Join Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young for a discussion on channeling pain and purpose into not-for-profit advocacy and community engagement through a culturally responsive lense.

Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young is a licensed psychotherapist, entrepreneur, not-for-profit founder, and social change agent. She is employed at the Peoria County Jail as the Lead Mental Health Provider, where she counsels detainees and assists with crisis management. She is the owner of Smart Recovery Intervention Counseling Center, where she provides counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults. To support the surge in mental health challenges associated with pandemic fatigue and race-based trauma, she also counsels men, women, and children around the globe through telehealth. Dr. Gordon-Young is the Founder and President of It Takes a Village of Peoria, Inc. a not-for-profit organization founded in 2016 aimed at assisting children and their families with basic needs at no cost. She serves on numerous boards, including the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board, the YMCA, the Women’s Fund, Central Illinois Lupus Support Group, and the Tourism Reserve Fund Board. She has received numerous awards for her efforts, including WEEK 25 Women in Leadership, Peoria Public Schools Community Contribution Award, and most recently, Dr. Gordon-Young was elected to serve on the Peoria City Council as an At-Large Member.

Registration is available up until two days before the event.  Late registrations and walk-ins will be charged $35 (member and non-member). 

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Lunch Menu: Buffet Lunch