Register Now — Black Men's Mental Health Conference: Heal Brother, Heal
The Beta Psi Boule Foundation, Inc. and The Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities are pleased to invite you to participate in the Black Men’s Mental Health Conference.
- When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. August 16, 2025 (Continental Breakfast to be served at 8:30 a.m.)
- Where: ETEC, UAlbany (1220 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12203)
We often hear that African American/Black men are reluctant to talk about mental health.
About the Event
For many, it’s still taboo — considered a sign of weakness or airing dirty laundry. The reasons are as varied and nuanced as anything else related to the lives and experiences of African American men in this country and the world.
Anxiety, depression and worry affect all of us. Living with the constant stressors caused by systemic and structural racism makes mental wellness even more challenging for Black, Brown, Native and poor people.
This forum will provide a perspective on the journey to attain and sustain mental health, wellness and well-being for African American/Black men from clinicians and practitioners who have devoted their professional and personal lives to this work.
It seeks to offer solutions as well as hope for healing for a group of people who consider mental health to be an important consideration and seek ways to attain it for themselves, each other, their families, and communities.
Presenters
Dr. Alex L. Pieterse
Dr. Alex L. Pieterse is an Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for the Study of Race and Culture at Boston College.
He received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, his master’s in counseling from New York University and has Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) from the Australian Catholic University. Dr. Pieterse’s scholarship focuses on psychosocial aspects of race and racism, racial trauma, and anti-racism training and advocacy.
Dr. Pieterse is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and Incoming Editor of The Counseling Psychologist. His most recent book co-authored with Robert T. Carter and Jessica Forsyth is titled Black Americans’ Strength-Based Cultural Practices: Tools for Clinicians to Promote Psychological Well-Being.
Dr. Pieterse is also a licensed psychologist and maintains and independent psychotherapy practice providing individual and couples counseling.
Dr. Patrick Jean-Pierre
Dr. Patrick Jean-Pierre, known as Dr. JP, is the dedicated Principal of Paige Elementary Community School within the Schenectady City School District.
With 25 years of comprehensive experience across public, charter and university settings, Dr. JP is an educator, counselor and leader passionate about fostering systemic change in schools.
Dr. JP previously served as District Director for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Assistant Director for Diversity Recruitment in Schenectady City School District, and held key leadership roles at the University at Albany and New York University, where he directed the New York State Technical Assistance Center on Disproportionality.
His extensive background includes developing therapeutic programming for vulnerable students at Rutgers University and providing leadership development at the Wharton School. He also has taught Diversity, Equity, and Systems Leadership at various universities.
Dr. Jean-Pierre holds a doctorate in organizational psychology from Rutgers University, complemented by master's degrees in educational leadership, industrial organizational psychology and human resource management. His research interests are centered on leadership, masculinity, inter-group relations, disproportionality, educational equity and systemic transformation in schools.
When not dedicated to his professional endeavors, Dr. JP cherishes time with his wife and two children, and enjoys exercising and traveling.
Facilitator
Gregory Owens, LMSW, is chair of the Beta Psi Social Action Committee and convener of the Albany Minority Health Task Force.
Owens is a licensed master social worker and worked for New York State for over 34 years. He retired from state employment in 2021. He is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, trainer and consultant in leadership development, mentoring, cultural competence and effective approaches for working with young Black males.
He has consulted on racial disproportionality with the with the Annie E. Casey funded Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) program in the juvenile justice systems in Ohio, Michigan and Hawaii and on sports and drugs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Owens is currently the Executive Director of the Higher Horizons Community Development Corporation, a non-profit entity of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Albany. In February 2024, Owens received the Harriet Tubman Titan Award in Community Leadership from the Isael AME Methodist Church in Albany for his commitment and leadership in working in the Albany community.
In October of 2023, he received the Harold Conover Leadership Award from the Alumnae Board at Rider University. The award is bestowed annually upon a Rider graduate who has distinguished him or herself as an exemplary leader in the field of nonprofit, community, or government service.
Locally, he facilitates meetings of the New York State Department of Health's Race Equity Work Group, which was convened after the state issued legislation stating that health disparities in New York State were due in part to structural racism.
His work in health disparities includes convening the Albany Minority Health Task Force for UAlbany's Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEHD) and consultation with the Adirondack Health Initiative, presenting workshops on health literacy and culture to stakeholders in upstate New York. He has also worked with health care professionals in Schenectady and other New York municipalities.
Additional Information
The forum is sponsored by the Beta Psi Boule Foundation of the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity, The Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities (CEHD) at the University at Albany and Higher Horizon Development Corp.
Please contact Casey West, CEHD Logistics Support, at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this event.