Healing Environments, Healthy Futures: Promoting Environmental Health Equity in Resilient Communities

Our 39th Annual Health Equity Conference, “Healing Environments, Healthy Futures: Promoting Environmental Health Equity in Resilient Communities,” will be held at the Henry F. Vaughn School of Public Health Building I, Room 1655, on Saturday, March 28, 2026. This conference aims to center the experiences and leadership of communities of color at the intersection of environmental justice, culture, and health equity. Unpacking the impact of climate change, AI, and policy shifts, this conference will focus on community-driven strategies and cross-sector collaboration to build healthier, more resilient environments and promote health equity across diverse communities.

The purpose of this conference is to highlight the experiences of populations of color and the contributions of researchers and community members through impactful, meaningful work in environmental health promotion. Emphasizing the importance of multicultural perspectives, community-based participatory approaches, and environmental justice frameworks, we aim to strengthen the capacity of future health professionals to advance health equity for diverse communities.

The “Healing Environments, Healthy Futures” Conference will increase participants' knowledge of environmental health inequities affecting communities of color and strengthen understanding of environmental justice frameworks grounded in lived experience and cultural context. Through community-centered dialog and applied learning, attendees will gain practical strategies for advancing health equity in research, practice, and advocacy.