Dr. Obari is a father, author, educator, and grassroots mental health advocate dedicated to the emotional and cultural wellness of Black communities. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hampton University and a Ph.D. in clinical and community psychology from Georgia State University. Dr. Cartman is the CEO of MANifest Wellness, LLC, a cultural wellness company that provides African-centered mental health programming, rites-of-passage initiatives, professional development trainings, and community healing experiences for schools, agencies, and grassroots organizations. He is the immediate past president of the Chicago Association of Black Psychologists and continues to serve on the board. Dr. Obari is the current vice president of the Midwestern Underground Railroad Network

 

Dr. Cartman is the creator of MANifest, a hip-hop–based male rites-of-passage curriculum that blends African-centered psychology, cultural identity, and manhood development. MANifest is currently being implemented in juvenile detention centers, schools, and community settings across the country, supporting young Black men in developing emotional intelligence, critical consciousness, purpose, and healthy relationships.

 

As a consultant and facilitator, Dr. Cartman leads trainings for adults and interactive workshops for youth focused on mental wellness, media literacy, racial and cultural identity, fatherhood, authentic manhood, and relationship-building. His work integrates psychological science with ancestral wisdom, artistic expression, and community-based healing practices.

 

Dr. Cartman is the author of two books. His newest release, Black Spirituality: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Generational Trauma, explores cultural memory, ancestral practices, and pathways for collective healing. Dr. Wade Nobles has praised the book as “an inspired sacred revelatory reflection.” His first book, Lady’s Man: Conversations for Young Black Men about Manhood and Relationships, is a widely acclaimed critical-thinking guide that addresses historical trauma, emotional intelligence, communication, intimacy, and purpose. The book has been praised as “penetrating, poignant, and personal” by Na’im Akbar; an “instant classic” by Jessica Care Moore; and Cornel West has described Dr. Cartman as “one of the wise and visionary writers of his generation.” Educators, mentors, parents, and coaches across the country use Lady’s Man to help young men build character, cultivate self-love, relate to women with integrity, express emotion in healthy ways, understand their historical context, and envision a liberated future.