The 2021 Black Lens Symposium
"Setting the record and agenda straight"
When
January 30 2021
Starting at 9 a.m.
Where
Virtual
Thank you for your interest. Tickets are no longer available.
Sold Out!One day geared toward the uplift and celebration of black men,
Acknowledging our history and affirming who we are
The 2021 Black Lens Symposium brought to you by Substantial Media, LLC, and the Institute For Building Communities By Design, LLC is a series of panel conversations around black duality, black centricity, black history, black reciprocity and the future of being black in America. Join us as we discuss with a number of experts, thought-leaders and community members across a range of sectors the following topics:
Building and Sustaining Black Wealth
Black men and women have been shortchanged out of the materials to build wealth for far too long in our country, but the tides seem to be shifting in our favor. How do we continue to leverage and find new ways to close the racial wealth gap?
Black and Blue, Policing Our Community
Majorities of both black and white Americans say black people are treated less fairly than whites in dealing with the police and by the criminal justice system as a whole. Between protests and policy demands to "defund and reform our nations police departments, was 2020 a tipping point? What has it meant to be both BLACK and don a uniform?
Black Mental Health and Well-Being
Research suggests that Black men are more likely to serve as informal rather than formal mentors. While developing close and supportive mentoring relationships may be a mechanism by which mentoring promotes positive outcomes in Black boys, we ask what are the real implications to building strong relationships rather formal or informal with Black men and boys.
The Speakers
Symposium Schedule
packed with high quality content.
Welcome and Overview
Organizer: Greg Hedgepeth
President & CEO
Substantial Media, LLC
Organizer: Darryl Lester
Founder, Institute For Building Communities By Design
Emcee: Dr. Lathan E. Turner
Associate Director
East Carolina University
Author, Mentor & Business Owner
Opening Keynote: What History Has Taught Us
James White
Executive VP of Organizational Relations, YMCA of the Triangle
Black and Blue, Policing Our Community
Moderator: Kevin Stormer
Law Enforcement Lieutenant
Community Advocate and Business Owner
Special Guests:
Attorney, Ben Crump
Ben Crump Law
Attorney, Antonio Romanucci
Romanucci & Blandin, LLC
Panelists:
Chief Jason P. Armstrong
Chief of Police
Ferguson Police Department
Terry Brown
Attorney, Coach, Mentor and Community Advocate
Chief Jermaine Cherry
Chief of Police
Johnson C. Smith University
Chief Henry A. King Jr.
Chief of Police
Edenton Police Department
Department of The Secretary of State Task Force Officer
Task Force Officer Homeland Security Investigations
Police Executive Research Forum 67 Session
AOMP 69 Session
Region IX Director, North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police
Garrett Taylor
CEO, UPLIFT Comprehensive Services & The Power of U, Inc.
Author and Community Advocate
Chief Damon D. Williams
Director of Public Safety
Chief of Police
North Carolina Central University
Secretary/Treasurer, North Carolina Association Chief of Police
Breakout Session #1 - Black Mental Health and Well-Being
Moderator: Jasmin L. Spain
Founder & CVO, The M.A.I.N. Initiative
Founder & President, U Good Bro, Inc.
Assistant VP - Student Support, Pitt Community College
Panelists:
Dr. Kwesi Brookins
Associate Professor of Psychology
(Applied Social and Community) and Africana Studies
NC State University
Dr. Marc Grimmett
Professor, Counselor Education Program Coordinator,
Founder and co-director of the Community Counseling, Education,
and Research Center (CCERC) at NC State University
Kenneth Joyner
Owner
Therapeutic Interactions Counseling Services, PLLC
Kelly Little
Author, Transformational Coach,
Empowerment Speaker, Workforce Development Leader, Fatherhood Advocate
Donald Norwood
Co-Founder
Light-Work Resources/Purpose Driven Empowerment & Mental Health Coach
Breakout Session #2 - What Real Mentoring Looks Like
Moderator: Troy Johnson
Founder & Visionary
Young Men 4 Christ (YM4C)
Panelists:
Dr. Roderick Heath
Director, African-American Male Initiative
North Carolina Central University
Willie Joyner
Pitt County School Administrator
Founder of HYPE (Helping Yourself with Pride through Education)
Cornelius Kirk
Founder, YOU MATTER 2, LLC
Breakout Session #3 - Community Philanthropy and Development: Unpacking Our "self-help, mutual aid, and giving back"
Moderator: Darryl Lester
Founder,
Institute For Building Communities By Design, LLC
Panelists: 
Tyran Hill
Program Officer
North Carolina Community Foundation
Jermaine McNair
Nonprofit Director & Community Organizer
NC Civil
James Sullivan
Ambassador, MILLEN Forward
Breakout Session #4 - The State of Black Leadership and Black Business
Moderator: Leonardo Williams
Business Owner, Social Entrepreneur and Community Advocate
Zweli's NC and PHASE 3 Group, Inc
Panelists:
Representative Zack Hawkins
North Carolina General Assembly
Ryan Mitchell
CEO of Pitmaster Enterprises LLC
Co-founder @ True Made Foods
"Cut the Sugar and Keep the Flavor"
Erroll Reese
Owner/Founder,
Host/Executive Producer
The Sports Shop Radio
Mark Woodson
Owner, Five Prime Media Group
Former Franchise Owner/Operator
Same as 10:45 Sessions
Take this moment to join another session and hear from our dynamic breakout speakers & panelists
Closing Keynote: Owning 2021
Donald Thompson
CEO, Walk West
Founder & CEO, The Diversity Movement
Serial entrepreneur, Investor and Author
Grab your lunch and join us for an optional networking & reflection session
Brought to you by: U Good Bro Inc.
Join us as we reflect and discuss all that took place and was said during the 2021 Black Lens Symposium. Any and all participants will have an opportunity to share during this facilitated discussion. We want to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Testimonials
Why is this conference for you?
A space to tell it like it is
We had a heck of a 2020! We deserve and need spaces to talk about how we made it through and how we will continue to forge ahead. The 2021 Black Lens Symposium looks to create a space that allows open dialogue between panelist and participants.
Find new ways of thinking and problem-solving
We've got to continue to think critically and strategically about how we move the needle and our communities forward. Come ready to ask questions and challenge your own status quo.
Networking opportunities
No one has ever really made it alone. It's been said a number of ways "show me your network and I'll tell you your future." The value of developing a strong network is key to our ability to cope and succeed.
Strengthen Your Skills and Sharpen You Sword
We Are Substantial and so is everything about us. We know this and we must continue to build on the solid foundation those before us laid. We are the next John Lewis, C.T. Vivian, James Baldwin, Martin, Malcolm, W. E. B. Du Bois and every other great we proudly share our brotherhood with.
Check out last years symposium
• Read 2020 Black Lens Symposium write-up • See 2020 Black Lens Symposium Photos
Registration & Support
Only 300 available seats Claim your space Early.
We believe the empowering and educating of our people should be free of charge, but we also acknowledge it takes the support of those willing to ensure it is. Registration for the Black Lens Symposium in years past has been FREE and we want to keep it that way through meaningful partnerships and collobrations. Interested in supporting! Take a look at our tiered sponsorship packages and connect with us on how you'd like to support the 2021 Black Lens Symposium.Email us at support@substantialmag.com
This is a FREE event, however we do ask that registrants seal their committment to joining us with a minimum donation to ensure their spot. Again you can give as little as $1 or as much as you'd like as we continue to find meaningful ways to engage our community.
Thank you to our sponsors
Our Virtual Venue
In an effort to remain as safe and socially distant as possible the entire 2021 Black Lens Symposium will take place online.
Venue
All sessions will take place via the Hopin virtual events platform
Additional details
Check back on this website or reach out to us directly at support@substantialmag.com to learn more about the 2021 Black Lens Symposium and how you can support and get involved.