Trina “TiTi Ladette” Cleveland
Trina “TiTi Ladette” Cleveland has found a new way to live through writing and poetry. Her gift was hidden for years as she struggled with addiction and mental illness. After 14- years in prison and more than 25-years in active drug addiction, TiTi has managed to become more than a survivor. She has become a success.
As a professional, performance Spoken Word poet, her poetry is real and relevant and her books are as well. She is the author of the best-selling memoir “The Pink Elephant in the Middle of the Getto” that has sold more than 70,000 copies to date. She is also the author “The Pink Elephant in the Middle of the Getto INSTITUTIONAL VERSION edited to adhere to censorship guidelines for prisons and treatment facilities. “The Pink Elephant in the Middle of the Getto WORKBOOK” is a companion for either version and has been utilized by more than 17 psychiatrists, professional counselors, and adopted into the curriculum of one of the largest Integrated Behavioral Health Centers in Hackensack, NJ.
TiTi is the President and Founder of her nonprofit www.remembertothinkpink.org and a full-time student working towards her degree in Community Advocacy and Social Policy with a concentration in Forensic Social Work. As a nonprofit, TiTi is an advocate for parents who are involved with the Child Protective Services Process and have been affected by substance abuse, mental health disorders, post-trauma, and/or have a previous criminal history/background that limits access to social benefits and prevents effective parenting.
To date, TiTi has written five books. She is an entrepreneur with two publishing houses, the founder of Christian Women At The Well Entrepreneur Group, co-founder of Sisterhood of Writers and Authors of Texas (SWAT), and the host of her podcast talk show “The Uncut Truth”. She has recently added the title Playwright and Songwriter to her name as she not only wrote The Pink Elephant Stage Play but all the songs for the play as well.
Trina “TiTi Ladette” Cleveland has been featured in several newspaper articles, radio talk shows, and is the Spoken Word Slam Champ of the 2014 National Black Book Festival. She is also a celebrated Inspirational and Motivational Speaker. Some of her Keynote Speaker assignments include 2016 Travis County Reentry Summit, Austin, TX, Team Management 2K Annual Christmas Party, Hackensack, NJ, the Define U Women Conference, Gonzales, LA and The Black Women and Girls Rock Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and substance abuse, being able to successfully manage life with a dual diagnosis has gained TiTi a huge social media following which is her platform to help transform the lives of others. She maintains her recovery by attending 12 step meetings, sponsoring other women, being of service to her community and is fully engaged in her mental health care.
TiTi is a powerful, engaging, and inspirational motivating speaker who conveys her message with passion, transparency, and tact. TiTi is living proof that no matter what life throws at you, you can get back up….again and again.
Ryan Sutton, Ph.D.
Sutton earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Howard University, in the field of Counseling Psychology. He received clinical experience at Tree of Life Public Charter School, D.C. Jail, Howard University Counseling Services, and various community-based mental health centers. While at Howard, Ryan was a student of Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, who was recently named deputy director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Ryan has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at numerous national conferences on the areas of academic achievement, juvenile justice and mental health among Black males. He completed his doctoral internship at the District of Columbia Superior Court, Child Guidance Clinic, where he was responsible for forensic psychological testing, therapy and research.
Sutton earned his B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in African-American Studies, at Xavier University in Louisiana. While at Xavier, he worked with Tulane University’s Upward Bound and Young Scholars program as director of tutoring services and college readiness.
Sutton’s dissertation was entitled, “The Relationship between Personal Values and Mental Health Functioning among African American Youth in the Juvenile Justice System.”
With Special Guest Nicole Conway
Nicole R. Conway is a mother, grandmother, wife and a new author. By looking at her no one would ever know that she is an over comer & survivor of a chiari malformation that threatened to paralyze her at the age of 40.
Nicole is a native of Seattle, WA and relocated to Austin with her family when she was 10 years old. She and her husband currently live in Austin, Texas and they have five children between them and two beautiful granddaughters. Nicole currently is a property manager for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and has more than 17 years of state service. Outside of her years of state service, Nicole is also a plus size model, wardrobe stylist/image consultant and a motivational speaker.
Her recently published book: Coco’s Chronicles: A Daily Dose of Inspiration is one of the many tools she uses to help others conquer mental health challenges that often times rob us of our dignity and confidence. Nicole says, “This book was written for those who have experienced valley lows as well as the mountain top. A book designed for those who have made bad choices, who have overcome obstacles that in turn have made them stronger. It’s one of triumphs, defeats and victories. Many times we are faced with distractions and difficult situations that throw us off track…these things were designed to make it hard to reach a place of safety. We are bruised but not broken.”
Mrs. Conway is a person with a lived experience of a debilitating mental health condition who is now living in continued wellness. She is very personable, transparent and always open to sharing her story in hopes of helping others.