Black and Brown Minds & Mattering Conference

Daniel Jacobo
Professor of Broadcasting and Cinema

Motion pictures, television, radio and streaming media shape how communities see themselves and others. This presentation examines representation, access and opportunities for Black and Brown students pursuing media careers, with a focus on storytelling, technical skills, mentorship and career preparation.

Kenneth Lindleaf
Faculty - Rising Scholars and Sociology

Hector Martinez
Academic Counselor - Rising Scholars

Pam Schnelbach
Instructional Specialist - Rising Scholars

This student-centered panel highlights formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students and what has helped them thrive in college. Through guided conversation, students will share how relationships, community, support and belonging have contributed to their persistence and success, offering practical insights for creating more welcoming and connected college environments.

Dr. Jackie Boboye
Professor/Counselor

Nicole Barbari
Psychology Professor

This interactive presentation explores culturally responsive strategies for building support systems that promote social-emotional development, resilience, belonging and well-being in Black and Brown communities. Participants will use reflection, discussion and a "Circle of Support" activity to identify strengths, relationships and resources, connecting research to professional and community experiences.

Sabrina Roberts
Communication Studies Instructor

Learn how to craft a professional story for LinkedIn, job interviews and networking. Through guided activities, participants will identify their strengths, experiences and accomplishments and develop an elevator pitch that communicates who they are, what they have achieved and what they can bring to future opportunities.

Richard May
Adjunct Professor of Communication Studies

Drawing on the exhibition Power to the People: The Revolutionary Art & Vision of the Black Panther Party, this hands-on session explores how the Panthers fused art and pedagogy. Participants will examine primary-source visual and rhetorical materials and design a mini "liberation school" lesson connecting visual culture to issues students face today.

Elizabeth Beckner
Adjunct Instructor

This presentation examines ethnographic research on the lived experiences of Latinx single mother transfer students. It explores the intersectional challenges they face, the support systems that contribute to their success and systemic barriers within higher education, offering strategies for institutions to better address the needs of this often-overlooked student population.

Melissa Matos
Co-Founder of Melanin Minds & MSIDBT 1st Year Grad Student

LaGina R. Harris
MSHE, Co-Founder of Melanin Minds

Dr. Danielle Griffin, Ed.D.
Educator, Speaker, and Coach

This interactive conversation explores how culturally responsive student support systems can account for the whole person. Presenters will share practical approaches for strengthening connection, trust, belonging and support while better connecting students' lived experiences to the systems designed to support them.

Karina Guerrero
Doctoral Student in Education K-12 Equity

This presentation explores how culturally relevant learning environments can strengthen the academic success and belonging of Black and Brown students. Participants will examine ways to connect students' cultural, social and personal experiences to classroom learning while affirming their voices and identities and creating more inclusive, equitable support systems.

Ronecia Miller
Founder & President

This interactive presentation explores how restorative justice practices can support the healing, emotional wellness and academic success of Black and Brown students. Through reflection, restorative circle practices and community-centered dialogue, participants will gain practical tools for creating healing-centered environments that prioritize student voice, accountability, connection and wellness.

Dr. Reggie Thomas
Professional Speaker & Author

This engaging and practical presentation explores how resilience can help participants adapt, recover and thrive. Turn negativity, scarcity and inferiority into positivity, abundance and confidence. Participants will learn strategies for managing how they think about challenges and setbacks and leave with actionable tools for strengthening their mindset and developing resilient habits.

Dr. Jameelah Medina
Speaker/Consultant/Coach

This session explores the history of Black and Latino solidarity and shared struggles involving racial discrimination, economic inequality, educational inequities, labor rights and barriers to opportunity. Participants will consider how cross-cultural understanding, relationship-building and collaboration can strengthen communities and create opportunities for equity and social change.

LaTeara Burks
Prevention and Outreach Supervisor

This interactive presentation helps Black and Brown high school students recognize warning signs of unhealthy relationships while building skills in communication, boundaries, self-worth and emotional wellness. Students will explore how trauma, social media, peer pressure and other influences can shape relationship behaviors and leave with practical tools for healthy decision-making.

LaTeara Burks
Prevention and Outreach Supervisor

Healthy relationships begin with a healthy connection to yourself. This interactive workshop helps Black and Brown high school students explore how identity, self-worth, emotions, boundaries and validation can shape relationships and emotional safety. Through reflection, discussion and real-life scenarios, students will identify personal values, examine internal and external validation, recognize emotional warning signs and practice setting boundaries. Students will leave with practical tools to strengthen self-trust, make informed relationship decisions and identify trusted people and resources for support.

Melissa Diaz
Interim Manager, Grounds & Operations

This interactive workshop introduces budgeting, investing and stock market basics through an accessible, culturally relevant lens. Students will learn about financial risk, investing terminology and basic tools for evaluating opportunities while exploring how systemic inequities have affected access to financial literacy and wealth-building. The session emphasizes informed financial decision-making and economic empowerment.

De'Von Truvel
Founder and Director of Curriculum Development

Sinclair Walker
Director of Operations

An interactive session where participants learn about Tulsa’s Black Wall Street and engage with its legacy through gameplay. The board game teaches financial literacy and entrepreneurship, empowering Black and Brown students through historical context and strategic play.

Mario Varo
Sociology Ph.D. Student at UCLA

Jaz Williams
Founder & Executive Director of the Inland Empire Legal Literacy Project

Two Inland Empire natives show local youth that community advocacy is within reach. This interactive workshop connects students' lived experiences to civic action through local examples involving housing, immigrant justice, environmental justice and other issues. Participants will identify an issue they care about, explore ways to take action and build support networks.

Rufus Thompson
Retired Educator and Founder/CEO The Pocket Advocate LLC

This session explores how experiences and cultural identities shape the social-emotional growth of Black and Brown students. Through background information, real-life examples and practical solutions, participants will examine systemic disparities and how greater understanding of culture can help create more supportive educational environments.

Gilbert Aquino
Transfer Specialist

Learn how the community college transfer process works, explore different pathways and discover how community college can provide an affordable, flexible route to a university degree.

Jimmy Pineda
Mental Health Clinician

Who taught you what it means to be successful, attractive, popular or worthy? This interactive workshop invites Black and Brown youth to examine messages from social media, entertainment, peers, family and culture. Through the "Build the Ideal Person" activity and group discussion, students will explore how these messages shape identity, belonging and self-worth.

Tressa Smiley
Publisher, Rancho Cucamonga Living Magazine

This interactive, strength-based workshop explores how storytelling, media, creative expression, self-confidence and community connections can empower Black and Brown students. Participants will consider how their cultural, family and community experiences can become assets and learn practical strategies for creating environments where students feel seen, heard, valued and connected.

Dylan Hollie
CCSG President/Student Trustee

Dilraj Singh
CCSG Director of Finance and Administration

Isidora Vasquez Gonzalez
CCSG Senator

Marco Mourice
CCSG Senator

This interactive leadership panel helps students understand why their voices matter and how they can become involved in decision-making. Through a team challenge, panel discussion and small-group activities, participants will explore leadership, confidence, advocacy and ways to identify opportunities to make a difference in their schools and communities.

• VIP seating at all sessions and 20 conference tickets
• Logo on all conference materials
• Opportunity to introduce conference speaker
• Social media and print advertising highlight
• Framed Black and Brown Minds and Mattering poster signed by speakers

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• Logo on conference materials
• Social media and print advertising highlight
• Highlighted near a community art display
• Framed Black and Brown Minds and Mattering poster signed by speakers

• Logo on conference program
• Social media advertising highlight
• Highlighted during conference workshop
• Framed Black and Brown Minds and Mattering poster signed by speakers

• Logo on conference program
• Social media advertising highlight
• Framed Black and Brown Minds and Mattering poster signed by speakers

The conference is designed for educators, high school and college students, as well as community members.

Yes.

The link to register is above this page while space permits. 

Yes, every registered attendee will be served lunch.

The day begins with an opening keynote address followed by the first of two breakout sessions. Then there is lunch and another breakout session. The day concludes with a closing presentation.

Please contact Albert Rodriguez at albert.rodriguez@chaffey.edu