2024 Mental Health in Harlem

Agenda

The Presenters

Meet Nussy and Jo’rell, the co-founders of I Am Perspective. Together, they champion empathy through understanding. Proudly expanding their mission, they now lead the 2024 Men’s Mental Health Conference, fostering inclusivity and celebrating diversity.

Nusrat Alam

Co-Founder, I Am Perspective®

Judicial Delegate AD24, Published Writer, Entrepreneur

Nusrat ‘Nussy’ Alam is an ICF-certified leadership and personal development coach, co-founder of I Am Perspective, and a passionate advocate for empathy, equity, and human connection. Since 2018, she has facilitated over 300 events aimed at fostering multicultural understanding and addressing societal pressures around mental health, particularly for men. Elected as a Judicial Delegate for the 24th Assembly District in Queens in 2020, Nusrat also champions justice reform. A prolific writer on social-emotional intelligence and parenting mental health, she is currently developing an Empathy Guide and men’s coaching workbook to further empower individuals to lead with empathy and purpose.

Jo'rell H. Whitfield

Co-Founder, I Am Perspective®

Performer, Photographer, & Published Author

Jo’rell H. Whitfield is a multi-published author, international spoken word artist, and community leader from Queens, NY. With over 15 years of experience, he’s performed in over 50 cities, including iconic venues such as The Nuyorican and the Smithsonian. A change agent at heart, Jo’rell co-founded I Am Perspective in 2018, a social platform that’s hosted over 300 events, fostering empathy, cultural awareness, and genuine dialogue. Through I Am Perspective, he’s helped build a space for honest conversations, breaking biases, and creating allyship.

Jahkeen Washington

Owner, Harlem Kettlebell Club

Jahkeen Washington, a Harlem native, is the owner of Harlem Kettlebell Club, the first kettlebell-focused strength studio uptown. He also founded The Laurence B. Smith Scholarship Foundation, supporting college-bound student-athletes at The Frederick Douglass Academy. With a huge focus on fitness, health, and wellness, Jah’s mission is to elevate the Harlem community, to promote long and healthy living, and to always be a resource for those in need. Being able to curate a men’s mental health event in Harlem has been an incredible experience, and he looks forward to hosting more in the future.

Agenda

CLICK HERE FOR Men 2024 Agenda

The Presenters

Nusrat Alam

Co-Founder, I Am Perspective®

Nusrat ‘Nussy’ Alam is an ICF-certified leadership and personal development coach, co-founder of I Am Perspective, and a passionate advocate for empathy, equity, and human connection. Since 2018, she has facilitated over 300 events aimed at fostering multicultural understanding and addressing societal pressures around mental health, particularly for men. Elected as a Judicial Delegate for the 24th Assembly District in Queens in 2020, Nusrat also champions justice reform. A prolific writer on social-emotional intelligence and parenting mental health, she is currently developing an Empathy Guide and men’s coaching workbook to further empower individuals to lead with empathy and purpose.

Jo'rell H. Whitfield

Co-Founder, I Am Perspective®

Jo’rell H. Whitfield is a multi-published author, international spoken word artist, and community leader from Queens, NY. With over 15 years of experience, he’s performed in over 50 cities, including iconic venues such as The Nuyorican and the Smithsonian. A change agent at heart, Jo’rell co-founded I Am Perspective in 2018, a social platform that’s hosted over 300 events, fostering empathy, cultural awareness, and genuine dialogue. Through I Am Perspective, he’s helped build a space for honest conversations, breaking biases, and creating allyship.

Jahkeen Washington

Owner, Harlem Kettlebell Club

Jahkeen Washington, a Harlem native, is the owner of Harlem Kettlebell Club, the first kettlebell-focused strength studio uptown. He also founded The Laurence B. Smith Scholarship Foundation, supporting college-bound student-athletes at The Frederick Douglass Academy. With a huge focus on fitness, health, and wellness, Jah’s mission is to elevate the Harlem community, to promote long and healthy living, and to always be a resource for those in need. Being able to curate a men’s mental health event in Harlem has been an incredible experience, and he looks forward to hosting more in the future.

The Panelist

Oluwatosin Akindele, LCSW

Founder, TherapyForUsbyUs

Oluwatosin is a dedicated therapist, school social worker, and author with a deep commitment to supporting communities of color in their healing and growth journeys. As the founder of TherapyForUsbyUs, he focuses on addressing trauma and fostering resilience among people of color. With extensive experience in mental health, he advocates for the importance of mental health care, particularly for Black men, by facilitating healing circles and workshops. He is also the author of “The Boys’ Guide to Growth Mindset, a resource aimed at empowering young men to build confidence, resilience, and courage.”

“Our Mission is to significantly contribute to the healing of our community by providing culturally relevant, non-racist, non-sexist, bias-free psychotherapy while simultaneously creating a strong collective of Black and Brown healers and aiding in their professional growth. We work to create a long-standing impact and contribution to positive mental health outcomes in our community.”

Jeremy Britton, LMSW

Founder, IIMPACTY

BBA, MDiv, MSW, LMSW is a Licensed Master Social Worker with over a decade of experience in coaching and counseling. Specializing in LGBTQ+ and BIPOC mental health, trauma, depression, anxiety, couples counseling, and self-empowerment, Jeremy is dedicated to helping individuals overcome obstacles and thrive both personally and professionally. His therapeutic approach is culturally responsive and tailored to each client’s unique experiences, drawing on a variety of frameworks, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and psychodynamic methods.

With a passion for supporting vulnerable and disenfranchised communities, Jeremy’s work aligns with his broader commitment to social justice and equity in mental health services. He is also the founder of IIMPACT, a personal and professional development company, which provides coaching designed to help individuals overcome personal barriers and achieve transformative goals. Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Southern University, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Social Work from Columbia School of Social Work.

Oluwatosin Akindele, LCSW

Founder, TherapyForUsbyUs

Oluwatosin is a dedicated therapist, school social worker, and author with a deep commitment to supporting communities of color in their healing and growth journeys. As the founder of TherapyForUsbyUs, he focuses on addressing trauma and fostering resilience among people of color. With extensive experience in mental health, he advocates for the importance of mental health care, particularly for Black men, by facilitating healing circles and workshops. He is also the author of “The Boys’ Guide to Growth Mindset, a resource aimed at empowering young men to build confidence, resilience, and courage.”

“Our Mission is to significantly contribute to the healing of our community by providing culturally relevant, non-racist, non-sexist, bias-free psychotherapy while simultaneously creating a strong collective of Black and Brown healers and aiding in their professional growth. We work to create a long-standing impact and contribution to positive mental health outcomes in our community.”

Jeremy Britton, LMSW

Founder, IIMPACT

BBA, MDiv, MSW, LMSW is a Licensed Master Social Worker with over a decade of experience in coaching and counseling. Specializing in LGBTQ+ and BIPOC mental health, trauma, depression, anxiety, couples counseling, and self-empowerment, Jeremy is dedicated to helping individuals overcome obstacles and thrive both personally and professionally. His therapeutic approach is culturally responsive and tailored to each client’s unique experiences, drawing on a variety of frameworks, including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and psychodynamic methods.

With a passion for supporting vulnerable and disenfranchised communities, Jeremy’s work aligns with his broader commitment to social justice and equity in mental health services. He is also the founder of IIMPACT, a personal and professional development company, which provides coaching designed to help individuals overcome personal barriers and achieve transformative goals. Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Southern University, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, and a Master of Social Work from Columbia School of Social Work.

Carlos Davila

Professor, Instructor, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

M.A. Developmental Psychology, is an Adjunct Professor [Psychology] at John Jay College, group exercise instructor and Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Fhitting Room (a boutique HIIT studio) and is a Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach. Carlos is also a faculty member of the National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators [NFBLME]. As a part of this role, Carlos holds the roles of Executive Coach, member of the Leadership Council and Program Director for the Milwaukee chapter of NFBLME.

He has been a part of both fitness and psychology-focused spaces for close to 20 years. As a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, professor of psychology, athlete, and avid fitness enthusiast, Carlos is acutely aware of the intersection of these spaces. As a person of color (“POC”), Carlos is also highly cognizant of the various issues/barriers POC have within fitness spaces. His previous research into micro-aggressions within sporting spaces and his understanding of intersectionality allow for an analysis of fitness spaces from a biopsychosocial and nuanced point of view. Carlos also has published articles on microaggressions and intersectionality, has presented and facilitated workshops on this topic, and has written a chapter discussing the intersectionality of race and gender with HIIT/CrossFit spaces.

Anthony Fuller

Certified Professional Coach

Anthony is a Certified Professional Coach who works with people from all over the country on how they can live a fuller life by increasing their emotional and relational intelligence. He’s developed and facilitated personal & professional development workshops related to effective communication, team building, and mindful awareness; individually and corporately. For the past four years, Anthony has worked in the mental health coaching space and has directly served upwards of 300 U.S. employees utilizing EAP services provided by their sponsoring company on issues related to anxiety and stress. In a managerial capacity, Anthony currently provides coaching supervision to active mental health coaches to maintain the integrity of the scope of coaching and ensure programmatic efficacy. Last but not least and above all else, Anthony is a loving husband and father to two beautiful daughters.

Carlos Davila

Professor, Instructor, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

M.A. Developmental Psychology, is an Adjunct Professor [Psychology] at John Jay College, group exercise instructor and Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Fhitting Room (a boutique HIIT studio) and is a Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach. Carlos is also a faculty member of the National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators [NFBLME]. As a part of this role, Carlos holds the roles of Executive Coach, member of the Leadership Council and Program Director for the Milwaukee chapter of NFBLME.

He has been a part of both fitness and psychology-focused spaces for close to 20 years. As a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, professor of psychology, athlete, and avid fitness enthusiast, Carlos is acutely aware of the intersection of these spaces. As a person of color (“POC”), Carlos is also highly cognizant of the various issues/barriers POC have within fitness spaces. His previous research into micro-aggressions within sporting spaces and his understanding of intersectionality allow for an analysis of fitness spaces from a biopsychosocial and nuanced point of view. Carlos also has published articles on microaggressions and intersectionality, has presented and facilitated workshops on this topic, and has written a chapter discussing the intersectionality of race and gender with HIIT/CrossFit spaces.

Anthony Fuller

Certified Professional Coach

Anthony is a Certified Professional Coach who works with people from all over the country on how they can live a fuller life by increasing their emotional and relational intelligence. He’s developed and facilitated personal & professional development workshops related to effective communication, team building, and mindful awareness; individually and corporately. For the past four years, Anthony has worked in the mental health coaching space and has directly served upwards of 300 U.S. employees utilizing EAP services provided by their sponsoring company on issues related to anxiety and stress. In a managerial capacity, Anthony currently provides coaching supervision to active mental health coaches to maintain the integrity of the scope of coaching and ensure programmatic efficacy. Last but not least and above all else, Anthony is a loving husband and father to two beautiful daughters.

Jonathan Joseph

Educator, Coach & Entrepreneur

Jonathan is a Sales Performance Coach with over a decade of diverse experience spanning sales, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. Currently, at a leading AI tech company, Jonathan excels in optimizing team performance while maintaining a core focus on mental well-being. With over seven years of leadership coaching experience, he is passionate about fostering resilience, mindfulness, and high performance within his teams. A dedicated father and advocate for self-care, Jonathan combines his industry expertise with a compassionate approach, helping individuals and teams thrive in high-pressure environments.

Eric Mosley

Multi-Business Owner

Eric is an experienced 200-hour certified (E-RYT 200) yoga and meditation teacher, educator, DEI consultant, event host & coordinator, and the founder of Black Mat Yoga on a mission to encourage all people to show up as their most authentic selves both on and off of their mats.

Eric uses mindfulness practices to help students, companies, and clients feel at home in their bodies, navigate current events, and have difficult conversations around race, equity, and belonging. He is an NYC lululemon ambassador, Y7 studio instructor, and former lululemon studio partner trainer. Eric is a graduate of Morehouse College, Relay Graduate School of Education, and Three Sisters Yoga in New York City.

Jonathan Joseph

Educator, Coach & Entrepreneur

Jonathan is a Sales Performance Coach with over a decade of diverse experience spanning sales, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. Currently, at a leading AI tech company, Jonathan excels in optimizing team performance while maintaining a core focus on mental well-being. With over seven years of leadership coaching experience, he is passionate about fostering resilience, mindfulness, and high performance within his teams. A dedicated father and advocate for self-care, Jonathan combines his industry expertise with a compassionate approach, helping individuals and teams thrive in high-pressure environments.

Eric Mosley

Yoga Meditation Teacher, DEI Consultant

Eric is an experienced 200-hour certified (E-RYT 200) yoga and meditation teacher, educator, DEI consultant, event host & coordinator, and the founder of Black Mat Yoga on a mission to encourage all people to show up as their most authentic selves both on and off of their mats.

Eric uses mindfulness practices to help students, companies, and clients feel at home in their bodies, navigate current events, and have difficult conversations around race, equity, and belonging. He is an NYC lululemon ambassador, Y7 studio instructor, and former lululemon studio partner trainer. Eric is a graduate of Morehouse College, Relay Graduate School of Education, and Three Sisters Yoga in New York City.

Robert Palmer

U.s. Gold Medalist

Robert is a catalyst for transformation. With over a decade of experience, Robert’s approach to wellness is anything but ordinary. He has successfully guided clients ranging from elite athletes to corporate executives, each on their journey to peak performance.

What sets Robert apart is his unique blend of expertise and experience, coupled with an unwavering commitment to excellence.

As a U.S. Gold Medalist and former Division 1 college athlete, Robert understands the discipline and dedication required to excel at the highest levels. His credentials are extensive, with certifications in Sports Performance, Fitness Nutrition, Behavioral Change, and more. But it’s not just about the certifications; it’s about the application.

Robert has worked with youth athletes, helping them develop the skills and mindset necessary to succeed both on and off the field.

He has partnered with corporate leaders, crafting wellness strategies that align personal health with professional success, and he has supported individuals in achieving greater success by fostering resilience and enhancing their overall well-being.

The Be Exceptional Lifestyle is more than just a motto for Robert—it’s a way of life.

His holistic approach to wellness prioritizes not only physical fitness but also mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Robert believes that exceptional performance stems from an exceptional lifestyle, and his diverse experiences make him uniquely qualified to guide others on their journey to greatness.

Tony Vidal

Strategist, Community Builder

For over 17 years, Tony Vidal has been a force for good in the health and fitness industry. He’s not just a trainer, he’s a strategist, a leader, a community builder, and an innovator. From co-founding a health and wellness SaaS platform to spearheading social impact initiatives, Tony’s all about using cutting-edge tools to close the health gap and empower communities.

With a Master’s degree in exercise physiology, he’s spent years in the gym trenches, creating fitness programs and coaching clients of all levels. From his early days crafting personalized training programs as a Tier 3+ trainer at Equinox to being the North American Head of Implementation for eGym, Tony has explored every corner of the wellness industry.

But Tony’s not just about the sweat and reps. He’s a masterful communicator with a passion for making wellness accessible for everyone. He’s been a podcaster and content creator since 2013, and has secured media coverage for apparel companies, wearable devices, international gym chains, non-profit clients, and even delved into biohacking to refine his own approach to holistic wellness.

So, whether you’re a seasoned athlete, just starting your wellness journey, or an industry veteran looking to get the most from your next opportunity, Tony’s got the knowledge and the determination to help you reach your goals.

Robert Palmer

U.S. Gold Medalist