About the Session: We’re bringing you two unique perspectives on men’s and boys’ mental health.

From Father’s Forward, He-motions: Helping Men Express the Full Range of their Emotions, is an interactive workshop that explores the organizations decade of experience supporting fathers and men across Maryland, highlighting inspiring stories, practical strategies, and lessons learned in advancing men’s mental health. Participants will examine ways to eliminate stigma, foster authentic connection, and create safe spaces where men can be vulnerable, transparent, encourage one another, and build supportive relationships that strengthen themselves, their families, and their communities.

The Family Tree will present Breaking the Chain: Rewriting the Legacy of Fatherhood.

Breaking the Chain is a transformative workshop designed to help men confront the cycles that have shaped their lives and develop the tools to create a healthier legacy for themselves, their families, and future generations. Through guided discussions, self-reflection, and practical strategies, participants will explore the impact of generational fatherhood patterns, identify barriers to becoming the fathers, mentors, and leaders they aspire to be, and learn how healing begins with intentional choices.

About the Speakers:

Eugene Schneeberg is a nationally recognized fatherhood leader, men’s mental health advocate, speaker, and nonprofit executive dedicated to strengthening fathers, families, and communities. As President of Fathers Forward and President of Straight Ahead Ministries, Eugene has spent more than two decades mentoring fathers, justice-involved individuals, and at-risk youth while helping organizations build effective fatherhood and family engagement programs. He previously served in the White House after being appointed by President Barack Obama to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, where he helped strengthen partnerships between government, faith-based organizations, and community nonprofits. His work emphasizes the vital connection between involved fatherhood, emotional wellness, healthy relationships, and resilient families. Through keynote presentations, leadership training, and direct mentoring, Eugene encourages men to prioritize their mental health, seek support without shame, and lead with courage, integrity, and purpose so they can become the fathers, husbands, and community leaders their families need.

Dr. Christopher L. Maith Sr. is an accomplished social work educator, administrator, researcher, and human services leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing higher education, community-based practice, program development, and organizational leadership. Dr. Maith earned his Ph.D. in Social Work from Morgan State University School of Social Work, where his dissertation examined social workers’ self-perceptions of cultural competence in providing community-based services to Black populations in urban communities. Throughout his career, Dr. Maith has held progressive leadership positions overseeing multimillion-dollar community-based programs, strategic planning initiatives, workforce development efforts, accreditation processes, and interdisciplinary teams. His extensive professional experience spans behavioral health, crisis intervention, foster care, homelessness services, hospice care, family therapy, youth development, and organizational consulting. Dr. Maith is also a published scholar whose work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and academic publications addressing issues of race, cultural competence, family systems, and social policy.