Let’s Talk About Stigma: Normalizing ADHD in Black and other Marginalized Communities

Evelyn Polk Green, MSEd, is a nationally recognized advocate, educator, and leader in the ADHD and mental health communities. She is a past president of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), serving on its board for over a decade, including more than 10 years as president, and has also served as a national board member and president of CHADD.

An adult with ADHD and the mother of two adult sons with ADHD, Evelyn brings lived experience and professional expertise to her work. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from National Louis University and a second master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.

For nearly 30 years, Evelyn has championed ADHD awareness, particularly in marginalized and underserved communities, representing the family and educator voice at national forums including the National Institutes of Mental Health, the US Surgeon General’s Office, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

She recently retired from a 39-year career with Chicago Public Schools and is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Jeanette McCollum Award for service in the field of early childhood education and induction into the 2025 CHADD Hall of Fame.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Evelyn Polk Green receives a consulting fee from QBTech. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Evelyn Polk Green is a member of the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Black Child Development Institute.

René Brooks has taken a late-life diagnosis and used it to uplift others. After being diagnosed with ADHD 3 times (age 7, 11, and 25), at 25 she was able to get the treatment she deserved. She is the founder of Black Girl, Lost Keys, a blog that empowers black women with ADHD and shows them how to live well with the disorder.

In addition to Black Girl, Lost Keys, René has written for Healthline and is a Patent Contributor to TEVA Pharmaceutical’s Life Effects project. She has spoken at The International Alliance of Patients Organization’s 8th Annual Congress.