematic classroom: Village University. Hence why her students affectionately refer to her as Professor Davis. Her ability to create a culture around building positive student-teacher relationships has allowed her to be recognized from the Black SEL Non-Profit as 2022 Black SEL Awardee and receiving recognition for buying out a movie theater to surprise all 96 of her students to go see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Recently, she was awarded the 2023-2024 Durham Public School’s Teacher of the Year and 2023 40 Under 40 for North Carolina Central University. Her style of teaching has impacted hundreds of students over the last nine years. To know Davis, you will know her proudest accomplishment is being the mother of her two beautiful children, Carter and Davis.

BLACK SEL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION

Description: This breakout session will review best practices for collaborating with others to support Black SEL efforts. Participants will actively engage in ways to build practices that support the collaboration of Black SEL providers.

Meet Your Host:  After working across grade levels in different districts as a teacher, reading specialist, teacher tutor, mentor and student advocate, it became clear to me that there is a lack of programs that support the personal growth and development of students, especially girls, as they navigate a technology and social media driven world. As a classroom teacher I felt despite their academic success I was falling short of nurturing their self- esteem, self-worth and social skills. As a result, in March 2018 I launched, Girls Embracing Manifestation, a student development and character building workshop, that focuses on the importance of self advocacy, effective communication and conflict resolution designed to encourage girls to believe in their abilities and introduce them to a more complex way of thinking. Through this transition I began working collaboratively with Dangers Of The Mind as a ReSELient Coach Lead overseeing curriculum instruction with our partner schools and more recently took on the role as the Program Coordinator for BlackSEL.

BLACK SEL AND BLACK SPACES

Description: This breakout session will review evidence based practices regarding ways to integrate Black SEL into various Black spaces such as: churches, homes, schools, community agencies, and etc. This session will be interactive and allow participants to share and learn.

Meet Your Host:  Michaela Stovall, is an instructional administrator and teacher coach for a public school in the state of North Carolina. Michaela’s expertise is in instructional development and planning, student data analysis, and coaching educators. Michaela has supported Title I schools in urban areas for over 5 years. Michaela Stovall received her Bachelor’s of Science in K-6 Education with a concentration in African American and African Diaspora Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master’s in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University.

Closing remarks from Executive Director and Black SEL Creator, Kristen Hopkins.  

Exhibition hall will be open from 2:30pm-3pm.  The Summit portion of the event will end at 3pm.  The Gala portion of the event will take place at 6pm at the NCCU New Student Union Center (same location).