Research on racial disparities and African American males suggest that they have been falling behind their peers since the eighties. There has been a call for all concerned to not only discuss these disparities, but also incorporate effective strategies with empirically based outcomes in the classroom. This session will cover four essential topics related to working with African American male students. The four areas are: 1) Racial disparities and African American male students; 2) The context of the development of racial disparities; 3) Understanding the components of cultural competence; and 4) Incorporating culturally responsive strategies in the classroom. This session will also focus on how participants apply this content to their current classrooms.

2.0 hours

This session will present the challenges and barriers of newcomer youth who are integrated into the American school system. Racial and economic inequalities, including the lack of provisions for language access, impact youth’s success in acculturating to American society in order to receive and fully benefit from free education. ASIA will present on the factors that affect the mental health of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and the special considerations that influence AAPI and/or refugee/immigrant youth during the transition period of resettlement. Additionally, ASIA will review the need of including AAPI history in the K-12 curriculum taught in public schools with the intentionality and inclusivity of how impactful AAPI history is to the development of our nation.

Participants will select and attend one (1) of six (6) sessions (see BBBMS program agenda)

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Cory Frederick is a dynamic executive consultant, educator, and facilitator with a diverse academic background and rich life experiences. Holding a BSS in Geological Science and Environmental and Plant Biology, as well as an MEd in Cultural Studies, both from Ohio University, he brings a fresh perspective as a transgender man of color. He actively contributes as an advisor and chairperson for various boards and committees, recognized as a subject matter expert and trusted thought partner. Collaborating with senior leadership and HR teams, Cory provides valuable insights to shape professional development and equity transformation strategies. He takes pride in advising equity transformation plans for prestigious organizations like the Sierra Club, CareSource Behavioral Health, and Columbus Public Health, and implementing programs that support transgender and gender diverse youth. With over a decade of experience, Cory has successfully guided numerous clients towards achieving their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. He eagerly looks forward to bringing his expertise and passion to the University of Akron’s "2024 Black, Brown, and Beyond Male Summit, aiming to foster a culture of inclusion and equity for today’s young people!

Mr. Leandry received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1988 from The Catholic University of Puerto Rico and his master’s degree in social work in 1999 from Cleveland State University. Mr. Leandry started his career as a Community Social Worker in Ponce, Puerto Rico and moved to Lorain, Ohio in 1991.His professional background has been providing direct mental health clinical services to adults, children, couples, and families. Mr. Leandry is currently the Executive Director of El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc. in Lorain, Ohio. El Centro is a bilingual/bicultural, non-profit, social services agency. El Centro is currently celebrating 47 years of serving the community, specializing in services for the Hispanic/Latino community.

He has lived in the city of Lorain for 30 years and is very active in the community. Mr. Leandry is currently a member of the following organizations and boards: Mercy Health Hospital, Lorain County Mobility & Opportunity for a Vibrant Economy Board, Lorain County Office on Aging Board, Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition (MHAC), Ohio Latino Connection and OHIO Community Development Corporation Association.

Mr. Leandry is also honored to have served as the Midwest Affiliate Representative for UnidosUS (Formerly known as National Council of La Raza). UnidosUS is the largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization in the United States and has almost 300 affiliate member organizations in 41 states. He was the Midwest Affiliate Representative from 2007 to 2014, was one of twelve regional representatives that composed an Affiliate Council and served as the Chair of the Council. He also served as a Board member for UnidosUS from 2011 to 2014.

Dr. John E. Queener, Jr. obtained his BA from The College of Wooster, MA from The Ohio State University, and received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Akron. He is a professor and teaches graduate courses in the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Akron.  He writes and publishes research in the areas of multicultural issues, culturally specific interventions, and retention and African American males. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Minority Behavioral Health Group, a non-profit organization founded to reduce the mental health disparities for African Americans and other under-served populations. He is the president of the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists. He is married to Charlene Queener, and they have four adult children-Malik, Aisha, and twins Jelani and Jabari, and three grandchildren.

Dr. Bridgie A. Ford earned her doctorate degree from Purdue University. She is Professor Emerita, LeBron James Family Foundation School of Education, University of Akron. At the University of Akron, Dr. Ford served as full Professor, Department Chair, and Director of the university’s Center for Urban and Higher Education. Dr. Ford was a recipient of the University of Akron’s Excellence in Teaching Award. With a master’s degree in Speech Pathology, Dr. Ford held the position of Speech and Language Clinician (Chicago Public Schools).

She is author/co-author of numerous educational publications and two textbooks - Effective Education of African American Exceptional Learners: New perspectives and Creating Successful Learning Environments for African American Youth with Disabilities. She has presented at many national conferences and workshops. She served on the Board of Directors, National Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). She is co-founder and first editor of the referred journal, Multiple Voices for Ethnically Diverse Exceptional Learners, and co-developer (with Dr. John E. Queener, 2017) of a research-based culturally responsive mentoring program curriculum to improve retention/graduation rates of Black males attending predominately White universities/colleges.

She has served as Principal Investigator on innovative health research projects including prevention of obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Black youth and teen-age pregnancy in Black Females and Senior Investigator on several state of Ohio, Teacher Preparation Grants. Presently, Dr. Ford is engaged in the following professional activities: (a) serves as Co-Principal Investigator, Juxtopia® Strategic Partner to Morehouse School of Medicine National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (MSM/NCRN) project and (b) Conference Co-Chair, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Eradicating Economic and Health Disparities (HEEHD)

Conferences: 2019, 2020 (Special Emphasis on Covid -19); 2021 (Theme: Safeguarding Children During Covid - 19); and 2022 (Theme: Maternal and Child Health Disparities).

The HEEHD Conferences are designed to bring together a network of community leaders (e.g., researchers /clinicians from HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions, educators, community organizations/agencies, faith leaders, administrators, healthcare informatics/information technology, and minority businesses) who demonstrate the commitment to help reduce economic and health and disparities within racial/ethnic minority populations

Dr. Ford has held several leadership positions in national and state educational organizations and frequently serves in advocacy roles in community-based initiatives supporting youth and families.

Fei Li joined Asian Services in Action's International Community Health Center (ICHC), in 2017, to provide counseling and supervision as a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-S). She brings a supportive, safe, non-judgmental approach to her work with an emphasis on mindfulness, strength based and cognitive behavior therapy. She is an immigrant from China and speaks both English and Mandarin, and can relate to people struggling with the stress of immigration. Ms. Li seeks to help clients to accept life's challenges, discover their core strengths, build resiliency in order to cope with different situations, and find freedom to make choices. She holds a Masters of Science in Social Administration and Masters of Nonprofit Organization from Case Western Reserve University. Her clinical practice focuses on adults facing challenges with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, loss, and life adjustments.

Ms. Li has a passion for promoting mental health awareness among the communities with hopes that more people will be able to access the needed care when struggling with mental health and/or general health issues despite language and transportation barriers. She initiated a mental health outreach efforts to reach communities with limited English proficiency, and has been adapting the effort through pandemic.

Kelly Le is a first-generation immigrant born to former Vietnamese refugees and has served with ASIA since 2015. As a recipient of ASIA’s services growing up, she returned to give back to the community as a Youth Educator and eventually leading the Children, Youth, and Family Services Department. She provided management and supervision for ASIA’s specialized youth prevention programs as an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist. Currently, Ms. Le works as the Manager of Special Projects and provides outreach and education to the greater community on the barriers and challenges of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and/or other refugees and immigrants.

Her family resettled in Akron, Ohio in 1993 and she, along with both older brothers, attended and graduated from the University of Akron (UA). Ms. Le holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology from UA and an Associates in Applied Science in Polysomnographic Technology from Cuyahoga Community College.