Dr. Salerno has extensive knowledge and experience promoting evidence based practices throughout New York State as well as organizing and implementing national learning communities on integrated behavioral health service systems and trauma informed care and resilience. He has created widely used curriculum based treatment resources focused on wellness self-management along with training multi-disciplinary staff on a variety of competencies including group facilitation, family engagement, trauma informed care, resilience and psychiatric rehabilitation. Dr. Salerno has facilitated numerous discussions with thought leaders in the behavioral health field as part of an ongoing series called “Conversations with Dr. Tony” at the McSilver Institute.

He is the Executive Director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University (NYU), the Martin Silver Professor of Poverty Studies at NYU Silver School of Social Work, and an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow. He also leads a university wide Strategies to Reduce Inequality initiative from the NYU McSilver Institute. At the NYU McSilver Institute, Dr. Lindsey leads a team of researchers, clinicians, social workers and other professionals who are committed to creating new knowledge about the root causes of poverty, developing evidence-based interventions to address its consequences, and rapidly translating their findings into action through policy and best practices. Among their latest work is a three-year research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the effectiveness of a novel treatment intervention for keeping Black adolescents engaged in depression treatment. Previously, Dr. Lindsey was an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and a Faculty Affiliate at the University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry’s Center for School Mental Health. Dr. Lindsey leads the working group of experts supporting the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health, which created the report Ring the Alarm: The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America. Also, he is a standing member of Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) National Advisory Council at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Social Work. As well, he is on the editorial board of the journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research. Dr. Lindsey holds a PhD in social work and MPH from the University of Pittsburgh, an MSW from Howard University, and a BA in sociology from Morehouse College.

Since 2000 Liz has been actively involved in supporting individuals in creating and sustaining their personal vision of recovery as well as helping to create and shape a service system that is person centered, recovery focused and in line with the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation. Additionally, Liz uses her personal lived experience as a part of her advocacy and work around individual self-determination and healing from trauma. Using her expertise and knowledge, Liz regularly presents at conferences and workshops on the promotion of a recovery- oriented system as well as trains the social service workforce of NYC and Long Island on this best practice.

Key programs of LSSNY include; early childhood education, foster care, immigrant services, supportive housing, immigration legal services and a school for special needs children. Damyn has more than 20 years’ experience serving as the chief executive for human service organizations providing services in HIV/AID’s, supportive housing, residential services for the mentally ill, programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities and the formerly incarcerated. Damyn has also served as a frequent speaker, presenter and lecturer on issues pertaining to the lack of leaders of color in the nonprofit sector with a emphasis on the lack of Black males in leadership positions. He has presented at local and national conferences on the same issue. Presently, Damyn serves as the Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Coalition of Family and Child Caring Agencies. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Human Services Council, where he is the co-chair of the Search Committee for a new executive director. Damyn also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Black Agency Executives; New York Disaster Interfaith Services, Lutheran Services New York Alliance and the Coalition of Family and Child Caring Agencies. Damyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Adelphi University, a Juris Doctor from the Antioch School of Law and a PhD from the Adelphi University School of Social Work. His dissertation focused on understanding the perceptions of Black males who hold executive leadership positions in human service organizations despite institutional and cultural racism and bias in the sector. His study identified those factors that explain the characteristics necessary for Black males to attain executive positions in the human service field.

She has served in industry leadership positions in statewide and NYC trade associations and on numerous government committees that have shaped policy and program implementation. Ms. Colonna served as a member of the New York State Medicaid Redesign Team’s Behavioral Health Reform and Affordable Housing Workgroups. She is a founding member and Board Chair of Coordinated Behavioral Care (CBC) Health Home and IPA, a citywide consortium of community behavioral health providers. Ms. Colonna serves on the Governing Board/Committee of various PPSs. Ms. Colonna is a founding member and Board Chair of Care Design NY, a Care Coordination Organization (CCO) for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and a collaborative network of Developmental Disabilities providers designed to integrate services in the emerging model of managed care. She serves on the Behavioral Health Advisory Board of Healthfirst and United Health. Ms. Colonna is a member of the DOH & OPWDD Joint Advisory Council, charged with advising New York State with respect to the oversight of managed care for people with developmental disabilities. She is also a member of the New York State Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC). Most recently in February 2020, Ms. Colonna was appointed a member of Governor Cuomo’s Medicaid Redesign Team II. She serves on the NY Community Advisory Board of Enterprise Community Partners, and on the Board of Directors of the Supportive Housing Network of New York. Throughout her career, Ms. Colonna has been a vocal advocate for the rights of, and services for, individuals and families with developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges, and people living in poverty. Her life’s work has been dedicated to breaking down the stigma of disability and homelessness, building community and helping to right societal imbalances.