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SUNY Fredonia invites mental health professionals, educators, students, healthcare and human service professionals, community organizations, and members of the broader community to register for its inaugural Rooted & Resilient: Mental Wellness for Every Identity conference, taking place Monday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Williams Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus.
Rooted & Resilient is designed to bring together individuals from across Western New York and beyond for a day focused on mental health, identity, culture, belonging, resilience, and access to care. Through culturally responsive, inclusive, and trauma-informed programming, the conference seeks to increase mental health awareness, reduce stigma, strengthen community connections, and provide practical strategies that participants can take back to their workplaces, schools, organizations, and communities.
The conference will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Keba M. Rogers, educational breakout sessions, a community resource fair, an interactive panel titled "What I Wish I Knew: Voices, Identity & Mental Wellness," and afternoon movement, mindfulness, and experiential wellness opportunities. Participants will also have opportunities to connect with mental health and community organizations serving the region.
Rooted & Resilient is grounded in four guiding pillars: Advocacy, Action, Celebration, and Education (A.A.C.E.) and emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives are represented in conversations about mental health and wellness.
"Rooted & Resilient is an opportunity to bring our campus and surrounding communities together to have meaningful conversations about mental health while also connecting people with practical resources, education, and one another," said Ivory Brooks-Seay, LMFT, Conference Co-Chair and Mental Health Counselor at SUNY Fredonia. "We want participants to leave feeling better equipped to support wellness within their own communities while recognizing that mental health conversations must include the experiences and identities of the people we serve."
Individuals experiencing financial barriers to attendance may also request financial assistance. Limited support is available and is subject to available conference resources.
For conference questions or additional information, contact MentalHealthConf@fredonia.edu.