Closing Plenary: Removing Barriers To Success For Justice-Involved Youth

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Chef Jeff Henderson is a renaissance man. From humble beginnings in Los Angeles to life as an imprisoned drug dealer, Jeff reinvented himself as an award-winning celebrity chef, New York Times best-selling author and inspiring professional speaker focused on how each of us can achieve our dreams. Jeff found a passion for cooking while incarcerated which changed his life forever. He became the first African-American Chef de Cuisine at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and the creator of three television shows including the Food Network reality series, “The Chef Jeff Project.” Jeff joins the APPA 46th Annual Training Institute as an inspiring and powerful advocate for self-transformation.

DeNeese Parker has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in law from the University of California/Davis as well as a master’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Social Work from the University of Nevada/Las Vegas. She is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and is currently responsible for oversight of the Juvenile Division and currently directs and administers programs related to governmental and legislative activity related to the 8th Judicial District Court Specialty Courts. Ms. Parker has primary responsibility to manage all specialty courts in Clark County including Adult Drug Court, Co-Occurring Drug Court, Transitional Age Program, OPEN, Veteran’s Treatment Court, Felony DUI Court, Mental Health Court, Gambling Diversion Treatment Court, Juvenile Drug Court, Family Treatment Drug Court, Re-Entry Court, and Law Enforcement Intervention for Mental health and Addiction (LIMA). She oversees contracts and grants, develops and monitors budgets for all of the specialty court programs, and develops informational and statistical reports for presentation to judges, the Board of County Commissioners, and the Nevada State Legislature.