Connecting Across Diaspora: Black Identity and Experiences in Global Public Health Research and Practice

Student researchers and global health participants from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Eastern Michigan University are invited to submit proposals for lightning talks for the 38th Annual Health Equity Conference. These talks will be an opportunity to share innovative research, ideas, and insights within the framework of intersectionality, cultural humility, and diaspora research. Each lightning talk will be 5–7 minutes long, and we encourage submissions that explore how these concepts influence global health practices, policies, and community health.

Our panel discussion will feature three expert speakers who will offer insights into the current landscape of global health research. The panel will also explore the barriers and facilitators to ethical, community-based public health work within the Black diaspora. Finally, we will discuss strategies to increase the representation of Black scholars and practitioners working in global health initiatives focused on the Black diaspora.

Positionality refers to the perspective we hold and the social reality inscribed on our bodies, shaped by our individual and collective histories. As we conclude the conference, the Positionality Workshop will provide an interactive space for participants to reflect on and share their experiences from the day. Through storytelling and guided reflection, participants will engage with a case study and reflection questions designed to help them develop their own positionality statements. This session will encourage deeper self-awareness and critical thinking about how identity and experiences shape our work in global public health.