The Importance of Integrity When Working with Black Men and Mental Health Wellness

Join the FSU College of Social Work for a virtual discussion on "The Importance of Integrity When Working with Black Men and Mental Health Wellness" on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm ET on Zoom to celebrate Black History Month. Speakers include FSU alumnus and social worker Justin McClain, LCSW, along with Dr. Samuel Carter and Ted Ellis, the moderator. This event discusses leading with integrity when working with male populations related to mental health and wellness. This event is a part of the Courageous Conversations event series, which explores social issues through discussions with FSU alumni.

Register at fla.st/L1B705M1 (Registration is required.)

Panelists

• Justin McClain, LCSW (MSW '11), is a therapist with the private practice, Home Again Counseling, in St. Petersburg, Florida working with adolescents, families, and parents who have experienced violence and trauma. His background includes working with Capital City Youth Services in Tallahassee, Florida; with Camelot Community Based Care's therapeutic foster care program in St. Petersburg, Florida; and as a school social worker with Pinellas County Schools in high-need schools serving students with special needs and emotional/behavioral challenges. He earned his Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University and a bachelor's degree in interpersonal and organizational community with a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Central Florida.
   
• Dr. Samuel Carter is a counselor, community organizer, coach, and visionary dedicated to building a better world through sustainability and social responsibility. He is the Founder/CEO of two organizations in the Tallahassee/Big Bend area: Conscious Health Care, which provides community-centered Mental Health Services, and Carter’s Corner Community Services, which offers a wide range of services designed to support, uplift, and empower individuals and families. His experience includes partnering with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice as a parent navigator, where he served as a mentor to parents of at-risk youth, providing a shoulder to lean on as they navigated the mysteries of parenting troubled kids. Dr. Carter has also implemented a 24/7 Dad program that helps young men go through the criminal justice system and stay out by teaching them to be caring and compassionate individuals who treat themselves, others, and the environment with dignity and respect. He was the 2025 recipient of the Tallahassee Branch NAACP George W. Conoly Community Service Award.
   
•  Ted Ellis is the Director of the Florida State University Civil Rights Institute, which is in the FSU College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. The Civil Rights Institute at FSU commemorates, celebrates, and studies the U.S. civil rights movement to promote justice and equality at FSU and in Tallahassee communities and neighborhoods. Additionally, Mr. Ellis is an American artist and a former environmental chemist. He is best known for his African American-themed art and styles, which blend elements of folk art, naturalism, and impressionism. His personal rendition of Barack Obama in acrylic, Obama, the 44th President, was presented in honor of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Mr. Ellis’ latest series of paintings tells a visual story of African American achievement. “400 Years Then and Now…A Story to be Told” is the next visual storytelling saga of Mr. Ellis that will be a major traveling exhibition.