Speaking Engagements and Presentations
Barbara Cheives is the President and CEO of Converge & Associates Consulting, Inc. Barbara's consulting expertise includes law enforcement and public safety; not for profit organizations; media; education; and corporations. Barbara served as the first Executive Director of Toward a More Perfect Union in Palm Beach County, Florida, a non-profit initiative addressing the critical impact of race and ethnicity in a diverse community.
National Leukemia Lymphoma Society. She has designed and delivered workshops around youth violence prevention; Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC), and the portrayal if minorities in the media. Additionally, Barbara is a certified Ethics Trainer providing training for the Palm Beach State College Center for Applied Ethics.
Barbara's community appointments include Past Chair of Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission. She served on the West Palm Beach Mayor's Transition Team where she chaired Neighborhood Improvement and Community Outreach. She was also appointed as a Commissioner to the statewide 2007 Blueprint Commission for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. She serves on the National Board of the Institute of Community Peace in Washington, D.C. She is Immediate Past President of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. West Palm Beach Chapter and the Co-Chair of the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church Social Justice Ministry. Barbara is an active alumna of Leadership Palm Beach County, from Class of 2002.
Among her personal and professional honors are The American Cancer Society Lifesaver Award; United Way of Palm Beach County Volunteer of the Year; March of Dimes Women of Distinction. She was a 2013 Leadership Palm Beach County Excellence Award Finalist. She was featured in the Summer 2013 issue of The Palm Beacher Magazine as one of the 25 Impact Players Defining Palm Beach County. Barbara is also a Fiber Artist who loves to share her excitement and life of cultural activism as well her love of artistic creativity.
Barbara has planned and executed county wide community engagement and community dialogue projects with difficult to reach communities for the YWCA, Children's Home Society and Community Partners of Palm Beach County and statewide for the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services. Barbara has presented at state and national conferences for the National Council on Crime and Delinquency; HR Florida; Florida Network of Youth and Family Services; YWCA; and the
Literacy Coalition's Read for the Record - Palm Beach County
City of West Palm Beach Kids & Cops Workshop
NeighborWorks National Training Institute, Washington, D.C.
Testimonials
"Ms. Cheives has been training law enforcement in Palm Beach County since 2004. Through the training, ride alongs and immersion, Ms. Cheives has developed an in depth knowledge and understanding of the workings of law enforcement.
Ms. Cheives is a member of the Criminal Justice Commission and has the understanding of challenges specific to the industry. Ms. Cheives is a progressive minded individual who recognizes the importance of training in our profession."
Ric L. Bradshaw
Sheriff, Palm Beach County
"I'll admit I thought it was going to be something else to waste my time. I was wrong! I must say I got more out of this training than any other since I've been with ISC. Very valuable and I came out of there with a different outlook on how I approach matters."
Track President
International Speedway Corporation
"You have provided diversity training for 5 classes of Literacy AmeriCorps members! This training has been an invaluable component of our program over the years and has offered our members the opportunity to learn more about Palm Beach County and consider the important issues of race in our community. Your presentations are always engaging, interactive and thought provoking. The members have appreciated your sense of humor and the atmosphere of respect you create for their opinions and experiences. Thank you again for taking the time to spend time with our group and provide this excellent learning experience."
Audrey McDonough, Director
AmeriCorps
"We appreciate your support of the organization. It is because of people like yourself that we are able to have a successful conference where attendees feel they have take home value in the presentations and information."
Monika D. Bowles, Director of Human Resources
Village of Royal Palm Beach
President Elect, Florida Human Resources Association
"I had the pleasure of working with Barbara for almost nine years. She delivers what she promises and we experience the results expected. Her workshops are very interactive and participants learn by discussing real-world issues and solutions to their concerns. She provides excellent suggestions for avoiding problems through treating people with dignity and respect. Barbara made presentations to the IPMA-HR Southern Region HR Directors. She successfully works with many of those directors providing similar services as described above. You will invite her back again once you experience her unique approach and dynamic seminars."
Patrick Cooney, Former Director of Human Resources
City of West Palm Beach
NeighborWorks America - 2013 - 2014
National Training Institutes - Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; Kansas City, KA; Washington, D.C.
"The Role of Women in Transforming Communities"
Florida Public Human Resources Association
Annual Conference Presenter
Bullying & Harassment in the Workplace, Marco Island, FL - 2014
The Culture of Customer Service, St. Augustine, FL - 2013
Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, Fort Myers, FL - 2013
Annual Conference Presenter
Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace
HR Florida State Conference, Orlando, FL - 2011
"Cultural Competency in the REAL World"
Juvenile Justice Conference, Orlando, FL - 2011
"The Dynamics of Difference: The Road to Effective Communication"
Florida Association of Community Corrections, Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 2011
Ex-Offender Reentry - Panelist
National Girls Institute/National Council on Crime & Delinquency "Within Girls Differences"
Maricopa County Girls Conference, Phoenix, AZ - 2013
Louisiana Governor's Conference on Juvenile Justice, Baton Rouge, LA - 2012
Florida Juvenile Justice Association/FAADA Adolescent Conference, Orlando, FL - 2012
Florida Network of Youth & Family Service, Tallahassee, FL - 2011
FOCUS Conference
"The Dynamics of Difference"
Barry University, Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 2011, 2012
Guest Lecturer -Human Behavior and Social Environment Master's Class
HR Florida State Conference - Orlando, FL - 2011
"Cultural Competency in the REAL World"
Stetson School of Law, St. Petersburg, FL - 2011
Juvenile Criminal Law and Practice
Guest Lecturer - Disproportionate Minority Contact
Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), Daytona Beach, FL - 2008, 2009, 2010
Volusia/Flagler Chapter Breakfast Speaker
The National Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Anaheim, CA - 2007
National Volunteer Leadership Conference,
"Cultural Transformation - Diversity & Inclusion"
The National Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Orlando, FL - 2007
Patient Services Training Conference
"Reaching Diverse Communities"
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Palm Beach County, 2006, 2007, 2010
Neighborhoods USA, Fort, Lauderdale, FL - 2003
Annual Conference on Neighborhoods Concerns
American Psychological Association - Chicago, IL 2002
"Valuing Diversity in the Media"
Non-profit Alliance Regional Meeting, West Palm Beach, FL - 2002
"Does Your Non-profit Board Reflect Your Community?"