Black Family Conference – PREVENT Alliance

the central kentucky black family conference

"Stronger Together: Building Health, Resiliency, and Unity”

DETAILS

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Location:

UK Gatton Student Center

160 Avenue of Champions

Lexington, KY 40506

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The Black Family Conference, themed “Stronger Together: Building Health, Resilience, and Unity,” is dedicated to advancing health and well-being within the African American community. This event serves as a platform for Black families to share their experiences, resources, and strategies for navigating challenges and promoting health. By addressing critical issues such as health disparities, economic empowerment, education, and community resilience, the conference aims to foster unity and solidarity among Black families in Central Kentucky and beyond.

Key objectives of the conference include:

- Providing a space for Black families to connect and collaborate on health and wellness strategies
- Addressing health disparities and promoting health for all
- Empowering the community through education, advocacy, and collaboration
- Inspiring unity and solidarity to build resilience and advance well-being in the Black community

Participants will gain practical insights and resources to empower themselves and their families to prioritize health and well-being. Workshops led by experts and community leaders will cover topics such as:

- Preventive care
- Maternal and child health
- Chronic disease management
- Mental health
- Tobacco cessation
- Nutrition

The Black Family Conference also marks the culmination of Project Ricochet’s Barbershop and Beauty Salon Initiative. This initiative has leveraged trusted community spaces to promote health education and foster community support. The conference brings together community members to reinforce the goals of promoting health for all, resilience, and unity within the Black community, inspiring collective action for a future where every Black family can thrive.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

*Detailed schedule coming soon*

TIME	SESSION
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Pre-Conference Programming Concurrent Sessions Floating Lotus Doula Service Training and Certification Kentucky Black Farmers Association Meeting Health and Vendor Fair Set Up
11:00 AM	Conference Registration Opens
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM	Conference Features Health and Vendor Fair The Sankofa Singers, Roots 101 Museum, Louisville, Kentucky “The Talking Drum”, Public Interviews, The Ricochet Effect Podcast and #IChampionHealth Cultural and Public Health Art Walk The Urban Art Collective, Project Ricochet Roots 101 African American Museum, Louisville, Kentucky
12:30 PM – 12:45 PM	Welcome and Purpose Dr. Abeni El-Amin, President, Project Ricochet and EMPOWER! Public Health Innovation Program Manager, Kinesiology & Health Promotion, College of Education, University of Kentucky Dr. Melinda J. Ickes, PhD Professor, Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Acting Associate Dean of Research, College of Education, University of Kentucky Representative, Anthem Medicaid
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM	Opening Keynote Dr. Jayne Morgan, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs, Hello Heart
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM	Networking and Vendor Break
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM	Concurrent Sessions New and Beginning Farmers Workshop, Kentucky Black Farmers Association (Session One) What’s Your Money Mindset? (Financial Literacy and Education), Dale Morgan, Foundation47 UK PREVENT: EMPOWER (Session One) UK PREVENT: #IChampionHealth (Session One) University of Kentucky College of Education
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM	Networking and Vendor Break
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM	Concurrent Sessions Women Empowered by God, Yvonne Skinner, COGIJN The Mobile Mission Experience, Natalie Mims and Andrea Johnson UK PREVENT: EMPOWER (Session Two) UK PREVENT: #IChampionHealth (Session Two) UK Center for Health Equity Transformation
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM	Networking and Vendor Break
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM	Concurrent Sessions The African American Barbershop and Beauty Shop Initiative, Project Ricochet (Sponsored by Anthem Medicaid) Barbershop Talk, Anthony Burdett, Well Groomed Barbershop Beauty Salon Talk, Rashida Thompson, Rashida’s House of Styles and Cultural Cut Barbershop and Dr. Carolyn Dunn, Carolyn’s Crown and Glory Hair Salon
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM	Networking and Vendor Break
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM	Concurrent Sessions The African American Barbershop and Beauty Shop Initiative, Project Ricochet (Sponsored by Anthem Medicaid) Panel: Stronger Together! (Both Barbers and Salonists) UK PREVENT: EMPOWER (Session Three) UK PREVENT: #IChampionHealth (Session Three)
5:45 PM - 6:00 PM	Networking and Vendor Break
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM	Closing Session and Next Steps