Heal, Thrive, and Grow: Working Clinical Models for Urban Families
Biographies
Sponsored by Brookview House, Inc., Wheelock College, Wheelock College School of Social Work, Greater Boston Association of Black Social Workers, and Partners HealthCare.
Larry Higginbottom
Larry Higginbottom has a B.A. Economics from University
of Mass Boston and a MSW/LCSW- from Simmons College. Mr. Higginbottom is
the founder and owner of the Orisis Group a non- profit that provides family
stabilization to Black and Latino families of DSS, DMH and NHP- MASS Medicaid.
Mr. Higginbottom has more 20 years working in an array of education and clinical
settings.
Deborah Hughes, M.Ed.
Deborah Hughes, M.Ed., has served as the Executive Director since 1993 bringing more than 15 years management and development experience in the nonprofit sector to the position. She has been working with Brookview House, Inc. since its formative stages, beginning in January 1991 as consultant on program development, financial management, and fundraising. Ms. Hughes was instrumental in development of the Roxbury Community College Foundation, serving five years as the Co-Director.
Valina Jackson, M.A.
Valina Jackson, M.A. holds a degree from Lesley University
in Clinical Counseling Psychology. Ms. Jackson has over 20 years experience
in the Human Development field. Her many roles have included teacher, trainer,
employment counselor, manager, and chief executive. Ms. Jackson served as
Executive Director of the Boston Workforce Development Coalition, a citywide
advocacy and public policy coalition of over 50 human service agencies. She
also served as the Manager of Education and Training for the Urban League
of Eastern Mass where she established its flagship Employment Resource Center.
Fernando Mederos, Ed.D.
Fernando Mederos, Ed.D. is the Director of Special Projects at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. He specializes in helping communities develop coordinated community responses to domestic violence. He emphasizes cultural competence in all aspects of this work and brings up to date knowledge of current research and best practices in this field. He is also an experienced trainer and speaker for practitioners and agencies nationally and abroad. Dr. Mederos began working with physically abusive men at Emerge in 1980. In 1989, he co-founded and became Director of Common Purpose, a Boston-based batterer intervention program.He is co-editor, with Etiony Aldarondo, Ph.D., of the book "Programs for Men Who Batter: Intervention and prevention strategies in a diverse society" (2002).
Terri Nelson, Ph.D., LICSW, MSW, MSEP
Terri Nelson, Ph.D., LICSW, MSW, MSEP, is a holistic psychotherapist,
metaphysician, Priestess of Kamit and teacher of the African origins of the
ancient wisdom. She is co-founder of The Academy of Kamitic Education, Right
Relationship Right Knowledge, Maat, Inc. where she teaches an African-centered
model for psychological, spiritual, and character development which is underpinned
by the history of ancient Afrika/Kamit (Egypt) and the Diaspora as a way
of self knowledge, healing, and health. She has had a private practice over
20 years where she uses a variety of healing methods and provides counseling
and consultation to individuals, couples, families, groups, and agencies.
