Pathways to Hope is back! And it's more than a conference. It's a gathering; a healing space to be seen, heard, and restored. Join us for the 2nd Annual Pathways to Hope Conference, where culture, care, and community come together to uplift mental wellness in Black communities.

In partnership with Harris-Stowe State University and Bridges to Care & Recovery, this experience brings together students, educators, professionals, families, and community members—all committed to healing, growth, and showing up for ourselves and each other.

At its core, HOPE means Healing Our People Every Day — and every conversation, resource, and act of care moves us closer to that mission.

Interested in Pathways to Hope 2027?

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Please Note: Before registering, we encourage you to carefully review each breakout session description below to ensure you select the sessions that best align with your interests, and professional development needs. Session topics and learning objectives may vary.

Agenda

Day 1

9:00 AM – Doors Open

9:30 AM – Welcome & Opening Performance

Morning Breakout Sessions (10:15–11:15 AM)

Choose one of the following workshops:

Hope Can't Wait: Let's Save Lives – Suicide Prevention Among Black Communities
Bridging Cultures, Building Hope – Mental Health in Black Immigrant Experiences
Moving Toward Hope – Mind, Body, and Healing (Sound Bath)
Voices of Hope – Ending the Silence: Young Adult Stories
Healing Generations with Hope – Breaking Cycles of Family Trauma
Brothers and Hope – Black Men Redefining Strength and Mental Wellness
Black Joy, Black Hope – The Radical Practice of Thriving
Hope Lives Here – Reclaiming Joy, Safety, and Healing Beyond Survival

11:30 AM – Keynote Address

12:15 PM – Lunch

1:00 PM – Panel Discussion & HSSU Drumline Performance

Afternoon Breakout Sessions (2:00–3:00 PM)

Choose one of the following workshops:

Moving Toward Hope – Mind, Body, and Healing (Yoga)
Brothers and Hope – Black Men Redefining Strength and Mental Wellness
Healing Generations with Hope – Breaking Cycles of Family Trauma
Black Joy, Black Hope – Cultivating Wellness Beyond Survival
Voices of Hope – Ending the Silence: Young Adult Stories
Bridging Cultures, Building Hope – Mental Health in Black Immigrant Experiences
Hope Lives Here – Reclaiming Joy, Safety, and Healing Beyond Survival
Hope for the Helpers – Sustaining Those Who Support Others

3:15 PM – Closing Session

Day 2

8:30 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks

Interactive Workshop Rotations (9:00–11:00 AM)

Participants will rotate through engaging sessions designed to deepen learning, build practical skills, and foster meaningful connections.

11:00 AM – Closing Panel Discussion

The Weight We Carry: Trauma, Resilience, and Healing in the Black Community

Join community leaders, advocates, and individuals with lived experience for a powerful conversation on resilience, healing, and hope within Black communities.

12:00 PM – Conference Concludes

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session 1: Hope Can’t Wait: “Let’s Save Lives” Suicide Prevention Among Black Communities

Presented by Compass Health Network, this session addresses suicide prevention within Black and African Ancestry communities by examining the impact of systemic factors, mental health disparities, and community experiences. Attendees will learn to recognize warning signs, identify risk and protective factors, build confidence in supporting someone experiencing suicidal distress, and connect individuals with lifesaving resources. The session also features a lived-experience testimony highlighting the power of hope, connection, and community support.

This session is only offered during Session #1's breakout.

Breakout Session 2: Brothers and Hope: Black Men Redefining Strength and Mental Wellness

Led by Black male mental health advocates and therapists, this conversation-based session creates space for Black men to discuss mental health, stress, relationships, trauma, resilience, and overall well-being. Through storytelling, dialogue, and real-life perspectives, attendees will challenge stigma around seeking support, examine how masculinity expectations and generational patterns influence emotional wellness, and redefine strength through vulnerability, connection, and self-care. Participants will gain practical strategies for managing stress and accessing culturally responsive mental health resources.

Breakout Session 3: Bridging Cultures, Building Hope: Mental Health in Black Immigrant Experiences

Led by Vitendo 4 Africa, this session highlights the unique mental health experiences of Black immigrant communities, including cultural adjustment, identity development, and barriers to care. Attendees will examine the intersection of migration, culture, and mental wellness while gaining insight into culturally responsive approaches that strengthen belonging, resilience, and access to support. This discussion celebrates the strengths of Black immigrant communities and the importance of creating pathways to care that honor lived experiences.

Breakout Session 4: Moving Toward Hope: Mind, Body, and Healing (Sound Bath)

Led by Healing Exchange LLC, this experiential session introduces sound healing as a complementary practice for stress reduction, nervous system regulation, and mind-body connection. Attendees will learn how sound-based practices, including singing bowls, can support grounding, self-awareness, and emotional wellness. The session includes a guided sound experience, an overview of emerging research, and discussion on thoughtfully incorporating sound practices alongside trauma-informed approaches.

This workshop has been approved by the Missouri Committee for Social Workers for 1.0 CE credit. Participants are responsible for confirming acceptance with their individual state licensing board.

This session is only offered during Session #1's breakout.

Breakout Session 5: Moving Toward Hope: Mind, Body, and Healing (Yoga)

Led by She Healz, this mind-body experience combines yoga, breathwork, and guided reflection to explore the connection between inner peace, emotional wellness, and physical awareness. Attendees will discover practices that support grounding, stress management, and self-connection while considering how peace can be cultivated even during challenging seasons. This session encourages participants to reconnect with themselves and carry greater balance, resilience, and hope into everyday life. A yoga mat is provided by Harris-Stowe State University.

This session is only offered during Session #2's breakout.

Breakout Session 6: Voices of Hope: Ending the Silence Young Adult Stories

This powerful storytelling showcase amplifies the voices of Black young adults sharing personal journeys of hope, resilience, and mental wellness. Through lived experiences and honest conversations, the session highlights the importance of recognizing mental health challenges early, reducing stigma, and strengthening support systems for young people. The session concludes with a Q&A opportunity to encourage connection, understanding, and community dialogue.

Breakout Session 7: Healing Generations with Hope: Cost of Being Strong

Led by Pageway Publishing, this storytelling-centered session examines how family trauma, survival patterns, and learned behaviors influence emotional wellness across generations. Attendees will gain insight into how emotional suppression, over functioning, and inherited coping strategies can impact relationships, boundaries, and self-worth. Through lived experience and practical tools, participants will identify pathways toward healthier communication, stronger support systems, and intentional healing for themselves and future generations.

Breakout Session 8: Black Joy, Black Hope: The Radical Act of Thriving

Led by Imani Counseling, this affirming session reimagines wellness through the lens of Black joy as a source of strength, connection, and liberation. Through storytelling, journaling, group dialogue, a community affirmation circle, and a “joy mapping” activity, attendees will explore how culturally affirming and strengths-based approaches support thriving beyond survival. Participants will leave with a deeper appreciation for joy, collective care, and belonging as essential components of mental wellness.

Breakout Session 9: Hope Lives Here: Reclaiming Rest, Safety, and Healing Beyond Survival

Presented by Ms. Mac Consulting, LLC, this guided wellness session examines how stress, trauma, burnout, and life experiences influence the ways we respond to challenges. Attendees will learn how survival responses such as fight, flight, freeze, and fawn impact emotions, relationships, and decision-making while gaining practical tools for nervous system regulation and emotional well-being. The session encourages a shift from survival toward rest, safety, connection, and sustainable healing.

Breakout Session 10: Hope for the Healers: Sustaining Those Who Support Others

Led by GDC Wellness Services, this skill-building session focuses on the well-being of caregivers, helpers, and professionals who dedicate themselves to supporting others. Using a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approach, attendees will identify signs of burnout, examine factors that contribute to depletion, and learn strategies to restore emotional, physical, and cognitive well-being. Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen resilience and create sustainable wellness practices.

This session is only offered during Session #2's breakout.

Meet the 2026 PTH Speakers!