Hope in Harlem Conference
Youth, Sports & Mental Health
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Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024
In-person Conference
Wellness Street Fair
First Corinthian Baptist Church
New York, NY 10026
Event Speakers
Allan Houston
NY Knicks Legend,
2x NBA All Star
Founding Director, FISLL
David C. Banks
Chancellor,
NYC Department of Education
Dr. William Parham, Ph.D, ABPP
Director, Mental Health and Wellness Program,
National Basketball Players Association
Natasha Hastings
Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion & USA National Champion
Derek L. Anderson, Sr.
NCAA & NBA Champion
President, Stamina Enterprises LLC
Dr. H. Jean Wright, PsyD
Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene
Dr. Eric Small, MD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics & Orthopedics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Dr. Shilpa R. Taufique,PhD
Director, Division of Psychology at Mount Sinai Health System
Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr., M.Div
Senior Pastor,
First Corinthian Baptist Church
Dr. Lena Green, DSW, LCSW
Executive Director, HOPE Center
Dr. Sidney Hankerson, MD, MBA
Vice Chair of Psychiatry
& Director, Mental Health Equity Research,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, PhD
Vice President of Wellness and Clinical Services, National Football League
Chancellor David C. Banks
David C. Banks is Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, the largest school system in the nation. Appointed by Mayor Eric Adams on January 1, 2022, Chancellor Banks is reimagining the school experience to build bright starts and bold futures for all New York City children.
In the spring of 2023, Chancellor Banks launched NYC Reads (Open external link), a transformative effort to align literacy instruction across the entire school system to the science of reading, an initiative that includes professional learning and job-embedded coaching for thousands of teachers. He also launched NYC Solves, a similar effort focused on reimagining math education. Additionally, Chancellor Banks has dramatically expanded career-connected learning, such as paid internships, via FutureReadyNYC, Modern Youth Apprenticeship (Open external link), and other similar programs, which collectively serve hundreds of high schools, with plans to grow. Moreover, Chancellor Banks has prioritized safety, health, and wellness through the Project Pivot (Open external link) initiative, which has grown to over 250 schools, and daily mindfulness in all classrooms. He increased support for students with disabilities and multilingual learners with the creation of DIAL, the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning. His administration also offers full-day summer learning and fun to over 100,000 K-8 students in the Summer Rising (Open external link) program—the largest such program in New York City’s history. Under Chancellor Banks’s leadership, overall school enrollment increased in the 2023-2024 school year for the first time in eight years.
Chancellor Banks started his career as a school safety officer, after which he began his first teaching job at P.S. 167. He served as an assistant principal at P.S. 191 before becoming a founding principal at the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice and then at The Eagle Academy for Young Men, the first in a network of innovative all-boys public schools in New York City and Newark, N.J. The Chancellor later served as President and CEO of the Eagle Academy Foundation.
Chancellor Banks is also an author and thought leader, recognized throughout his career as a defining voice on empowering young men of color, and the Eagle Academy model he pioneered has expanded nationally via the Eagle Institute.
For over 30 years, the Chancellor has been a member of One Hundred Black Men of New York, where he served on the Board of Directors. He is a co-founder of Black EdFluencers United, an organization dedicated to influencing and developing the capacity of Black educators, and has also served as a board member for the International Boys’ Schools Coalition, the co-chair of New York City Young Men's Initiative, and a founding board member for the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color. Chancellor Banks has been recognized by City & State New York on their Education Power 100 and NYC Power 100 (Open external link) lists and was featured on Crain’s 2021 list (Open external link) of notable Black executives. He served on the NYC Mayor’s Taskforce to Reopen Schools in 2020 and on the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce from 2018 to 2020.
The Chancellor is a native New Yorker and a proud graduate of New York City Public Schools. He holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and earned his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law.
He participated in the original cohort of the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals in 2003 and holds honorary degrees from Wheelock College, St. Francis College, and Bard College.
William D. Parham, Ph.D., ABPP
William D. Parham, Ph.D., ABPP is a Professor in the Counseling Program and Director of the School of Education Center for Trauma Informed Education at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. He is past President of the LMU Faculty Senate, and former Associate Dean of Faculty in the SOE.
Dr. Parham has devoted his professional career to teaching, training, clinical, administrative, and organizational consultation venues. He is a licensed psychologist, Board Certified in Counseling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and Past-President of the Society of Counseling Psychology of the American Psychological Association where he also is recognized as a Fellow in Divisions 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology), 45 (Society for the Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race) and 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology).
In addition, Dr. Parham serves currently as the inaugural Director of the Mental Health and Wellness Program of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). He is a member of the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Wellbeing and a member of the California Science Foundation Science of Sport Advisory Committee. He is a past member of the Mental Health and Wellness Task Force of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
For most of his professional career, Dr. Parham has focused on working with athletes across organizations (e.g., National Basketball Association; National Football League; Major League Baseball; United States Olympic Committee; United States Tennis Association; Major League Soccer, UCLA, UC Irvine) across levels (e.g., professional, elite, amateur, collegiate and youth) and across sports (e.g., basketball, football, gymnastics, softball, baseball, track and field, tennis, golf, swimming, volleyball, figure skating). He also has worked with performance artists in drama, theatre and music. Much of his current work focuses on trauma, an unfortunate personal experience of far too many athletes, artists and everyday citizens.
Dr. Parham’s emphasis on personal empowerment, discovering and cultivating innate talents and looking for hidden opportunities in every situation are trademark foci. He is widely known through his scholarship and conversations with domestic and international audiences for his work on the interplay between sport psychology, diversity, intersectionality, trauma, and health psychology.
Derek L. Anderson, Sr.
NCAA and NBA Champion graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Psychology. He is an International Public Speaker and his book, Stamina is an Amazon #1 Best Seller. Over the last 20 years he has successfully owned and operated various global businesses; including hotel villas, retail franchises, restaurant chains and the Stamina Foundation. Awarded the United Nations humanitarian award his philanthropic efforts have led him to continue his work empowering youth through college scholarships and life-skills job training.
Rev. Michael A. Walrond Jr., M.Div
Michael A. Walrond Jr. is the Senior Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem, New York. Walrond—affectionately known as Pastor Mike—is quickly rising as one of the most prolific and sought-after teachers and preachers in the country. Considered a visionary, cultural architect, and game-changer by his peers, Pastor Mike has not only catalytically changed the traditional perspective of black church, but he is also shifting the paradigm of Christian understanding and culture. Within two years of his leadership at FCBC, the church experienced exponential growth, tripling its membership. Over the past eighteen years, membership at FCBC has grown from 300 to over 10,000 members.
Pastor Mike is a board member of the National Action Network (NAN) and was appointed the first National Director of the Ministers Division. He currently serves as the Chair of The Board of Visitors at Duke University Divinity School. Pastor Mike has received numerous honors, accolades, and recognitions including induction into Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers as a “Distinguished Preacher.” In 2014 Pastor Mike was a recipient of The Root 100 Award, a list of the top 100 most influential African Americans under the age of 45. In July of 2015 New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, named Pastor Mike as the first chair of the NYC Clergy Advisory Council. In 2017 he was an honoree on Ebony Magazine’s annual Ebony Power 100 list as a “Community Crusader.”
In 2012, Pastor Mike’s foresight and passion for the Harlem community shaped the vision for the FCBC community development corporation (CDC). The most ambitious project to date of the FCBC CDC is The Dream Center: a transformative space designed to awaken dreams of the community. Focused on creative arts, leadership development, and economic empowerment, The Dream Center offers over twenty-five completely free programs to the Harlem community for all ages, races, and backgrounds. With a desire to deeply engage the issues of the community, in December of 2016 Pastor Mike opened the H.O.P.E. (Healing On Purpose and Evolving) Center; the first faith-based mental health facility in Harlem. The H.O.P.E. Center is a manifestation of Pastor Mike’s vision to effectively support the vast mental health needs of the community. The center seeks to minimize the stigma that exists in many communities of color when seeking mental health services.
Pastor Mike is a graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He continued his studies at Duke University School of Divinity as a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar and earned a Master of Divinity degree with a focus in Theology. He served Duke University as the University Minister and Director of the African American Campus Ministry for eight years. Pastor Mike served as the Senior Pastor of Zion Temple United Church of Christ in Durham, North Carolina for eight years. He is a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Morehouse College Alumni Association.
Pastor Mike is a native of Roosevelt, New York. He is married to the Rev. Dr. LaKeesha N. Walrond, who serves as the President of New York Theological Seminary. They are the proud parents of two beautiful adult children, Michael III and Jasmyn Dominique.
Dr. Lena L. Green, DSW, LCSW
Dr. Green currently serves as the executive director of the HOPE Center, a community based mental health clinic connected to the historic First Corinthian Baptist Church. Prior to her role at the HOPE Center, Dr. Green held several positions in NYC government including the Deputy Director of the Office of Substance Use, Policy, Planning and Monitoring at NYC’s Human Resources Administration (HRA). In her more than 20 years of direct practice and management experience as a clinical social worker, psychotherapist, fatherhood practitioner, professor and administrator, Dr. Green has had a tremendous impact on countless New Yorkers. She is skilled in various areas of mental health, program planning, development, clinical supervision and building strategic partnerships.
A licensed clinical social worker, Dr. Green’s research interests include mental health, trauma informed clinical practices, fatherhood, maternal health, pregnant and parenting families, child-parent attachment and perinatal mood disorders. Dr. Green has a deep commitment to community, working with underserved and marginalized populations. Her work explores the experiences of young fathers and the impact on paternal involvement on family dynamics. She is devoted to promoting open dialogue around the de-stigmitazation of father absence, men’s mental health, and ensuring that all children have access to both parents in a safe co-parenting environment.
Dr. Green, a native of Harlem, NYC, holds both a doctorate and master’s degree in social work from New York University (NYU) and received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Dr. Green completed post-master’s certificates in Advance Clinical Practice from Hunter College, and the Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Addicted Clients from NYU. Dr. Green serves on several boards throughout the northeast and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Sidney Hankerson, MD, MBA
Dr. Hankerson is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Community Engagement in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also Director of Mental Health Equity Research in the Institute for Health Equity Research (IHER) at Mount Sinai. His research focuses on reducing racial/ethnic disparities in mental health treatment. He is a nationally recognized expert at engaging faith and community-based organizations to increase access to culturally relevant mental health care.
Dr. Hankerson has presented at the White House, United Nations, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Gracie Mansion (NYC Mayor’s Office), and numerous corporate settings. He currently serves on the National Football League’s (NFL) Mental Wellness Committee and is a 2nd opinion physician for the National Basketball Association (NBA). The National Academy of Medicine selected Dr. Hankerson as one of 10 physicians in the U.S. for its Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine Program in 2021. He was an inaugural member of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Council of Faith and Community Partnerships and served on the APA Council of Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities.
He has been featured on several TV series: the PBS Documentary Mysteries of Mental Illness; a Pix11 News Special focused on mental health in the Black community; and a CBS segment about Mount Sinai’s partnerships with faith-based organizations.
Dr. Hankerson completed a dual MD/MBA program from Emory University, where he was Medical School Class President. He completed his psychiatry residency at Emory and was appointed Chief Resident of Psychiatry at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He then completed a NIMH-funded research fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and was on faculty at Columbia for 12 years before transitioning to his current leadership roles at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, Ph.D.
Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti is a licensed psychologist with more than fifteen years of clinical experience with organizations, sports teams, individuals, and families. Her research focuses on multiculturalism and mental health as they relate to issues of resiliency and success.
As vice president of Wellness and Clinical Services, Dr. NiiLampti heads the Total Wellness and Mental Health platforms. She plays a critical role in advancing Player Engagement’s mission to make a positive impact inside and outside the NFL family.
Dr. NiiLampti previously served as the Director of Player Wellness for the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). There, she educated players on all aspects of wellness, including mental health and substance abuse.
Before joining the NFLPA, Dr. NiiLampti was an assistant professor of psychology at Queens University of Charlotte, where she taught undergraduate courses in abnormal, developmental, and sport psychology, among others. She also served as the faculty athletic representative to the NCAA.
Dr. NiiLampti is a former track and field college student-athlete. She earned a PhD in clinical psychology from Temple University, a master’s degree in sports psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.
Allan Houston
Allan Houston is the New York Knicks Vice President of Player Leadership and Development, Founder of FISLL, a diversified media, licensing, and merchandising platform. A man of faith and strong family values, Allan lives his life with the determination to apply his success as a professional athlete to help others. Since its creation in 2001, the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation (AHLF) has served thousands of participants across the country through programs that promote youth mentoring, responsible fatherhood, and entrepreneurship. In addition, he has served as a spokesperson for the National Fatherhood Initiative, an international ambassador for the NBA, and an analyst for ESPN. Allan is best known for his years as shooting guard for the New York Knicks, (1996 – 2005). Touted as one of the “purest shooters” in the NBA, Allan finished his career as one of the NBA’s all-time greatest long-range shooters (#11 in three pointers made) and one of the all-time leading scorers in Knicks history (#2 in three pointers, #4 in total points, and #8 in scoring average). Allan is a two-time NBA All-Star, and in his last healthy season (2002-03) finished as the 10th leading scorer in the league. But for all his accomplishments he is especially proud of being named one of the “Good Guys in Sports” four times by The Sporting News, and helping Team USA bring home the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics games in Sydney, Australia. Allan’s commitment to uplifting others is vividly demonstrated through the impactful work of AHLF. The Foundation's initiatives, such as the 'Father Knows Best' Basketball Retreats and The Allan Houston Mentoring Initiative (AHMI), began in 2016, and its newest initiative, “Changing Behaviors, Changing Minds,” launched in Newark, NJ, in the winter of 2023 is a testament to his dedication. AHLF has harnessed the power of a leadership and relationship development system, FISLL, created by Allan and his family, to drive its programs, making a significant difference in the lives of many.
FISLL is a social impact brand whose purpose is to engage, equip, inspire, and outfit people to live better, lead better, and perform better. The organization is named for the Five Fundamentals of faith, integrity, sacrifice, leadership and legacy, for which he credits his success as an athlete and in life. FISLL’s platform provides multimedia content, apparel and licensing. FISLL’s mission is to engage, equip and inspire leaders with these values by combining digital and experiential learning that incorporate training in the 3 dimensions of mind, body and spirit. FISLL is being used by individuals, corporations, schools, community and sports programs, to great acclaim.
Dr. H Jean Wright
Dr. H Jean Wright II is the Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Mental Hygiene for the NYC Health Department, a position he has served since April 2024. Dr. Wright is a clinical and forensic behavioral health professional who has served the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services in Philadelphia since 2007, most recently as their Deputy Commissioner. He brings over 25 years of behavioral health experience managing projects and initiatives in government, private practice, academia, rehabilitation, and correction. His greatest assets are as a transformational leader, administrator, evaluator of public health systems, providing strong leadership and direction in an administrative capacity for staff working in system focused organizations, leading cross-system collaboration projects, and working with multi-disciplinary staff. Dr. Wright earned his BA in Psychology and Cultural studies from The Ohio State University, Master of Divinity from United Lutheran Seminary, and Doctor of Psychology from Wright State University School of Professional Psychology.
Dr. Eric Small
Dr. Shilpa R. Taufique,PhD
Dr. Shilpa Taufique is Director of the Division of Psychology, Co-Chair of the Psychiatry DEI Steering Committee for the Mount Sinai Health system, and Chief Psychologist for Mount Sinai Morningside and West Hospitals. In addition, Dr. Taufique is the Director of the Alliance between the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai and Partnership to End Addiction, as well as the Comprehensive Adolescent Rehabilitation and Education Service (CARES) at Mount Sinai Morningside. She also works with Mount Sinai Health Partners to design and develop behavioral health services as part of integrated health care packages for various organizations. Dr. Taufique earned her doctorate in Clinical/Child/School Psychology from New York University. She has received numerous awards for her supervision and teaching, including the Faculty Award for Humanism in Psychiatry, and the President's Award for Excellence from St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals. In addition to her work of over 19 years at Mount Sinai, she serves as consultant to other organizations, facilitating team building, culture change and providing leadership development.
Her clinical specialties include program design and development, group and systems dynamics, diversity, equity, and inclusion, mental health and school consultation, co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance use disorders), and trauma. Dr. Taufique has also served as the Board Chair for Creative Alternatives of NY, and currently serves on The Art Therapy Project (TAP) and the NYC DOE District 79 Advisory Boards.
Dr. Taufique is dedicated to mentoring clinicians in their professional identity development and career pursuits, and actively looks for ways to collaborate across disciplines and enhance the reputation of clinical and training programs to a national level of excellence.
Natasha Hastings
Natasha Hastings is an Olympic, World, and US National Champion Track and Field Sprinter. She specialized in the 400 and 4×400-meter relay events. She’s also an influencer, entrepreneur, mom, and philanthropist. While Natasha accomplished a lot on the track, she knows that rest is just as important as exertion. She’s is a mental health advocate having earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health in order to help eradicate the stigma around mental health in her community. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate working directly with student-athletes at the University of South Carolina. Natasha enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially her son, Liam.