Our Speakers and Performers

“Loving Men To Health”

After I open up with a new poem…This workshop explores men’s mental health in particular. As we know there is a stigma on men and not communicating when they have a lot on them, mentally. We will see a warm up game, a few questions to men and women on why men don’t talk, questions on support from men and women in favor of solutions, talk resources, and finally write a 1 minute poem relating to encouragement of men seeking help which will also have a brief reflection on the poem.

About the Facilitator:

Dove Dupree is a poet, music artist, actor, youth advocate, business owner and much more. He started writing raps at the early age of 7.

Just like in his life, his goal in his music and poetry is to impact, inspire and all the good things in between. He is a teaching artist; where he goes into schools as an artist in residency, and teaches students educational content through arts integration workshops. He incorporates music and rap into the subjects his students are learning to help them creatively retain information and have fun while doing it.

Dove Dupree also leads workshops across the country’s colleges, conferences, churches and more, while managing to blend spoken word and audience dialogue together on topics such as faith, mental health, social justice issues.

He has won countless team and individual poetry slams across the country since entering the slam poetry scene in 2014.
In the realm of spoken word, here is a list of a few of his recent accomplishments…

He is…
– A Ted Ex performer
– Greenville South Carolina’s 4 time – Say What Grand Slam Champion
– Featured on Button Poetry, WYFF and WGGS TV
– The 2021 Southeastern Regional NC Poetry Slam Champion and 2021 King Of The South Slam Champion
– A 2 time Mayan Industry award winner for best original piece
– A ‘back to back’ Southern Fried Poetry Slam final stage finalist (Which is the nation’s largest regional competition)
– And during the 2018 Southern Fried Poetry Slam, He held the number 1 ranking out of 150 poets over the preliminary stretch
– The 2022 National Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam Runner Up
– The 2023 National Blackberry Peach Poetry Slam Winner

For booking, please send inquries to dove@dovedupree.com

“Black Joy and Self-Compassion: A Path to Wellness”

This one-hour presentation delves into the intersection of Black identity and self-compassion, providing a supportive space to address the unique challenges faced by the Black community. Through historical context, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, participants will understand self-compassion’s role in fostering mental health and strength. By embracing cultural heritage and addressing racial trauma, attendees will learn tools to overcome internalized racism, enhance self-kindness, and build a supportive community. This presentation empowers participants to embrace their identity, practice self-compassion, and cultivate a robust and compassionate mindset.

About The Facilitator:

Rachael E. DuBose was born and raised in the Evanston neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio by her paternal grandparents, who both taught her many of life’s most important lessons through their sacrifice and unconditional love. She received her B.A. from THE Ohio State University, her M.S.Ed. from the University of Dayton, and has worked in the mental health field since 2010. Rachael is the owner of Be the Light, a mental health organization that provides counseling, workshops, and trainings, was featured in the 9th Edition of Who’s Who In Black Cincinnati in 2023, and is involved with various community organizations including Black Women Cultivating Change, Guiding Light Mentoring, Black Mental Wellness, and I.H.U. I Hear U!’s monthly wellness radio show. Rachael enjoys traveling, cooking, being an amateur foodie, and spending time with her amazing husband, Mike.

Reconstructing Black Boy Joy

“Intro to Spiritual Care: Grief and Loss”

Intro to Spiritual Care: Grief and Loss is designed to give helping professionals a framework for recognizing the various impacts of grief and grief events and facilitating grief work.

About The Facilitator:

I’ve been providing spiritual care at hospital and nursing home bedsides since starting a clinical pastoral education internship in October 2010. My first hospital visit was providing a supportive presence to a family walking their loved one to end of life. It was tough and sacred and holy, and I felt an overwhelming sense of meaning and purpose for my life. My practice of support and care grew over the years with extensive training delivering spiritual care to those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. I have delivered individualized care and support at the bedside to diverse populations in long-term care, critical care, medical/surgical, palliative care, and inpatient psychiatric units. I’ve also provided group care in inpatient psychiatric units and outpatient substance use disorder treatment environments. Additionally, I’ve provided group and individual education to post-master’s level clinical trainees. Today, I continue to grow and expand my practice of care outside of the traditional clinical environment, because I believe spiritual care, support, and education should be available to everyone, everywhere. My book, “It Gets Better” is part memoir, part encouragement, and part practical spiritual care for everyday life. It is designed to be an easily digestible read for anyone struggling with remaining hopeful about their life.

“The Guest List”

A discussion centered around situationships vs. relationships and addressing personal choices and experiences in both to create ones new norm of their identity within the language of love.

About Our Facilitator:

Marcus Miller is from the small town of Marianna, AR in which he graduated Top 10 of his class in 2005. He then went on to attend the University of Central Arkansas where he remained a top student, mentor and leader on campus. He graduated from the university in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and 2 years later a second Bachelors in Family and Consumer Science. After going through life’s journey, he finally adhered to his life’s path and applied and was granted admission into Webster University to study Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015.

During his student training at Webster, he chose the KHAOS Program to Intern for. He was able to work with all age groups and even assisted with the development of a Mental Health school based class for the SLPS. Marcus graduated and is now PLPC (Provisional License Professional Counselor). His background now includes: work with trauma, Solution-Focused therapy around classroom behavior, clinical intake assessing for emergency departments and LGBTQ+/allyship mental wellness. Marcus has spoken at conferences, developed community wellness groups and continue to strive for the bridging and betterment of the Saint Louis Metropolitan area. He is the Founder of a GLO for queer black men, Theta Pi Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. His jobs currently include: Therapist with Boys & Girls Club of American Teen Center of Excellence through A&A Inspirations and Mental Health Professional (School Therapist) for KIPP High School.

“Generating Whole Person Well-being Within the LGBTQ+ Community”

Dr. Wilcox is the Founder/ Chief Executive Officer of Confluency Consultants and Associates, a consultancy enterprise that provides comprehensive Multicultural Organizational Development and Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching services. The primary mission of her consultancy is to integrate multicultural competency into organizational life by bringing people together across cultural differences in the workplace and within communities. Also, to assist organizations in learning how to work through complex issues and engage in effective decision making through sustained deliberative dialogue. Dr. Wilcox has provided consultation and education/ training services with over 100 organizations within multi sectors, and numerous professional development workshops and engaged in numerous applied research projects.

Dr. Wilcox holds a Doctorate Degree in Education (PhD); master’s degree (M.Ed.) in Community Clinical Counseling from Kent State University Graduate College of Education, Department of Counseling and Human Development. She also has a master’s degree in public administration (M.P.A) from the School of Business and Management at Kent State University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) in Sociology and Political Science from Fisk University, Nashville, TN.

“Dirty Dishes, Everyone Has Them”

Explores relationships that frame how you emerge. This interactive workshop addresses adversities, strengths and tools to fuel your personal power! So let’s get to cleaning!

About The Facilitator:

Acclaimed author, poet, academic, and mental health messenger who leverages her social and professional influences to ensure equitable educational advantages for marginalized youth. She received her bachelor’s degree in Public Communications from Missouri Baptist University, her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lindenwood University, and her Teaching Artist Certificate from the Teaching Artist Institute, Regional Arts Commission.

“Play Time!”

Referencing a strong body of research that details the role of play in adult emotional, physical, mental, relational wellbeing, we will play and reflect on play to understand why and how to integrate it. Participants will discover how play can nourish them personally as well as invigorate their imagination. Participants will leave with a ‘playlist’ of easily accessible activities as well as inspiration from in-session activities to infuse their lives with play.

About the Facilitator:

Born in Egypt, Mary lives in Kansas City and is the mother of three daughters. She has been an English teacher, Farm to School Coordinator, an environmental educator, and a farmhand. Mary provides writing workshops, serves on the editorial team of Kansas City Voices, is the 2023 Poetry Editor-in-Residence for Flying Ketchup Press where she is co-editor of Of Our Own Accord anthology, a retrospective of women’s embodied experiences, as well as co-creator of Poetry Jam, a poetry festival designed for everyone along the poetic spectrum. Having earned her MA in Education, Mary is an adjunct writing instructor at KCAI and teaches adult EAL at Penn Valley. Lastly, Mary explores ecology from an intersection of justice and spirituality in workshops and writing. While her poetry and essays appear in numerous publications, you can find her work, chapbooks, radio and zoom presentations as well as workshop offerings at https://www.marysilwance.com. Mary’s first collection of poems, We Remember Ourselves was released in early 2024. Connect with Mary on IG and on FB.

“Changing the Question”

Changing the Question is an action oriented/hands-on workshop series. It is a way for communities, organizations, and neighborhoods to have a real dialogue about trauma and its impact on individuals and communities and identify how to lessen the impact of trauma through positive action. The goal is to change how participants view each other as well as our communities and empower them to implement positive action. We believe this starts with changing the question from “what’s wrong” to “what happened” and progressing to “what can we do.” This workshop equips communities, organizations, and neighborhoods with the knowledge and skills needed for individuals to care for their wellbeing and the community to work together to create meaningful change.

About The Facilitator

Aja La’Starr is a former Jennings councilwoman, former congressional outreach representative, author, poet, emcee, trauma educator and peer specialist from St.  Louis, Missouri.  She received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Xavier University of Louisiana and her MBA from University of Phoenix.  Aja is a change agent that has dedicated her life to utilizing creative arts to promote healing in the community. In addition to publishing 13 books, she has helped more than 30 authors publish their own books.   She has opened up for Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cents, Da Brat appeared on BET, ABC, Fox 2 News, KDSK, KMOX, KMOV, St. Louis Public Radio, Riverfront Times, St. Louis American, St. Louis Post Dispatch and served as a casting judge for American Idol.  Some of her most recent accolades include receiving St. Louis Black Pride’s Lifetime Achievement Award and becoming a Delux Power 100 honoree.  She currently serves as an Admissions Counselor for Harris-Stowe State University, the only HBCU in St. Louis, Missouri.