Black Mental Health Summit

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Commonwealth Charter Academy at The Waterfront

Commonwealth Charter Academy at The Waterfront, 162 East Bridge St
Homestead, PA 15120

Black Mental Health Summit

NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania hosted its fourth annual Black Mental Health Summit on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Commonwealth Charter Academy at The Waterfront in Pittsburgh. The summit addresses the unique challenges that members of Pittsburgh’s Black community are facing, how stigma can be a barrier to seeking treatment, and the obstacles experienced when getting help.

This year’s summit, Mental Health and the Black Family, featured keynote presenter Dr. James Huguley, Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Dr. Huguley’s presentation, “The BlackPrint: Lessons from Black Parents on Thriving in Challenging Times,” highlighted the leading research and indigenous practices that propel wellness in Black families despite adverse historical and contemporary contexts, including what they have learned and accomplished through the Parenting While Black program.

Attendees heard remarks from Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, Acting Director for Behavioral Health at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Jewel Denne, and Stephanie Robertson, Director of Mental Health Equity Innovation at NAMI National.

The event featured the panel discussion, The Impact of Untreated and Undiagnosed Mental Health Issues on Black Families & Communities, which was moderated by Dr. Charma D. Dudley, PhD, FPPR, First Vice President of NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s Board of Directors.

Participants also had the option of choosing between two workshop sessions. Dr. Aubria Nance, LPC, EdD, led the discussion, Advocating While Black: Empowering Black Men in Mental Health Spaces. Darnell Drewery, Trauma Education & Wellness Facilitator at the Center for Victims, presented the workshop, Seeing Clearly Through a Trauma Lens.

Mr. Drewery was also the recipient of the 2025 Linda Thornhill Community Impact Award. Linda Thornhill was a longtime and highly regarded mental health community leader who passed away in 2020. The award was established in her honor to create a legacy that continues to advance the community impact around mental health in the Black and brown community. Mr. Drewery was recognized for his career, which he has dedicated to community education and outreach, trauma education, and violence prevention.

View the Agenda