Community Empowerment Through
Black Men Healing Conference
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~ Victor Frankl
Sam Simmons is licensed as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor who has over 30-year experience as a behavioral consultant specializing in practical culturally sensitive trauma informed work with African American males and their families with a focus on chemical dependency, interpersonal violence and historical trauma.
For over 9 years Sam developed and managed a culturally-specific trauma informed curriculum that engages African American males. Also, a federally funded Be More Project to engage African American young men and boys to stop violence against women and girls and to promote healthy nonviolent relationships. Sam is an Adverse Childhood Experience Interface Trainer in the state of Minnesota
Sam received the “2007 Kirby Puckett Legacy Award” for work done with Life Source that led to an increase in the African American community’s organ donation from 29% to 75% in 2006. Sam was awarded the 2009 Governor’s Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives Best Practices Award for his work with MN Department of Veterans Outreach Services, prison reentry and in the African American community.
In 2014 Sam was awarded the Minnesota Fathers & Families Network Excellence in Fatherhood Award for his work to advance fatherhood policy and practice throughout Minnesota. He received the 2016 Healing the Hidden Wounds of Racial Trauma award and the Black Tear Drop Award for his vision and leadership in culturally sensitive trauma informed work in the community and around the country. In 2017 he received the Champions for Children Award for his work in making the world a better place for children from the Minnesota Communities Caring for Children. In 2018 he received Public Health Hero Award for his unique, innovative, and culturally specific trauma informed work from the City of Minneapolis. And was honored by the NFL for his work to end violence against women and interpersonal violence.
Sam is executive producer of public affairs programming at Twin Cities community fixture, radio station and KMOJ. Currently he's co-host of "Voices” addressing issues of the urban community. He is respected around the country for his highly informed work around African American historical trauma and his very successful Community Empower Through Black Men Healing Conference called “Groundbreaking and Visionary”. In 2018 the conference recieved recognition from both Minneapolis and St. Paul Mayors and Minnesota’s’ Governor. He plainly states, “A community is empowered by the strength of the information it’s given.”