Next Steps Forward Symposium

Where Athlete Mental Health Stands and Where It Has to Go

Athlete mental health is finally in the collective bargaining agreements, the press conferences, and the policy manuals. But has the care caught up with the conversation?

In this Next Steps Forward Symposium, Chris convenes a panel of leaders in the athlete mental health space for an honest assessment of where athlete mental health and sport psychology actually stand at the professional and collegiate levels.

They trace the real progress of the last 15 years and what drove it: collective bargaining agreements, players associations, athlete advocacy, and hard-won institutional buy-in, then turn to the harder questions:

• What still stands in the way of real change?
• Why is wellbeing so often bolted onto the high-performance environment instead of built into it?
• Why do sport organizations keep getting drawn to confident voices and quick fixes that don’t help athletes?
• Is there even an adequate supply of competent, licensed sport psychologists to meet the demand?

A conversation about moving from awareness to actual care: valuable for athletes, coaches, administrators, parents, and anyone building a high-performance culture.

Hosted by Dr. Chris Meek, the Next Steps Forward Symposium brings together thought leaders, scholars, and public figures to explore pressing issues shaping our nation and world. In this session, “America as a Cultural Mosaic,” the symposium examines how race, religion, heritage, and personal experience influence our shared civic life.

Our distinguished panel includes:

• Dr. Sherry Molock, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at George Washington University, who explores mental health, identity, and resilience within African American communities.
• Colonel Seung Paik, U.S. military veteran, leadership expert, and author of Leadernomics, sharing insights on service, heritage, and leadership in diverse communities.
• Dr. Saqib Qureshi, author of Being Muslim Today, providing perspective on faith, identity, and ethical leadership in contemporary America.
• Adela Cojab Moadeb, legal fellow at the National Jewish Advocacy Center and Syrian-Jewish activist, addressing identity, advocacy, and combating antisemitism.

Through conversation and reflection, the panel explores the strengths and challenges of the “cultural mosaic” model, asking: Can a society that celebrates difference foster the same unity as a melting pot? How do our diverse identities enrich civic life, strengthen communities, and shape the next generation’s understanding of belonging?

The symposium emphasizes dialogue, learning, and shared responsibility, highlighting the ways Americans can honor their differences while advancing unity, resilience, and civic engagement. It’s a timely discussion about how our individual and collective identities contribute to the ongoing work of building a stronger, more inclusive nation.

In this inaugural symposium, host Chris Meek (Founder of Next Steps Forward) convenes a panel of distinguished experts to address the $160 billion global human trafficking industry. The conversation clarifies that trafficking is not a distant problem but one that occurs in every neighborhood, often hidden behind social status or digital screens.

The panel discusses how predators use social media and gaming platforms to target minors , the critical need for legislation that targets sex buyers to reduce demand , and the shift toward a victim-centered approach in law enforcement. The discussion concludes with actionable steps for individuals, emphasizing that while the trauma of trafficking is profound, complete healing is possible through dedicated resources, community support, and the resilience of survivor voices.