Tonya D. Armstrong, Ph.D., M.T.S., LP, HSP-P
Dr. Armstrong is a a native of Durham, North Carolina, is an international speaker, licensed psychologist, minister, author/producer, wellness consultant, and the founder and CEO of The Armstrong Center for Hope. Operating since 2010, The ACFH is a private group practice of multi-disciplinary mental health professionals cultivating psychological and spiritual wellness for all ages at their Durham and Raleigh locations. For 21 years, Dr. Armstrong also served as the Minister of Congregational Care and Counseling at Union Baptist Church (www.myubc.org) in Durham. She also previously served in faculty and administrator roles at Duke Divinity School and Apex School of Theology. Dr. Armstrong received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Music at Yale University, her Master and Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke University Divinity School (magna cum laude). During 2017-2020, Dr. Armstrong served as the President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President of the North Carolina Psychological Association (NCPA), making her the first African American female to lead the organization. Additionally, in 2022, she was awarded the Mary G. Clarke Award, the highest honor bestowed by the NCPA for dedication, competence, high ethical standards, sensitivity, and advocacy for the field of psychology over a number of years. Dr. Armstrong is on the Board of Directors for the Emily K Center Board and its Nominating and Governance Committee. Ever a lover of gospel music, “Dr. T” Tonya Armstrong released in 2009 her debut gospel album, Choose Hope, which is available on iTunes and amazon.com. She is also the author and producer of the book/CD set, Blossoming Hope: The Black Christian Woman’s Guide to Mental Health and Wellness and Blossoming Hope Companion: Soothing Songs and Spoken Word Recordings, available in print, e-book, and audiobook on Amazon, Kindle, Google Play, and Apple Music. Dr. Armstrong is a wife of 32 years and mother of a 21-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son. Her favorite forms of self-care include singing, reading, walking outdoors, and laughing out loud!
Chaplain Lisa DeCandia M.Div.
Bereaved daughter of retired Air Force Veteran Edward Connolly and married to retired Air Force Veteran Kristopher DeCandia, Lisa has two daughters, a son-in-law, and four wonderful grandchildren. She has done grief work in Cumberland County for the past 11 1/2 years with Liberty Hospice. During that time, the Lord opened doors for her to partner with Fayetteville VA Medical Center and at Fort Liberty with the Employee Assistance Program and the Department of Ministry to create community grief support in the workplace and for the workforce. In addition to this, in 2023, she worked with a group of Cumberland County community members to begin a Community Grief Coalition with individuals, organizations, and agencies who notice the growing grief in the areas they live and work.
Kimberly (Franco) Gilbert
Kimberly Gilbert is a retired Military Police Captain with over 23 years of service. In her 22nd year of service, she lost her brother to suicide and retired from the military to pursue full-time work in the field of suicide prevention and awareness. She worked as a Suicide Prevention ProgramManager for the U.S. Army Reserve for more than a decade and quickly established herself as the lead mentor for other managers. She helped develop Army policy on Suicide Prevention, developed multiple training courses for both military and civilian sectors, and continues to seek community relationships to build resilience and stop suicide. Kimberly confesses that she does not have a job – she has a purpose. Her two main goals are to help people develop the skills to overcome adversity and to be a supporter for those who experience loss. Her messages of hope and endurance have led her to be a highly sought after speaker for audiences great and small. She normalizes the topics of mental health and self-care with the mission to build resilient communities and stop suicides.
Dr. Candace M. Laughinghouse
Dr. Laughinghouse is a multifaceted scholar, activist, and musician residing in Raleigh, NC. Her innovative research explores the intricate connections between human, animal, and environmental oppression, advancing the field of environmental justice. With an impressive academic background, including a Ph.D. in theological ethics from Chicago Theological Seminary and degrees from institutions such as UC Berkeley, Candler School of Theology (M.Div.), and Duke Divinity School (Th.M.), Dr. Laughinghouse brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work.
Recently appointed as a professor of Constructive Theology at Gammon Theological Seminary, Dr. Laughinghouse is dedicated to fostering excellence and activism among her students. Her academic contributions span publications and presentations at renowned conferences, including the American Academy of Religion and the Parliament of World Religions. However, she finds particular fulfillment in mentoring and advising students, helping shape Gammon Theological Seminary’s future.
During emerging discussions of environmental racism, Dr. Laughinghouse’s research has broadened into deconstructing Christian Nationalist worship liturgies in Black Gospel music and examining church growth through the lens of marginalized communities. This work is a part of her womanist-inspired principles of “radical subjectivity” – a term coined by Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas. Skillfully interweaving the many ways Christian Nationalism extends colonization of land with that to affect vulnerable communities and the rise of memory loss, she incorporates a theology of Black Gospel Music as resistance and healing.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Laughinghouse serves as the Director of Music at Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. In this role, she draws upon her rich musical heritage rooted in the Pentecostal tradition, further enriching her diverse career as a scholar, activist, and musician.