Helping Our Youth Heal Presenters
Virtual Leadership Gathering 2024
February 8, 2024 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM CST
Cost: Free
Dr. Christin J. Fort
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology
Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA
Dr. Christin J. Fort serves as the assistant professor of clinical psychology for The School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Prior to her appointment at Fuller in November 2022, Dr. Fort was a tenure-track faculty member at Wheaton College (IL) where she served as the director of integrative dialogue in the School of Psychology, Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy. She was the recipient of Wheaton’s Junior Faculty Achievement Award in 2022.
As a scholar heavily invested in understanding the “why” behind the “what” of the human experience, Fort’s research and publications focus on theoretical and qualitative research methods. As an African American woman of enslaved descent, her scholarship, research, teaching, preaching, and clinical practice lie at the intersections of faith, race, emotional health, and relational wellbeing.
Dr. Dianne Robinson
Licensed Professional Counselor, PhD
Renewal Counseling Center, Dallas, TX
Dr. Dianne Robinson is a licensed professional counselor with a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her experience has included working with adolescents and adults dealing with depression, grief and loss, anxiety, relationship issues to include divorce and separation, adjustment difficulties, low self-esteem, codependency and other issues that can cause stress.
Dr. Ricky Walter
Senior Pastor & Licensed Psychotherapist
Lifeline Fellowship Church
Corsicana, TX
Dr. Ricky Walter is a rural community pastor, a psychotherapist in the Texas Juvenile Justice System, and the founder and CEO of Lifeline Children and Family Services, Inc. Founded in 2003, Lifeline Children and Family Services service is a nonprofit social services agency that recruits, orients, trains and supports foster care families to provide a nurturing and structured environment for children and youth, pending their return home, and adoption or transition into independent living. Lifeline serves rural and urban communities throughout Texas, including Corsicana, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio.
Brandi Williams
African American Church
Evangelism Institute
Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
Brandi Nicole Williams is the Director of the African American Church Evangelism Institute at the Wheaton College-Billy Graham Center. Brandi obtained her master’s degree in theological studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is now obtaining her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University. Her research explores the role of the Black Church and business creation. She envisions her research as a catalyst for developing innovative evangelism practices and providing economic development solutions for the African-American community. Brandi has over 15 years of ministry, nonprofit, and consulting experience.
Jacob Garcia
Worship Leader
Jacob Garcia accepted the call to ministry at the age of 18 where he fervently pursued a deeper relationship with Christ. He has led congregations into praise and worship for nine years beginning under the pastoral leadership of his father. He now serves as worship leader for North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship in Richardson, Texas.
Jacob has also served as a background singer for a variety of Dallas-based musical artists. He readily shares the wisdom and knowledge he has gained and contributes it to being flexible when serving in diverse church settings and atmospheres.
Jacob’s heart is to live for the glory of our God, Christ Jesus.
Session One: Sound the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Trauma
Black youth are experiencing social pressures, grief, racism, and gun violence at an all-time high. These stressors are causing youth to spiral into depression, anxiety attacks, and even suicide. What can parents, pastors, educators, and mentors do to help our youth? Come and learn interventions to support our youth.
Presenter: Dr. Christin J. Fort, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology,Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA
Session Two: How Can the Church Help Our Youth Heal?
Research tells us our black children are twice as likely to die by suicide than their white peers, and black teen suicides are growing at shocking rates. What's going on, and what can be done to help save young black lives? Let's talk about it with a psychotherapist and licensed professional counselors of color.
Panelists: Dr. Ricky Walter, Dianne Robinson, and Brandi Williams
Moderator: Sherrye Willis, Founder and President, Alliance for Greater Works
The Resilient Church Collective is a statewide initiative in Texas designed to help leaders of churches serving African Americans and other people of color through trauma-informed healing. The collective is an initiative of Alliance for Greater Works™.