KCTI was founded in 2015, by Larry G. Tucker, LMFT in response to the community’s growing need for culturally competent and responsive training/support. According to the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) mental health prevalence is higher in diverse groups while also being less likely to use health services. Mr. Tucker’s goal is to use this non-profit to bring awareness to the healthcare system while simultaneously training professionals to work cross-culturally.
Currently, KCTI has two established outlets for combating these issues. The first is our training’s, which include an annual fall conference and smaller training’s and workshops throughout the year. Click here to learn more about how to attend our training’s and what’s offered. Our second channel of work is through our relational internship, in-which students get the opportunity to earn credits towards their schooling while learning practical skills for becoming a culturally competent professional. Click here to learn more about how to apply and what to expect through our internship.
We inspire to Engage, Embrace, Empower and Equip.
Engage the community to proactively address the shortage of mental health providers of color and leadership
Embrace all forms of diversity by offering ethnically and culturally relevant training experiences
Empower trainees to develop and sustain mental healthcare practices and policy for culturally diverse communities
Equip training participants with new information, skills and knowledge necessary to grow individually and collectively
Renita Wilson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Clinical Director of Kente Circle. Since 2011, Wilson served as an associate therapist and intern supervisor, becoming Clinical Director in 2015. In addition to overseeing operations and maintaining a clinical caseload, Wilson supervises a staff of approximately 20 clinicians and interns who make up KCTI’s internship program. Prior to joining Kente Circle, Wilson served as Licensing Supervisor of Ramsey County Child Foster Care managing all functions of the department including supervising 16 staff members. Wilson also spent four yeas as a Children’s Mental Health Case Manager for Ramsey County Human Services after spending seven years as a Program Manager at African American Adoption Agency. Wilson has over eleven years of experience providing on-call mental health counseling for Regions Hospital and Touchstone Residential Facility. She started her career in mental heath services at Amherst Wilder Foundation where she worked for four years. Wilson is a member of the Minnesota Association of Black Social Workers and a board approved supervisor for LICSWs. She is also a board member of the Philando Castile Relief Fund. She has served on the Board of KCTI since 2015.
PHD, LPCC, LICSW
MA
MS
MSW, LGSW
Create a mental health provider workforce and community that is more diverse and culturally competent.
