Theme: The Urgency of Widening Our Lens of Inclusivity
Beilah Ross, LICSW, has been practicing Clinical Social Work in community mental health settings and private practice for 26 years. She began her training in Focusing in 2006, becoming a Certified Focusing-Oriented Therapist in 2009. In 2012, she attended “Focusing-Oriented Therapy and Complex Trauma” with Shirley Turcotte, the founder of Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy. She has been on an ancestral healing journey ever since, leading workshops on the power of FOT to heal intergenerational trauma. Her ancestors inspire her anti-racist/anti-colonial organizing, and encourage her to continue the internal and collective work of unlearning white body supremacy.
Kati Singh is in the field of Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling, she is an EMDR Consultant and a Focusing-Oriented Therapist specializing in the treatment of trauma.
Kati has pursued post-graduate studies in Trauma, Sex, Family and Couple’s therapy and occasionally studies with the School of Practical Philosophy and Economic Science, the works of Eugene Gendlin and Eastern Philosophy. In her spare time, she manages her non-for-profit Cassava Bread, Inc., whose mission is to bring Focusing-Oriented EMDR or Focusing-Oriented Trauma Therapy to communities in need. Kati believes that even though adverse life circumstances are unavoidable, integrative compassionate healing is attainable.
Luis Quiros Born of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan blood, raised in the streets of West Harlem, Luis Quiros learned early in life the value of forming a strong partnership between “street smarts” and scholarship. Quiros used this partnership to expose historical and sociological myths, as well as how fiscal policies and systems have plagued and affected the lives of those viewed as Others. Within classrooms and through writing and social commentary, Quiros goes beyond the research and captures narratives with a mentoring and community-building intention. Through his roles within non-profit and proprietary institutions, Quiros has brought expertise to challenge levels of service models that measure impact and how diversity and inclusion are defined. By transforming learning environments into creative, vulnerable and critical thinking spaces, Quiros has experienced how social change is possible. Luis Quiros launched Justice Unplugged through radio airwaves as an hour-long talk radio show with a global reach and by building with different theorists and reclaiming a global philosophical framework. Formally, Quiros is an activist, community organizer, scholar and holds Masters degrees in both Public Administration focused on urban economics and Social Work with a concentration in community organizing, planning and administration. Quiros is also the author of An Other’s Mind (2011) & Justice Unplugged (2020).
Annette Dubreuil is an Embodied Creativity Facilitator, Coach and Focusing Teacher for people who want to transform themselves to change the world—to make it more sustainable and equitable. Through her facilitation work with teams, one-on-one sessions, group classes, blog posts and videos, she shows you how to listen to your intuition—that’s whispering to you in your body. She is also a Coordinator-in-training with TIFI.
Annette’s compassion makes going within feel safe, easy and fun. The result is awesome ideas and the courage to make them happen. Annette has an undergrad in environmental science from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA in sustainability from the Schulich School of Business. And when she’s not helping people sense inward, you can find her rock climbing, spending time with nieces and nephews, or taking walks in nature. Transform your life and business with the power of your embodied knowing and get ready to create the world all deserve.
Moderator Yaotunde Obiora (he, him, and his) is a social work clinician, health and human rights advocate, and practitioner of healing centered experiences, and social justice. He developed the first ear acupuncture based program to treat addictions at a New York hospital and the first comprehensive housing program in the nation for persons with HIV/AIDS. He has studied Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Alternatives to Violence, Social Presencing Theatre, Soul-Centered Therapy, Focusing/Embodied Listening, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy, Hakomi and Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy (IFOT). Yao Obiora gives presentations and training to increase awareness of the sexual abuse of boys and men. He provides individual and group psychotherapy. He has partnered with Alliance of Families for Justice’s Self Knowledge Circles and been involved in the development of Songa Mbele (an initiative focusing on Young Men of Color and trauma/violence). Besides his involvement with professional social work organizations, he has affiliations with: NY State Men as Allies Coalition; NY State Crime Victims Academy (Instructor); National Acupuncture Detox Association Board of Directors; the Cures not Wars/Harm Reduction Working Group; Male Survivor; the South-South Institute on the Victimization of Men and Boys; and Reciprocity (wellness programs to LGBTQ youth).