Registration Details
Register by 2/1 to get a T-shirt with your registration!
Members can use their discount on all ticket pricing.
If you need to register a GROUP of 3 or more (for a 10% discount), complete one registration form and use the code GROUP27
​Your conference registration includes:
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Up to 6.0 CEUs sponsored by Alabama A&M
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An amazing keynote message.
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Expert social workers leading workshops.
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CBSW Conference Swag Gift
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Meet and re-connect with your Black social work family from across the country.
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Continental Breakfast & Lunch catered by a local, Black-owned business
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T-Shirt (if registered by 2/1)
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Free Parking!
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Keynote Speaker:
Danielle Coke Balfour
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Danielle Coke Balfour is a graphic designer turned artist, advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Oh Happy Dani, an illustration-based educational platform that uses artwork and resources to make complex ideas surrounding racial justice more accessible for the everyday advocate. Danielle works to inspire her community of over half a million people across social media to do good daily, right where they are. She’s also the author of “A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well” and the corresponding “100 Activities and Prompts for a Life of Everyday Advocacy and Self-Compassion.” Whether working with brands like Coach and Adobe, speaking in front of audiences, or running her business, Danielle hopes to inspire others to embody their values and live a life of sustainable activism by using what they have to impact the world around them.
2027 Workshop Leaders
Lorice Parker, LCSW-C, LICSW
Waldorf, MD
Papa's Not a Rolling Stone: Black Fathers Never Rolled Down the Hill
Jakay Matheny Sr. LCSW
Clarksville, TN
The Leadership Game: Reclaiming Black Joy through Authentic Connection
Dr. Sonya McCurdy, LICSW, PIP, MPH, MDiv, DMin
Birmingham, AL
Beyond Survival: Reclaiming Black Joy as a Mental Health Intervention
Ebony James, MSW, M.Ed
Charlotte, NC
Reclaiming Black Joy at Work: Ending Organizational Dependence on Black Women’s Overextension
Kizzy Rogers, LCSW, LSSW
Memphis, TN
Zandra Giles MSW, LSW
Memphis, TN
From History to Healing: Cultivating Joy, Resilience, and Collective Action
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Dr. Kionna Jones, DSW, LCSW
Memphis, TN
Safety Before Joy: A Clinical Framework for Reclaiming Joy with Black Clients
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Illyasha "Illy" Peete, MBA
Discovery Bay, CA
The Power of Joy: Leading Without Losing Yourself
Candy Dolcy
Ooltewah, TN
Cayden Davis
Ooltewah, TN
Abdiel Vargas Pena
Ooltewah, TN
Reclaiming Black Joy Outdoors: Nature-Based Wellness and Healing for Social Work Professionals
Dr. Gary T. Taylor, LCSW
Beaverdam, VA
Engaging Black Men in Social Work Practice
Camara Watkins, MSW, PMH-C, LCSW-C/LICSW
Silver Spring, MD
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Dr. Whitney S. Gray, EdD, MSW, LCSW
Atlanta, GA
Embracing Softness: A Joy-Centered Framework for Black Healing
Brianne Rucker, MM
Tallahassee, FL
Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Black Joy in PWIs: Predominantly White [I]nvironments
Shantel Robinson, LCSW
Greensboro, NC
When Joy Returns - A Grief-Informed Perspective on Healing
2027 Poster Presentations
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Dr. Sharva Hampton-Campbell
Champaign, IL
From Surviving to Thriving: Reclaiming Black Joy Through Healing, Belonging, and Collective Care
Kimberly Ward, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, RPT
Accokeek, MD
Healing the Inner Critic: Self-Compassion and Black Joy
2027 Afternoon Panel:
Reclaiming Black Joy in the Midst of Anti-Blackness
Dr. Nicole Fox, DSW, LMSW
Wichita, KS
Dr. Patrice Reese, DSW, LCSW
Bessemer, AL
Dr. Ryan C. Ivory, DSW, MSW, LISW-S
Dayton, OH
TBA
In a society where systemic racism and anti-Blackness present persistent barriers, prioritizing joy is not just restorative—it is a radical act of resistance and healing. Join us for a transformative panel featuring leading social work experts from across the country as they explore the intersection of mental health, advocacy, and collective liberation.
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Through candid dialogue and evidence-informed practice, panel leaders will discuss strategies for navigating systemic oppression while actively cultivating Black joy, resilience, and emotional wellness. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on sustaining passion, nurturing community care, and redefining liberation within the social work profession and beyond.
