Eleversity

Rodric Cox-Cooper has over 20 years of community and workforce development experience, and currently serves as the Rochester & Genesee Valley Regional Director for the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), an organization committed to strengthening New York’s workforce.
Prior to joining WDI, Rodric served for 12 years as an executive in Rochester city government, and for 7 years as the CEO of human service organizations focused on economic self-sufficiency, employment and education for low-income and challenged populations.
He represented the City of Rochester on the Monroe County/Rochester Workforce Investment Board and Private Industry Council, and led impactful workforce development initiatives including the Basic Employability Skills Training (BEST) Program, and the youth-focused Good Grades Pay Program.
He has been recognized as one of the Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award honorees, and was the recipient of the Dr. Samuel McCree Jr. award for his efforts to improve the quality of life in Rochester. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus award from both his high school and undergraduate alma maters: McQuaid Jesuit High School (Rochester, NY) and the University of Dayton (Dayton, OH), respectively. He has served on numerous not-for-profit boards and committees, and is a graduate of the United Way African-American Leadership Development Program and Leadership Rochester.
Rodric holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton, and a Master’s degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Jennifer Geiger, M.S., C.R.C is the Business Relations Representative at the Rochester ACCES-VR District Office focusing on hiring opportunities for people with disabilities. We can provide businesses with a talent pool of qualified candidates and information about hiring incentives and tax credits. Jennifer is a certified ADA training offering free training on Disability Awareness and Etiquette, Reasonable Accommodations, Disability and Disclosure.

Workshop Description: I am Executive with over twenty-five years of health, behavioral health, government and academia. As a coach, therapist, author, I have been BLESSED to be either the first woman and or first Black in several of my leadership positions. With the Blessing came the challenges, struggles I have overcome. I will also discuss how I overcame the "IMPOSTER SYNDROME"
I believe staying focused on helping others-especially your team in the workplace should be your first mission. You may be in a leadership position, but you are there to serve your team members, customers, community to the best of your ability.

Learning Objective:
Create a "10 Steps to Your Own Personal Summit"

Presenter Bio: Dr. Ellen Grant is an executive with over thirty years of health, behavioral health, governmental, academic and managerial leadership. She has held positions as a hospital CEO, Commissioner of Mental Health, other management positions. She authored, The Female worker's Fourteen Commandments for Powering Up your Career has been helpful to many. She’s served on the national advisory board of the Black Women's Health study - the largest national health research study for Black women's health. Dr. Grant started a not for profit organization WOMEN WHO LEAD(WWL), a women's mentoring program and scholarship program for 7th & 8th grade girls (DivHERsity). She volunteers in local organizations included the Women's Foundation of WNY; this one an emeritus member, COMPEER for those with mental health issues.

Workshop Description: As women of color it can be hard to show up as your authentic self in spaces that were not created for you to thrive. If you've often felt like you've had to dim your light, sell yourself short, code-switch, struggle with imposter syndrome or even change your hair, this workshop is for you. Women of Color are powerful and have a gift to share with the world. Your voice matters, your story matters, how you show up in the room matters.

Learning Objectives:
Recognize Your Impact/Influence
Take Constructive Feedback
Move from Potential to Action

Presenter Bio: Jennifer Williams is a graduate from Pennsylvania State University and native of Philadelphia. Jennifer is an accomplished, self-published author and mental health educator. She currently works for GP Strategies consulting firm supporting Goldman Sachs.

Workshop Description: The ability to command attention, convey authority, and exude confidence is indispensable. Whether you're leading a team, presenting to clients, or networking at an event, owning the room is essential for success. This workshop aims to equip participants with the skills and mindset needed to master their presence and confidently navigate any professional environment.
This workshop will cover a range of topics including mindfulness techniques, and assertive communication. Through experiential learning and personalized feedback, participants will learn practical techniques to enhance their presence and influence.

Learning Objectives:
Understanding the importance of presence and confidence in professional settings.
How to handle challenging situations with grace and authority.
Building rapport and connecting with others authentically.
Techniques to project confidence.
I am a mindfulness expert, licensed master social worker, volleyball player, world traveler, and a person you can’t catch imposter syndrome from because I don’t have it.
I’ve learned keeping busy isn’t enough. We need to learn and practice mindfulness to achieve success.

Presenter Bio: Melissa Mueller – Douglas has a passion for ingenuity and attract people and companies who share this value. My specific expertise advances wellness in the workplace, increases focus and resilience and drives personal and professional growth. As founder and CEO of MYRetreat, I work as a catalyst to create the environment for genuine team building through chocolate rather than “trust falls.” I am on a mission to impact 1 million professionals with Chocolate Mindfulness.

Workshop Description: A transformative workshop designed to empower women of color to navigate shifting seasons in their lives with resilience and grace. In this sixty-minute session, participants will embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring how to embrace change amidst adversity and triumphs both personally and professionally. Through interactive discussions, reflective exercises and practical tools, attendees will learn to harness their inner strength, cultivate resilience, and step confidently into the unknown.

Learning Objectives:
Resilience Building: Discover strategies to cultivate resilience in the face of adversity, empowering women of color to navigate challenges and setbacks with confidence and grace.
Embracing Change: Explore the mindset shifts necessary to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery, enabling participants to navigate shifting seasons in their personal and professional lives with resilience and adaptability.
Empowerment Through Triumphs: Learn how to celebrate successes and triumphs as integral parts of the journey, empowering women of color to own their accomplishments and leverage them as sources of strength and inspiration for future endeavors.

Presenter Bio: Carlette Bradley is the owner/C.E.O. of The Masterpiece Project, LLC; a professional and personal development consulting firm that equips purpose believers to pursue what makes them uncomfortable; the place where growth happens. Additionally, she is an Employee Experience for Univera Healthcare. Carlette is an author, a certified executive coach and trainer, a sought-after speaker and mentor to many. She is the founder of The Well Retreat for women, the Refiners Virtual Bible Study for women and the co-founder of the G.I.R.L.S. Sports Foundation, Inc. Carlette enjoys challenging individuals of all ages to disrupt old mindsets and to accept the truth about who they are destined to be, Masterpieces!

Workshop Description: Finding joy can be challenging while advancing DEI principles in society and organizations. Yet, we need to take moments to heal and remind ourselves of the joy and goodness in us and what we do. This workshop allows us to celebrate black joy to its fullest. It is a space to remove and separate ourselves from the trauma that we continually/continuously face and engage with/encounter as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC). Participants will go on a journey of celebration and affirmation through historically black phrases, four prolific musical artists, and their lyrics that remind us that black is beautiful, proud, powerful, and joyful. Be prepared to laugh, snap your fingers, and feel good about who you are.

Learning Objectives:
Learn the benefits of being joyful.
Gain tips in cultivating joy to improve well-being.
Experience a reprieve from the hard heart work involved in advocating for equitable and inclusive practices.
Laugh as we talk, connect, and celebrate us.

Presenter Bio: Cheryl Hayward is the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Manager for Monroe County's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, charged with investigating and addressing discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, and retaliation issues. In her position, Cheryl provides DEI training and guidance to the workforce to support equity and access in all processes, procedures, and services.
Cheryl holds a Master's degree in Strategic Leadership, is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP®).

Workshop Description: Research confirms that emotions influence many important aspects of our lives personally and professionally. Women of color are often judged and incorrectly perceived by our presentation including appearance, emotions and facial expressions all before we speak a word. This type of microaggression threatens our ability to convey our true selves with our capabilities and leadership skills speaking for us instead. This session will be a safe, nurturing and non-judgmental environment to discuss: How do we maintain a professional image and composure at all times? How do we find the source of our emotional responses and address underlying factors? What skills are needed to balance our authenticity while being our strongest selves in the workplace?

Learning objectives:
Discuss the process of self-awareness, finding the source of our emotions and how to manage their impact on our lives. Learn to break bad habits, master self-discipline and gain the ability to control emotions.
Discover ways to manage stressors.
Create an Action Plan for showing up as your true self in any space as an effective leader.

Presenter Bio: Alia Henton-Williams has over 30 years of experience serving communities locally and nationally. Acts of violence and family tragedies launched Alia’s career in advocacy on behalf of victims and their families as well as working with youth. Her servitude has been in various roles including youth and family services, program coordination and planning, education, training and development and public speaking. Alia is the Manager of the Crisis Intervention Services Unit with the City of Rochester and provides direct oversight for the Person In Crisis (PIC) Team, the Homicide Response Team, the Community Support Team and all crisis intervention.

Workshop Description: There is a generalized, unhelpful belief that "women are emotional". What this implies, in some ways, is: women's feelings are invalid, irrational, and are therefore undeserving of any serious consideration. In my talk, I would like to contend the contrary. Women's feelings are immensely important. My belief is that women, possibly more so than men, are very much in-tune with their intuition.

Learning Objective: How to use your “internal GPS to serve you, keep you safe as you move on your path and purpose.

Presenter Bio: DiMario Bell is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC-P) with 22 years of experience in mental health. He has a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Executive Leadership and Change. DiMario is currently working as a clinical director overseeing a residential facility serving at-risk teenagers who have been removed from their home, he facilitates monthly trainings for the department of social services, teaching children services workers, child protective workers, and other clinicians in areas of mental health and community safety. He also has a private practice.

Workshop Description: As women of color, many of us are unaware of the wounds and weight that we carry day to day from trauma's that happened centuries before our time. In this workshop we will open with an indigenous meditation designed to demonstrate and promote nontraditional methods to mental wellness. You will learn how racialized and intergenerational trauma manifests itself in our body and behaviors.

Learning Objectives:
Learn how we continue to pass this trauma on to offspring through epigenetics and discuss various techniques to intentionally
Undo the impact of this trauma reducing the continued unintentional transference of trauma to generations to come.
Create an action plan for radical self and soul care to advance emotional and mental wellness.

Presenter Bio: Kelly Dumas is a licensed clinical social worker and serves as the founder of Dumas R.I.S.E., LLC (Restoration In Sound Environments). She recently opened her private practice Kelly Dumas, LCSW, PLLC and holds over 20 years of experience in behavioral health and nonprofit. A subject matter expert in community Black mental health, Kelly has traveled abroad to learn about indigenous mental health practices that can be incorporated into the work she does within the community. Kelly is also an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.