With the Conference theme, the planning team’s collective efforts for this one-day conference focuses on LGBTQIA+ Black and People of Color and the ways climate change impact their mental health. The collective strengths and wisdom from clinicians, consumers, academics and advocates will examine the academic and personal narrative aspects of overcoming and creating.

The Conference’s planning team welcomes you and recognizes Same-Gender Loving (SGL) and Two-Spirit (2S) community members who are Indigenous, Black and Peoples of Color. The Program is divided into two distinct areas: Speakers (invited Speakers will address aspects of the conference Theme and Tracks) and Presenters (Workshops, Panel Discussions, and Stand-Alone Presentations conforming to the Conference Tracks). Those submitting abstracts/proposals to present are encouraged to complete the requirements for Continuing Education Units/Credits (CEUs) to ensure that LCSW and LMSW attendees to their presentations can receive credit toward their licenses.
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The 12th MM Edition will take place on Friday, October 9 2026, with check-in/registration at 8:00am, the formal program beginning at 9:00am, continuing through the day and concluding at 6:00pm. This forum is for clinicians, academics, advocates, activists, community members with lived experience, and students.

The Conference features 45-minute Speaker presentations to establish common starting points, which will be followed by 75-minute concurrent single/stand-alone, small group webinars – some geared for clinicians and others for community members.

The Conference’s intended audience includes LGBTQIA+ Black and Peoples of Color living with serious mental illness, physical and cognitive struggles, and on neurodiverse spectra; high school seniors and college students, faculty and administration; community stakeholders, local municipalities, county and state wide governments’ Departments of Health; K-12 administrators, teachers and social workers/counselors, private practice and public therapists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, and case managers; and all interested parties from the surrounding New York Tri-State area, the country, and internationally.

The Conference’s format will be Breakout Presentations (Workshops, Panel Discussions, and Stand-Alone Presentations) in at least two Session Blocks consisting of concurrent presentations, and are organized around four tracks: Advocacy, Community, Education and Research. Presentations in each track are intended to address the conference’s title and theme, "In My Mind - Collective Care; A Climate Solution” Organizing Change with Visible and Invisible Communities for Mental Health and Environmental Justice.

The Conference seeks to create a learning experience in which there is an exchange of knowledge, social resources (including mental health services, housing, and benefits), language access, workforce development, linkage to mental health care and treatment, HIV, sexual health, social networking, and care-giving relationships - considering dependence and independence. In their presentations, abstracts will demonstrate how and in what ways opportunities were created, if not for the presenters, but for their respective communities. Presentations along the four tracks examine the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of LGBTQIA+ Black and Peoples of Color communities and their healing journeys ultimately connecting with the Conference’s title.

The Conference features two distinct formats: a 45-minute Speaker presentation(s) to establish common starting points, and set the tone for the day and 75-minute Breakout Presenters (Workshops, Panel Discussions, Stand-Alone, and Virtual Poster Presentations). These reflect on the conference’s title and theme –In My Mind - Collective Care; A Climate Solution – and explore in-depth many issues impacting our communities’ mental health. These will examine the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of LGBTQIA+ Black and Peoples of Color, as well as treatments, methodologies and modalities of various states of illness, emotional /social dysfunction and disease facing these communities. These 75-minute concurrent single/stand-alone sessions, some geared for clinicians, others for community members, and others combined for both groups.

In the Conference Program, an abstract submission satisfying the NY State Department of Education requirements may qualify and be eligible for Continuing Education Credits (CE) for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Master’s in Social Work, and Licensed Mental health Counselors. On the Conference Program, a presentation marked CE indicates that a person attending for the duration (minimum 50 minutes) and completing the evaluation can earn one-credit hour toward their license; an attendee could obtain up to three CEs from the Conference.

Abstract Submissions are organized around four tracks: Advocacy, Community, Education and Research.

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IMM26 will be held (we’re working on the location and will provide an update).