Workshop Speakers & Performers
Dr. Roselyn V. Aker-Black
Removing your Cape Unapologetically: Radical Self Care During this Pandemic
Roselyn V. Aker- Black, Psy.D (affectionately known as Dr. Roz) is a native of Rome, Georgia and currently resides in the Washington, DC metro area with her husband. Dr. Roz received a B.A. in psychology from Fisk University and completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the American Schools of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Washington, DC.
Dr. Roz is an award- winning psychologist and has over 14 years of experience in providing psychological services to children, families, and couples in the nonprofit, government, and private industry sectors. Currently, she is the Chief Operating Officer for the Goal Grinders Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides Leadership and Entrepreneurial training with a STEM Focus for at risk middle and high school girls.
She also serves as a psychology professor at local universities in the DC area training nurses and the next generation of clinical and forensic psychologists. As a consultant, she serves as a Subject Matter Mental Health Expert supporting the Juvenile and Family Residential Management Unit (JFRMU) Office of Detention and Removal (DRO) of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and as an Expert Panel member in the development of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA), Bright Futures for Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative (BFWHW); Healthy Relationships tool domain.
Dr. Roz’s media experience includes psychological consults with the Anderson Cooper Talk Show (2012), the OWN’s Network docuseries Unfaithful (2012), Huffington Post, Fox5DC, NBC4 and a regular guest appearance on Howard University’s WHUR 96.3 as a relationship expert. Dr. Roz is the Series Psychologist on TV One’s limited series, “For My Woman” and the host of the Dr. Roz Show podcast. Moreover, Dr. Aker-Black’s work has also been published in International Journals.
She is a sought out keynote speaker, commencement speaker, and advice columnist for her advice on practical relationship functioning, Human trafficking, Intimate Partner Violence, and Organizational Behavior and Management. Dr. Roz is also a TEDx speaker and presented the topic, “Surviving Betrayal” at the TEDx U Street Women’s Conference 2019.
She is the owner of the Dr. Roz Therapeutic and Coaching Services, a boutique organization that is dedicated to help people function properly in all relationships! Dr. Roz is also an author and co-author represented by 13th and Joan Publications.
Some of Dr. Roz’s awards include the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund Forty under Forty, The Daily Records’ Very Important Professional Under Forty, Maryland’s Leading Woman award , 2 time winner of The Daily Records Top 100 Women of Maryland award, North Atlantic Regional Exemplary Citizen Award, Fisk University’s Inaugural Talented Tenth award and the Success Women’s Conference National Top Influencer and Rising Star.
Dr. Kimberly Quinn
Resilience Strategies -
Dealing with Trauma
Dr. Kimberly Quinn currently teaches courses on Mindcraft and Cognitive Psychology at Champlain College in Burlington, VT, where she is also the Well-being & Success Coach. Kimberly teaches a summer course on Trauma: Origins & Implications for the Community College of Vermont, and speaks at various colleges, universities, and organizations on a variety of topics related to well-being. Her most recent speaking engagements were No Need to Fix Me: I’m Not Broken (TEDxUStreetWomen-Washington, DC, 2019), The Double-edged Sword: ADHD and Impulsivity (TEDxAmoskeagMillyard-NH,2019), Managing the Monkey Mind with Mindfulness (Southern New Hampshire University, 2019), and Race & Gender (AAUW Panelist, 2019). She hosts webinars on Trauma & Resilience, as well as a weekly Mindcraft podcast series aimed at striving for optimal well-being and life satisfaction. Kimberly also writes for Psychology Today on topics related to positive psychology
Dr. Michelle C. Chatman
Black Women and Belonging
Michelle C. Chatman, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Crime, Justice, and Security Studies program (CJSS) at the University of the District of Columbia. She earned her master’s degree in Applied Anthropology (1998) and her doctorate in Sociocultural Anthropology at American University (2013). Her research centers the health and well-being of Black communities. She has authored peer reviewed articles and book chapters on the impact of gentrification on Black communities in DC, the psychosocial needs of Black women breast cancer survivors, urban youth development, African spirituality, and decolonial pedagogy.
Dr. Chatman is a sought after speaker on mindfulness and contemplative approaches in higher education and has presented at the University of Massachusetts, Virginia State University, the University of Northern Colorado, The University of Miami/ Ohio, and at Emerson College in the United Kingdom. She is particularly interested in how these approaches help to support liberated learning environments that center healing, justice and belonging. She is a Fellow in the Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Program where she serves as Principal Investigator on the Project Youth MIND Study, an innovative violence prevention initiative for youth that integrates culturally relevant mindfulness approaches, restorative justice, the arts, and social justice education. This summer, Dr. Chatman and her co-PI’s piloted Project Youth MIND virtually with 44 DC youth and a team of 11 graduate assistants. In June 2020, Dr. Chatman became president of the board of directors for The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (C-MIND) a national organization that promotes the use of vibrant and inclusive learning environments through the use of contemplative approaches. She is also the founder of the Black Mindfulness Summit. She has several public lectures, TED talks, and contemplative practices on Youtube. Dr. Chatman is from Washington, DC. You can find her mindfulness videos and her two TEDx talks on Youtube.
Whitney Sweetwine
Singer, Songwriter, and Entertainer
Whitney Sweetwine, also known as Jazmyana, is a singer, songwriter and entertainer from Washington, D.C. In her youth, Whitney's parents always encouraged her to excel in life especially academically. Unbeknownst to her parents, her true passion was to pursue music and entertainment. She was blessed with a voice that at her young age, was very sweet and inviting.
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Whitney slowly began to sway towards her love for arts. She secretly began writing poetry and songs as well as singing and choreographing routines to songs popular songs. She was extremely shy but in school she joined dance teams, cheerleading teams, and the choir to feed her growing interests. She was often asked to perform in school assemblies and competitions by teachers.
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Although she did not seek the attention or recognition for her talents due to her shyness, she found joy in knowing that entertainment was her purpose. After high school, she pursued professional modeling was she was not sure if she would be a successful performer. She was very successful in modeling, however, she still felt that something was missing.
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She took a break from music and returned to the scene with the release of her debut project "23". From that moment on Whitney has bee writing for various artists and performing all over the US. She has various accolades from local radio stations for her music. She was one of the Verses Competition champions for 93.9 WKYS FM and the DMV Spotlight winner for WPGC 95.5 FM. She was also named one of the Top 25 DMV artist by well known radio personality EZ Street.
Currently, her freshman album "Do You Dirty" ,is out on all streaming platforms. ​ Whitney's musical inspirations are Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Minnie Ripperton. Mariah Carey, Usher, Ciara, Chris Brown, The Isley Brothers and last but not least, Beyonce'. Whitney is very unique because she is a quadruple threat; She writes her own songs, sings, dances, and raps. Today she still pursues modeling as well. Whitney believes that fear can only hinder a person from reaching their full potential. She takes pride in conquering her fears and mastering every skill that she has.
Bellydancer of Color Collective
Bellydancers of Color Collective (BOCC) was founded in 2017 by Adina Gittens-Smith and Leila Nelson to celebrate and restore the dance lineage of bellydancers throughout the diaspora of African people—to connect and honor the artistic human experience, strength and beauty of people of color through the art of bellydance, drum, and other traditional dance forms. We believe in shaping the lives of people through dance, especially helping women embrace and love all of who they are—physically, mentally and spiritually.
Bellydancing is considered to be the oldest form of dance by many historical experts, and roots of the dance have been traced to Africa. BOCC seeks to collaborate and connect dancers of color throughout the world – shifting the story of the dance and connecting back to its source. Traditionally, bellydancing was always performed by women, for women. It was never a sexual display performed for men like many people believe. In fact, in most cases, the presence of men was not permitted. (Now – seduction is a fringe benefit 😊!) Bellydancing was performed during fertility and pre-marriage ceremonies. Women would gather and celebrate each other’s beauty, femininity, and stage in life, such as entering womanhood or preparing for marriage.
In 2004, Adina and Leila were introduced to the sacred art of bellydance in Washington, DC at MamaSita Dance & Wellness Studio. At a young age, both had fallen in love with the beauty of dance, and both felt an immediate connection to the art of bellydance and the people they met at MamaSita’s. Under the tutelage of Dr. Sunyatta Amen and Sharhira Jones, they fully embraced the joy, passion, technique, acceptance, and feminine power of Afro-Caribbean Fusion bellydance. Adina and Leila were certified in Bellydance Instruction in 2014 by Dr. Sunyatta Amen.
BOCC specializes in Afro-Caribbean Fusion Bellydancing classes, events, and performances. All levels of dancers are welcome! BOCC believes dance is a moving meditation, a healing salve to the soul that opens energy channels so prana flows freely and keeps us young.
We believe bellydancing brings vitality to our physical bodies, and when revered as sacred, becomes a manifestation of the Divine in action. We teach you how to shimmy up joy from your soul and have fun swaying your hips while working up a sweat! Your inner girly goddess will enjoy the moves, passion and grace that celebrate all the goodness that comes with womanhood.
Renda Jackson
Renda Jackson is an and upcoming female Bassist residing in the local Maryland and DC regions. Upon obtaining her Bachelors in Music in 2011 from South Carolina State University, Renda was first introduced to playing Bass after having a background in playing Bass Clarinet and Baritone in symphonic and marching bands for over 10 years. Renda describes her talents as having the unique ability to “hear and distinguish” God’s spiritual language which led to Renda pursue music. Along the way, she discovered her musical strengths to self educate and taught herself how to play bass post undergraduate years and even piano at the age of 15. Holding the low end of music down comes naturally for Ms. Jackson and she continues to spark audiences with her rhythmic and melodic charisma and wonderful spirit.