We believe in the advocacy, resilience, and care for LGBTQIA+ Black and Peoples of Color mental health.

Our 2023 Planning Team decided to focus on LGBTQIA+ Black and people of color community members living with serious mental illness, physical, cognitive struggles, and those along neurodiverse spectra, who are often “invisible”.

With the IMM23 theme, “Embracing Differences”, and with the sub-theme, “Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Black and Peoples of Color Disability Communities”, we are focusing on our community members who possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, with achievements and mistakes, joys and sorrows, and more importantly, the resilience they’ve built and reinforced with each passing year, with each life event. The Conference theme is intended to reflect these community members’ invaluable contributions to our societies and cultures, and work needed toward strengthening resources for them.

These community members are present; they are among us, they are visible.

Click here to learn more about the theme.

With the Conference theme, "Embracing Differences” - Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Black and People of Color Disability Communities", on Thursday, October 12 at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY; the planning team’s collective efforts for this one-day conference will focus on LGBTQIA+ Black and People of Color living with serious mental illness, physical, cognitive struggles, and those along neurodiverse spectra.

The In My Mind (IMM) Conference planning team welcomes everyone and recognizes Same-Gender Loving (SGL) and Two-Spirit (2S) as members of Black and Indigenous peoples of color communities. The Conference Program is divided into two distinct areas: Speakers (invited Speakers will address aspects of the conference Theme and Tracks) and Presentations (Workshops, Panel Discussions, and Stand-Alone Presentations conforming to the Conference Tracks).

Conference Presentations (Workshops, Panel Discussions, and Stand-Alone Presentations) are organized around four tracks, Research, Education, Advocacy, and Community; and for those requiring CRCs, 13 standards/topic areas. Presentations in each track are expected to address the conference’s overall theme, "Embracing Differences” - Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Black and People of Color Disability Communities". Presentations should be focused on overcoming challenges and difficulties experienced by LGBTQIA+ Black and persons of color with severe mental illness, physical and cognitive struggles, and those on the neurodiverse spectra. We want to create a learning experience in which there is an exchange of social resources, knowledge, linkage to mental health care and treatment, HIV, sexual health, social networking, and caregiving relationships - considering dependence and independence. In their presentations, presenters demonstrate how and in what ways they created opportunities, if not for themselves, but for their respective communities. Presentations along the four tracks and 13 standards/topic areas examine the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of LGBTQIA+ Black and people of color living with severe mental illness, physical and cognitive struggles, and who are neurodiverse, as well as treatments, methodologies and modalities of various states of illness, emotional /social dysfunction, and disease facing these communities.

Presenters are encouraged to be innovative and creative as they highlighting the latest research findings and best practices that provide information on how LGBTQIA+ Black and peoples of color are using resources to address and overcome barriers of sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, ableism, audism, and vidism.

The program offers multiple formats that encourage a rare cross-pollination of concerns and experiences, providing opportunities for these groups to speak with and listen to each other as they raise, explore and discuss the many subject areas affecting LGBTQ+/Same-Gender Loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) peoples of color mental health.

We are expecting LGBTQIA+ seniors of color, high school seniors and college students, faculty and administration, community stakeholders, local municipalities, county and state wide governments’ Departments of Health, K-12 administrators, teachers and social workers/counselors, private practice and public therapists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, and case managers; and interested parties from the surrounding New York Tri State, the country, and internationally.

With the Conference theme, "Embracing Differences” - Uplifting LGBTQIA+ Black and People of Color Disability Communities", on Thursday, October 12 at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY; the planning team’s collective efforts for this one-day conference will focus on LGBTQIA+ Black and People of Color living with serious mental illness, physical, cognitive struggles, and those along neurodiverse spectra. The collective strengths and wisdom from clinicians, consumers, academics and advocates will examine the academic and personal narrative aspects of overcoming and creating.

Submitting an abstract, you are encouraged to complete the requirements for Continuing Education Units/Credits (CEUs) and for Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCs) to ensure that LCSW, LMSW, LMHC attendees to their presentations receive credit toward their licenses.


The program offers multiple formats that encourage a rare cross-pollination of concerns and experiences, providing opportunities for these groups to speak with and listen to each other as they raise, explore and discuss the many subject areas affecting LGBTQ+/Same-Gender Loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) Black and peoples of color mental health.

It will feature 45-minute Speaker presentation(s) to establish common starting points, and set the tone for the day.

Breakout Presentations (Workshops, Panel Discussions, Stand-Alone, and Virtual Poster Presentations) come next. They reflect on the conference’s theme – “Uplifting LGBTQIA+ People of Color Disability Communities” – and explore in-depth many issues impacting our communities’ mental health. These will examine the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of LGBTQIA+ Black and peoples of color, as well as treatments, methodologies and modalities of various states of illness, emotional /social dysfunction and disease facing these communities. There are 75-minute concurrent single/stand-alone sessions, some geared for clinicians, others for community members, and others combined for both groups.

In the Conference Program, an abstract submission satisfying the NY State Department of Education requirements may qualify, be eligible for and provide Continuing Education Credits for Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Master’s in Social Work, through Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, and the Rehabilitation Counseling Program at Hofstra University for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs). On the Conference Program, a presentation marked CE indicates that an LCSW or LMSW attending for the duration (60 minutes) and completing the evaluation can earn one-credit hour toward their license. By attending the entire conference, and at least three breakout presentations, an LCSW and LMSW can earn three -credit hours toward their license.

Click here to learn more about this.

IMM2023 will be a hybrid forum, online via Zoom, and in person at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY. In collaboration with several library facilities, we are working to establish satellite locations for community members who are unable to travel and or have difficulty accessing the conference online.