OUR 2020 RECAP
The 2020 Central Texas African American Family Support Conference was a celebratory and transformative event with nearly 600 attendees. Over two dynamic days we celebrated the conference’s 20th anniversary while exploring health solutions for our community.
Vicky Coffee, Director of Programs at the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at the University of Texas and Kimberly Holiday (“Lady Joy”), motivational speaker and KAZI radio personality were our fearless emcees for the second year running. Dr. King Davis, an expert in mental health and urban policy research and analysis and Dr. Altha Stewart, a community psychiatrist and the first African American to hold the position of President of the American Psychiatric Association shared their expertise and wisdom as keynote speakers. Our third keynote, Grammy-winner Le’Andria Johnson, brought the house down as she shared both her experience with substance use issues and her incredible singing voice.
This year marked the first-ever youth-focused pre-event – Yes to BEST! – created for youth and young adults ages 14 to 24. As always, the 2020 conference was a remarkable opportunity to come together and lift one another up as we move towards a healthier, more resilient future.
Here’s what conference attendees had to say.
“Blessed 20th anniversary. It gets better every year.”
“Where have I been? This is my first year and I am overjoyed about the total experience. I’ve learned so many tools.”
“Please continue to educate, encourage and motivate. I learned so much and this conference ignited my passion to continue to serve.”
“Fantastic energy and fantastic conference.”
View the conference photo gallery here.
View all conference videos here.
View the full conference program here.
2020 Conference Highlights
- Twenty interactive workshops
- The “Bold and Unapologetically Walking in Victory” poster presentation showcase, with 9impactful posters
- Poster Favorite: LaQueeta Humes’ “Respect and Dignity”
- 43 exhibitors
- A legislative conversation with Representative Garnet F. Coleman
Representative Garnet F. Coleman Eternal Flame Award Recipient
Joe Powell
Richard E. Hopkins Torch Awards Recipients
- Teena Gray-Hale – Family Member
- Dr. Rosalee Martin – Professional
- Dr. Billy Reese – Community Impact
- Clarence Watson – Individual with Lived Experience Award
Scholarship Winners
- Valisa Clark – RR Coleman-Calahan Lodging Scholarship
- Larry Collins – The Austin Area Mental Health Consumer Lodging Scholarship
- Lia Jones – The Michele Bibby Educational and Lodging Scholarship
- Maceo Sheehy & Chantier Johnson – The Wood Group Educational Scholarships
Central Texas African American Healthy Minds Project Grant Recipients
- Austin Area Mental Health Consumers
- Austin Area Urban League
- Building Promises
- Excellence and Advancement Foundation
- God’s Way Christian Fellowship
- NAMI Central Texas
- Sickle Cell Association of Texas
- What’sInTheMirror?
Special Thanks
We want to recognize a few key individuals who helped make this year’s conference memorable.
- Trina Ita, Associate Commissioner of Behavioral Health Services at Texas Health and Human Services, for her welcome remarks
- Musician with a Message SaulPaul for energizing and prepping us for a great 2-day journey
- Our keynotes: Dr. King Davis, Le’Andria Johnson and Dr. Altha Stewart
- Reverend Noah Diggs, Pastor Ray Hendricks and Minister Daryl Horton for leading us in prayer
- Nell Watts (aka “Gangsta Granny”) and Eileen “Sugar” Williams for their inspired musical contributions
- Carlita Fielder for her electric slam poetry
- Artist Brian Joseph for his beautiful 20th anniversary commemorative artwork
- The CTAAFSC Planning Team for creating an outstanding program
CTAAFSC 2020 Sponsors
Gold Level
Ascension Seton
Austin
ISD
Austin Public Health
Hogg
Foundation for Mental Health
Integral Care Foundation
St.
David’s Foundation
Silver Level
Epsilon Iota Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Iota Foundation
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Bronze Level
A Glimmer of Hope, Austin
Huston-Tillotson University
The Links – Town Lake Chapter Inc.
Sendero Health Plans
United Way for Greater Austin
The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
The Wood Group
Contributors
Austin Area Urban League
Central Health
NAMI Central Texas
Donors
Agape Christian Ministries
David Chapel Baptist Church
David Weden
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Epsilon Iota Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Iota Foundation, Austin Alumni Chapter
H-E-B
Madison & Marshall, LLC
Margaret R. Payne
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
The D. Wood Foundation
Sheriff Sally Hernandez
Zion Rest Missionary Baptist Church
Special thanks to media that promoted and covered the conference