The NeurodivURGENT Project to Host Interdisciplinary Conference July 17th – 19th at Hyatt Regency New Orleans

Media Release:  

For immediate release

Point of Contact:                                                           

Nichelle N. Cook, Esq., MA

NeurodivURGENT@practegy.org

(504) 430-7310

(New Orleans, LA, June 25) The NeurodivURGENT Project is proud to announce its inaugural conference, themed “Breaking The Silence and Silos Around Youth Mental Health”, at Hyatt Regency New Orleans (601 Loyola Ave. New Orleans, LA 70113) on July 17th-19th, 2025. This three-day, highly interactive hybrid event is designed to serve as a catalyst for collaboration around issues that directly impact the plights of underserved youth facing neurocognitive challenges. By intentionally curating interdisciplinary panels, workshops, roundtable discussions and keynote presentations that explore different sides of the same issues, this event is positioned to spark innovative partnerships and assist professionals in gaining better understandings of how their respective roles fit into the larger neurodiversity ecosystem.

Key features of the event include sensory-friendly lounges equipped with comfortable seating, ambient lighting, and soothing earth sounds as well as several sessions especially designed to cultivate self-care and inclusiveness of populations with various unique neurocognitive needs. The conference will also include the Hometown Heroes Kick-off Celebration from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 17th hosted by New Orleans’ own social justice advocate and entrepreneur, Laketa M. Smith of A Bella LaFemme Society, which will honor several Louisiana individuals who have made a meaningful impact within the neurodivergent community. Following the ceremony, there will be an opening mixer from 6-8 p.m. with live musical entertainment by 19-year-old, budding recording sensation, Morgan Janay, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3 and remained non-verbal until the age of 5. Having benefitted from music therapy to assist in fostering developmental skills such as talking, singing, and writing, she and her mother remain fierce advocates of this and similar interventions. Using her music, public speaking ability, and other media talents, she aims to inspire individuals of all ages who face similar plights to soar despite their respective challenges. After the mixer, we'll end the evening with mix 'n match activities including charades, board games, karaoke, and a listening party with new music from our guest artist!

With interactive programming facilitated by over 30 experts from around the country within the fields of law, education, social work, public health, policy/public service, and medicine, this event is sure to provide numerous opportunities for innovation and collaborative planning as attendees are prompted to analyze key substantive issues including the impacts that social determinants of health such as nutrition, safe housing, quality education and access to healthcare have on the health outcomes of neurodivergent youth. With special emphasis on particularly vulnerable populations such as justice- involved youth and those in foster care, the conference will foster meaningful dialog that challenges traditional paradigms to foster innovation and sustainable change.

The conference will culminate with the NeurodivURGENT Game Changers Gala and Fireside Chat on Saturday, July 19th. This black-tie event will be held from 7-10 p.m. and will feature live jazz entertainment by Yolanda Robinson and Jolynda “KiKi” Chapman of Solid Harmony (founded by their mother, New Orleans jazz legend, Topsy Chapman) as well as second-line performances by the New Orleans Kings of Brass (KOB). The Honorees’ Fireside Chat will immediately precede the gala at 5:30 p.m. and will be moderated by Dr. Brandon Frame of the award-winning non-profit, TheBlackManCan, Inc. and will feature the following honorees: Civil Rights and Education Attorney Victor M. Jones of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Gifted Education Professor and Research Scholar Dr. Donna Y. Ford, and mental health and wellness advocate, Kofi “Kizzle” Forson, Founder of Express Yourself Black Man.

Registration is now available at NeurodivURGENT.net/conference with discounted pricing throughout the remainder of June. Note that those who do not wish to attend the conference may still purchase individual and group gala tickets via the website. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are also available. Also note that hotel accommodations booked via the link on our conference webpage include waived destination fees.

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About The NeurodivURGENT Project:

The NeurodivURGENT Project (NeurodivURGENT) is an outreach initiative comprised of an interdisciplinary community of solution-oriented professionals committed to addressing the mental health needs of under-resourced neurodivergent youth. Through our work, we aim to directly address the needs of those disproportionately impacted by inequities that challenge their ability to reach their full potential. Focus areas include: cognition and learning, rehabilitative justice, behavioral and emotional health, equitable access to screening & treatment, and caregiver support.

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