Description:

Northwestern's Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing is delighted to invite you to join the February event in our "Current Issues in LGBTQ Health" series featuring Byron Brooks, PHD.

Dr. Brooks is an expert on Black queer identity development with the aim of promoting wellbeing, developing culturally responsive interventions, and engendering positive community attitudes towards Black queer folx. The title of his presentation for this event will be, "We are just magic": A qualitative examination of self-love among Black same-gender loving men.

About the Speaker: 

 Dr. Brooks's program of research focuses on increasing the understanding of Black queer people to develop culturally responsive interventions that mitigate health inequities and bolster well-being among this community. Specifically, he investigates the identity development process of Black queer folx, the role of identity as a syndemic factor for health outcomes, and positive psychological factors among Black queer people. As such, he uses mixed methods research and community-engaged research to support the following areas:
 
 
1. Explicate the identity development process for Black queer individuals and how identity influences health among community.
 

2. Develop strategies to promote flourishing and well-being among Black queer people.
 

3. Translate the findings from the aforementioned areas to develop culturally responsive interventions to therapeutically bolster adaptively coping with minority stress and increase engagement in health-promoting behaviors among Black queer individuals. Also, to develop interpersonal and community-based interventions that engender greater knowledge, skills, compassion, and positive attitudes toward Black queer folx within social settings where they frequently encounter stigma.

This is a hybrid event. We will provide food for all in-person attendees who register by February 3.