Join leaders from across research, policy, healthcare, and community practice for a transformative three-day convening. Together, we will co-create a unified, cross-sector action plan for optimal health in Black communities—moving from conversation to concrete, collaborative action.
Award-winning author and creative director Cebo Campbell will deliver the opening keynote for the 2026 Council on Black Health Workshop. During his keynote titled Imagine It First—A Vision Beyond the Guardrails, he will read from his book Sky Full of Elephants, challenging us to envision a future where optimal Black health is not a dream, but a reality.
We strongly encourage all attendees to read Sky Full of Elephants before the workshop as it will deepen your engagement with the opening session and the work ahead.
Award-winning author and creative director Cebo Campbell will deliver the opening keynote for the 2026 Council on Black Health Workshop. During his keynote titled Imagine It First—A Vision Beyond the Guardrails, he will read from his book Sky Full of Elephants, challenging us to envision a future where optimal Black health is not a dream, but a reality.
We strongly encourage all attendees to read Sky Full of Elephants before the workshop as it will deepen your engagement with the opening session and the work ahead.
Welcome to the Strategy Room
A musical welcome sets the tone: we are here to build solutions, not discuss problems.
Setting the Course: Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going
A formal welcome to the workshop to set expectations, and to provide an overview of where we’ve been and where we’re going
Dinner
Imagine It First: A Vision Beyond the Guardrails
Author Cebo Campbell invites us into an Afrofuturist vision of optimal health—a world reimagined without systemic barriers. Before we can build bold solutions, we must dare to see them clearly.
Connections & Celebration
Evening networking with entertainment.
Breakfast & Networking Roundtables
Connect over breakfast at topic-specific tables
Overview of the Day
Welcome and the roadmap for the next 36 hours
The Innovation Showcase: Strategies That Are Already Working
Four leaders share real initiatives with real results in food access, healthcare delivery, mobile health, and housing—setting the stage for our collective problem-solving
The Super Solution Lab: Breakout Round 1
Small-group sessions where we stress-test strategies, layer in expertise from the room, and begin building ‘super solutions’ that address root causes.
Lunch
Lunchtime Keynote Speaker
Deborah Phillips, Executive Director, Black Directors Health Equity Agenda, Inc.
BDHEA Executive Director will share lessons from building a national, governance-centered collective action model to advance health equity.
The Super Solution Lab: Breakout Round 2
Rotate to a new group and watch the solutions sharpen with fresh perspectives.
Rewriting the Rules: Policy as a Tool for Health Equity
Explore how federal, state, and local policy can be wielded for structural change.
Powering Change: Technology Built for Black Communities
How technology can advance health equity and the critical questions we must ask.
Pause & Reflect: What Are We Carrying Forward?
A moment to metabolize the day: what landed, what surprised us, and what’s missing
Replenish: A Moment for Ourselves
Spoken word and guided relaxation
Breakfast & Networking
The Road Map: From Yesterday’s Breakthroughs to Today’s Decisions
A quick recap and clear view of what we’re building toward by 2:00 p.m.
From Ideas to Action: Testing Solutions in Real Time
Interactive improv brings our super solutions to life on stage. We watch, react, and refine them in real time—finding what works and what needs to shift.
Policy-Making to Advance Racial and Health Equity
Change Lab Solutions presents a policy agenda to inform our collective action plan.
Finding Our North Stars: The Solutions That Matter Most
Working lunch: Together we identify which solutions are most urgent, powerful, and courageous.
Where Is Your Sphere of Influence?
Walk the room, read the solutions, and place your name on the work where you can contribute.
Making It Real: Our Agreements for Moving Forward Together
We define the principles and commitments that will govern how we operate as a collective.
From This Room to the World: Next Steps & Gratitude
How we reconvene, communicate, and keep building together.
Convening Closes
Solomon Abiola builds AI products and helps organizations deploy them responsibly at scale. Formerly at AWS, he shipped machine learning products serving millions of users. As Maryland’s first AI Policy Director, he authored the state’s inaugural AI policy framework and introduced “governance cards,” a novel enterprise approach to responsible AI deployment across 25+ agencies and 40,000 employees. With dual PhDs in Computer Science and Translational Biomedical Sciences, Solomon brings deep technical expertise in architecture, evaluation, guardrails, and cost management — translating complex systems for executive decision-makers. A Princeton-trained engineer, Aspen Institute Rising Civic AI Leader, Venture Fellow at Nassau Street Ventures, and international speaker, he focuses on AI product strategy and scaling AI in high-stakes environments where compliance, quality, and speed all matter.
Dr. Liz Ackley is Professor of Health & Exercise Science and Director of the Center for Community Health Innovation at Roanoke College. She leads cross-sector partnerships that translate rigorous, community-generated data into policy and place-based solutions. As Director of the Roanoke Valley Community Healthy Living Index and project lead for Roanoke’s Invest Health initiative, she helped catalyze Melrose Plaza, a resident-designed, grocery-anchored resource hub advancing equitable access to vital conditions. A recipient of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award, Dr. Ackley is nationally recognized for evidence-driven, inclusive approaches that bridge research, practice, and sustainable systems change.
About the Center for Community Health Innovation at Roanoke College:
The Center for Community Health Innovation at Roanoke College is a regional leader in advancing health equity through data-driven collaboration, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. Its work empowers local organizations and residents to create healthier, more inclusive communities across the Roanoke Valley.
Link to CCHI webpage for QR code: Center for Community Health Innovation – Roanoke College
Dr. Bahby Banks is an executive and leadership strategist who equips senior leaders to operate with clarity, cohesion, and measurable impact. As Founder and CEO of Pillar Consulting, she partners with philanthropic, public-sector, and national organizations to sharpen strategic direction, strengthen executive alignment, and translate institutional priorities into disciplined action.
Her work focuses on how leadership teams think, decide, and act—particularly in complex, cross-sector environments. She has trained leaders representing more than 30 states, equipping their organizations with practical tools to navigate policy landscapes, multi-generational teams, and evolving public expectations. Dr. Banks also leads large-scale narrative strategy initiatives reaching more than one million people, advancing public trust and organizational credibility through precise message architecture.
A multilingual scholar-activist whose work spans the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Australia, Dr. Banks serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and is a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. Her expertise enables institutions to lead with confidence in rapidly changing environments.
Dr. Ailton Coleman is Associate Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where his teaching and research explore the intersections of race, gender, masculinities, fatherhood, and health. Trained in public health and social and behavioral sciences, he has published widely on Black health and health equity and has been recognized nationally for his scholarship and leadership. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Council on Black Health Board of Directors, bringing both academic rigor and deep commitment to advancing equitable health outcomes.
Georgina Dukes-Harris is the Founder & CEO of Swishvo, an AI-powered health technology platform building infrastructure for holistic and alternative health providers to deliver reimbursable, culturally competent care. With over 15 years of experience across academic medicine, Medicaid innovation, and health tech, she has led large-scale population health initiatives addressing social determinants of health and maternal outcomes. A survivor of life-threatening childbirth complications, Georgina brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She is currently pursuing her M.Div. at Emory University, exploring the intersection of faith, technology, and health equity.
Jennifer Fassbender is the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Council on Black Health. Previously, she led the Healthy Communities program area at Reinvestment Fund. As a mission-driven financial institution, providing over $3 billion in financing to strengthen neighborhoods, scale social enterprises, and build resilient communities, Reinvestment Fund has been working to ensure communities work for all people for over 40 years. Jennifer’s program portfolio included the national Invest Health and regional Building Healthier, More Equitable Communities initiatives, as well as the City Health Dashboard Data Challenge – supporting multi-sector coalitions in small to mid-sized cities working to improve to neighborhood conditions necessary for thriving. With over 20 years of collective leadership experience in healthcare, research, public health, and community and economic development, she has dedicated her career to improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities through partnerships and strategic investments. Previously, she has held leadership positions at the American Diabetes Association, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and was a clinician at Northwest Community Healthcare. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Council on Black Health since 2021, was a National Academies Roundtable member for 7 years, and leads an intermediary funders network of health equity focused initiative leaders. She has contributed to numerous scientific and professional publications and conferences as an author, reviewer, and presenter. Ms. Fassbender completed her bachelor of science at the Pennsylvania State University and she did her graduate work at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health.
Policy Solutions for Achieving Optimal Health in Black Communities
Dr. Okey K. Enyia is a government relations executive, health policy researcher, and founder of Enyia Strategies, LLC, where he advises mission-driven organizations on advancing health equity, social drivers of health, and policy impact. He is the author of The John Henry Health Equity Playbook and has served as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Health Policy Fellow, with experience on both the U.S. House and Senate sides. Dr. Enyia works at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and research, with a focus on Black men’s health, civic engagement, and systems-level change. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and resides in Washington, DC.
Maurice D. Hinson, MD is the Founder & Director of MediRootz Medical Group, a telehealth based primary care practice specializing in providing equitable access to high value primary care. He is also a Hospitalist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Hinson received his Bachelors in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, his Medical Degree from Drexel University College of Medicine, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at NewYork Presbyterian Weill Cornell. Dr. Hinson is also Founder and Advisor of the Black and Latino Men in Medicine, a network of students, trainees, faculty, and hospital administrators created to combat the precipitous decline of Black and Hispanic male physicians. Dr. Hinson is the recipient of numerous basic science research awards, the 2015 Excellence in Public Health award by the U.S. Public Health Task Force, 2020 Drexel University 40 under 40, and was recently inducted as a Fellow in the New York Academy of Medicine. His most recent academic interests involve the clinical application of cannabis and psychedelics for the prevention and management of chronic disorders like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, depression, dementia, and cancer. Additionally, Dr. Hinson actively works to increase the number of underrepresented physicians by engaging with and empowering aspiring students in their journey into medicine. He believes that health equity will be best achieved once the face of healthcare’s physician workforce reflects the diversity of the patients it serves.
Hi! My name is Shun Mack, and I am the Education Product Manager at Jones Valley Teaching Farm. I oversee Camp Grow and Field Trip operations, collaborate on consultations with my supervisor Leah, and develop teacher training opportunities to help educators incorporate food-based learning into their curriculum. My journey with JVTF began in 2016 as an intern, where I organized events to promote the Woodlawn High School farm. After graduating, I pursued culinary arts, led Woodlawn’s Farm Club, and joined as an instructor in 2019. I’m dedicated to breaking down stigmas around Black farming and bridging the gap between communities and their food sources through engaging, hands-on education.
Anthony M. Mitchell is a senior federal affairs executive with deep experience advising CEOs and boards on federal policy risk, regulatory strategy, and political engagement across the U.S. healthcare system.
Currently Vice President of Federal Affairs at AHIP, Anthony leads national legislative and regulatory strategy across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance markets—policy areas central to enterprise risk management, growth enablement, and long-term sustainability. He serves as a principal advisor to executive leadership, translating federal policy developments into clear strategic implications for business operations, compliance, and reputation.
Anthony regularly engages with Congress, the White House, HHS, CMS, and senior federal regulators, shaping legislative and regulatory outcomes while mitigating exposure during periods of political volatility. He provides board-level briefings on legislative outlooks, regulatory enforcement trends, and election-cycle risk to support informed governance and strategic oversight.
Previously, Anthony led government relations and regulatory strategy at Lyft, where he supported multi-market expansion and delivered multi-million-dollar investments by aligning regulatory approvals with corporate growth objectives. He also served in the Executive Office of Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, coordinating intergovernmental engagement and advising on crisis response and operational strategy.
Earlier in his career, Anthony advised Members of Congress in both the U.S. House and Senate, managing legislative portfolios and supporting complex policy negotiations. This background gives him a comprehensive understanding of federal policymaking and regulatory implementation, informing his enterprise advisory approach.
Anthony’s leadership philosophy is grounded in enterprise alignment, disciplined risk management, and relationship-driven influence. Because of this, he has been recognized through awards, media, and his peers for his differential judgment, credibility with policymakers, and ability to integrate federal affairs into broader enterprise strategy. He is known for building high-performing teams, translating policy complexity into actionable executive guidance, and positioning organizations to succeed amid political uncertainty.
He is an active board member and advisor to national policy and civic organizations, a frequent participant in public policy forums, and a recognized leader in federal affairs and stakeholder engagement. As such, he serves on national advisory boards, including the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s 21st Century Corporate Council, and is a former Socrates Program Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
Deborah Phillips is the Executive Director for the Black Directors Health Equity Agenda, Inc. (BDHEA). She provides strategic vision and leadership in managing the BDHEA and its growth, and guides its executive sponsors, members and aligned entities in prioritizing the right balance between the healthcare and the business aspects of its mission. Ms. Phillips supports the BDHEA Board of Directors in the operational, strategic direction, communications, and financial management of BDHEA. She is a BDHEA Founder.
Ms. Phillips serves as a Senior Advisor to Gray Matter Analytics, Inc. a healthcare solutions company. Gray Matter, through its CoreTechs™ platform and solution suite, delivers foundational and advanced analytics for healthcare providers (systems), payers, and pharma companies.
Ms. Phillips has over 35 years of experience with leading industry companies which includes key executive positions in operations, marketing, sales, and engineering with Fortune 500 companies such as Cleversafe (currently IBM Object Storage), Cisco Systems, Motorola and SBC Communications (currently AT&T) and HP. She has pioneered new products, processes, and systems during her career; and has held executive roles in several of the top marketing organizations in the country. Ms. Phillips has extensive expertise in building and leading world-class, high impact global teams, and general and product management.
Maintaining a strong civic commitment, Ms. Phillips regularly participates on boards and in programs that serve the common good nationally.
As Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm, Amanda is responsible for setting the organization’s strategy, supervising the Leadership Team, stewarding the annual budget, and acting as spokesperson to the community of donors, partners, and public. Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s education model, Good School Food, has grown from one to 16 schools in the Birmingham City School system over the last ten years covering Pre-K-12th grade. Under her leadership, Jones Valley Teaching Farm launched the Ready to Grow capital campaign to build a Center for Food Education on their downtown campus and has successfully met the $8.3 million dollar goal. Prior to joining Jones Valley Teaching Farm, Amanda’s roles have included: Assistant Director at the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Assistant Vice President of Community Health & Wellness at the United Way of Central Alabama, and Marketing Manager at Cooking Light Magazine. She serves on the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama’s and Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development (ISED)’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Nicole Taylor is a seasoned public health policy executive with over 18 years of experience in health equity, Medicaid policy, and program development. She has led large-scale initiatives focused on Medicaid modernization, value-based care, and provider network management, working with state and federal regulators, healthcare providers, and community leaders to drive systemic change and improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Dr. Taylor has held leadership roles at the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and the National Council for Negro Women (NCNW). She holds a Doctorate in Health Sciences from Campbell University and a Master of Public Health in Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Monique Weeks works with CW Williams Community Health Center as the Director of Outreach Engagement and Transportation. She has a master’s in business administration with extensive experience in public health and education. She has dedicated her career to ensuring children and families in need receives acceptable and affordable services through creating needed programs, researching available resources, enhancing community networks and expanding access to care, particularly for under-sourced populations and communities that lack critical services. Monique believes access to information is key for the betterment of the whole person – physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and financially, so she continues to work hand-in-hand with community partners to make a real difference where it’s most needed.
Favorite Quote: “The progress of the world will call for the best that all of us have to give” – Mary McLeod Bethune.
Dwayne Wharton, M.Ed. is a Philadelphia-based health and equity advocate, consultant, and nonprofit leader with deep experience advancing equitable policy and community-centered systems change. He is the Founder & Principal of Just Strategies, a mission-driven consulting firm that supports organizations and communities in advancing equity-centered practices, advocacy, governance modernization, and leadership development.
Dwayne has held senior leadership roles in prominent nonprofit organizations, including serving as Director of External Affairs at The Food Trust, where he led local, state, and national health equity advocacy efforts, and as National Deputy Director at Friends of the Children. He began his career as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer and is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader.
He has served in civic leadership positions as Vice-Chair of the City of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Commission on African-American Males and Chair of the Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council Food & Health Committee, helping advance policy and systems approaches to equitable food access and improved community health outcomes.
Dwayne currently serves as a board member of the Council on Black Health and works closely with the Center for Urban and Racial Equity (CURE) as a Senior Advisor, supporting research, strategy, and systems transformation efforts focused on racial equity and public health.
He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Temple University and completed the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr College. Through his consulting, board service, and civic leadership, Dwayne remains committed to building healthier, more just, and community-driven systems.
Melicia Whitt-Glover, PhD is Chief Executive Officer for the Council on Black Health, Inc. The Council’s mission is to develop and promote solutions that achieve health in Black communities. She is also President and CEO of Gramercy Research Group. Gramercy Research Group’s mission is to positively impact and improve the lives of individuals and communities by addressing health and related issues.
For over 25 years, Dr. Whitt-Glover has been engaged in research and evaluation projects designed to identify effective strategies to promote adherence to national recommendations for physical activity, diet, and healthy weight gain to address disparities in chronic disease morbidity and mortality. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, national and local foundations, and local government organizations. She was a member of the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, which was a group of the country’s most accomplished physical activity and health expertise who will play a critical role in a comprehensive process, culminating with the publication of the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Dr. Whitt-Glover received her BA (Exercise Physiology, 1993) and MA (Exercise Physiology, 1996) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her Ph.D. (Epidemiology, 1999) from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Whitt-Glover completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2000 – 2002).
Black Improv Alliance: is a national network dedicated to strengthening and uplifting Black improvisers, facilitators, and theater makers. BIA builds community, expands opportunities, and champions creative equity by providing resources, connection, and advocacy for Black voices in improv and performance spaces. Through workshops, showcases, and collaborative initiatives, BIA fosters artistic growth and cultivates spaces where Black creativity thrives.
Drawnversation: turns meaningful conversations into visual stories. Through live illustration and creative facilitation, they capture ideas, emotions, and connections in real time — bringing clarity, engagement, and joy to events, workshops, and collaborative spaces.
DJ Jordance: spins with purpose and pulse, crafting unforgettable musical experiences for private events throughout Houston and Dallas. Known for engaging crowds and setting the tone for celebrations, Jordance combines local roots with a professional approach to event entertainment
Jeanine’s Cakes: is a family-owned bakery rooted in Southern tradition and a passion for exceptional pound cake. The story began with Jeannie Gray of Elberton, Georgia, who perfected her signature moist and fluffy pound cake recipe in 1945, sharing it with friends and family long before it became a beloved brand. Today, her grandson Steven Gray carries on that legacy, handcrafting gourmet pound cakes in a variety of flavors and sizes made from the freshest ingredients. What started as a treasured family recipe has grown into a business that serves everyday treats and special occasions alike, honoring Jeannie’s memory with every cake.
Mixology by Michael. Michael Lischke is a 33-year veteran administrator and faculty leader in academic medicine, including 29 years at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He currently serves as Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education, Richard Janeway, MD Distinguished Director of Northwest Area Health Education Center, Associate Professor of Family & Community Medicine, and Adjunct Professor in the Maya Angelou Center for Healthy Communities. Recognized across North Carolina as a community leader and collaborative change agent, he brings passion to everything he does — including his service on the Council on Black Health Board of Directors. That passion extends to what we have named Mixology by Michael. For our networking session, he has crafted three original drinks designed to blend flavor, creativity, and just enough flair to spark great conversation. Cheers to leadership with range!
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church (WABC) is a historic Houston congregation with a vibrant music and worship ministry that spans generations, emphasizing praise, excellence, and spiritual connection through song and performance.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring this workshop, we have opportunities at multiple investment levels ($1,000-$10,000). Sponsorship helps make this working session accessible while connecting you with decision-makers shaping the national action plan. Contact finance@councilbh.org for details.
This webinar, presented by Dr. Olivia Affuso and Dr. Pamela Bowen, explores the vital link between blood sugar control and brain health. This webinar will discuss disparities in the aging population, examine the crucial role of managing blood sugar levels in maintaining brain health, and learn more about the Brain Health Advocacy Mission (BHAM) Study and the impact of diabetes on cognitive function.
Young adulthood is a period of high risk for excessive weight gain and development of obesity due to pregnancy and postpartum weight retention. Women often face multiple responsibilities which prevent their participation in lifestyle interventions, increasing health inequities among women of color that contribute to obesity disparities. This presentation will describe lessons learned from a longstanding academic research partnership with a national home visiting organization that offers a model for reaching women and achieving real world lifestyle change.
The ability to address the high rates of childhood obesity in black communities will depend in part on how healthful, lower-calorie foods are priced relative to less healthful, higher-calorie alternatives. This webinar will highlight AACORN’s recently published research with Black Americans from four cities on how food prices impact what foods they buy.
The benefits of physical activity for preventing and treating chronic diseases, including diabetes, are well established. Self-report instruments suggest that African Americans engage in less leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) than other population subgroups; however, objectively measured physical activity suggests that African Americans may be more active, overall. During this webinar we will discuss differences in physical activity patterns obtained from self-report and objective measures of physical activity, and the impact of these assessments on public health recommendations and campaigns. We will also describe specific benefits of LTPA and efforts to address disparities in LTPA in African American populations.
Highlights AACORN research that explored perceptions of targeted food and beverage marketing practices among food retailers and policymakers serving Black communities. Interviews were conducted in Chicago, IL and Birmingham, AL. Presenters will highlight insights from these key decision makers and discuss implications of the study results for efforts to improve the healthfulness of food marketed to Black Americans.
This presentation will illuminate and discuss assumptions associated with faith-oriented interventions that can be incommensurate with the theological and operational contexts of churches and other faith institutions. Faith settings are logical as potential venues for lifestyle change interventions related to weight management and diabetes control in black communities. Addressing these and other assumptions can lead to improvements in intervention effectiveness, uptake, and sustainability.
The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) provided strong evidence that modest weight loss could reduce the onset of diabetes by half, among persons at high risk for diabetes. In DPP and other intense behavioral weight loss interventions Black participants lose clinically significant amounts of weight, but among Black women, weight loss outcomes are generally among the lowest. This webinar will present research summarizing the weight loss outcomes of Black Americans (mainly women) participating in trials of DPP adaptations and then highlight more recent studies that suggest new approaches to designing behavioral weight loss approaches for Black Americans that show promise in improving observed weight loss outcomes.
Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are leading causes of death for Black men that have been linked with obesity and obesogenic behaviors such as unhealthy eating, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, sedentary behavior and physical inactivity. Strategies to address obesity among Black Americans regularly enroll more women than men and few rigorously designed studies have identified healthy strategies to promote weight management, control or loss in Black men. During this webinar, Dr. Griffith will describe some of the challenges with how health researchers and practitioners frame Black men’s chronic disease risk, motivate Black men to engage in healthier behavior, and implement interventions to address obesity, diabetes and related health issues. He will discuss some promising qualitative, quantitative and intervention research and lessons learned that suggest new strategies to promote healthy weight loss among Black men.
The prevalence of obesity in the United States has been steadily increasing over the last few decades. Black women have a high prevalence of obesity and severe obesity. An individual’s perception of body size might differ based on what is thought to be “normal” weight in their reference group or sociocultural context and limit weight control motivations or success. This webinar will share findings from a literature review focused on examining the significance of the association between body image and obesity in Black women. The presentation will identify cultural influences, address salient themes, highlight gaps in the literature, and discuss the importance of incorporating body image issues in public health solutions for prevention and control of obesity and related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.
This presentation will explore the state of the literature on diabetes prevention and weight loss interventions for African American populations. It will also discuss two models of diabetes prevention translation interventions aimed at Black and Latino men and participants receiving services from Food Banks.
There is a high prevalence of obesity among African American adults in the US population. While obesity treatment is generally challenging, African Americans may face additional challenges in pursuit of effective treatment options. This presentation will review what we know about the effectiveness of obesity treatment and its impact on associated outcomes in African Americans.
Black women have a higher prevalence of obesity than any other major demographic group in the United States. Additionally, black women tend to lose less weight than their white counterparts when engaging in obesity treatment regardless of modality. Reasons for differences in obesity prevalence and weight loss outcomes are not fully understood and warrant further exploration. This presentation will explore psychological factors that are associated with weight management among black women in the Deep South with a particular focus on the roles of stress and depression in obesity and obesity-related health outcomes.
Young adulthood is a period of high risk for excessive weight gain and development of obesity due to pregnancy and postpartum weight retention. Women often face multiple responsibilities which prevent their participation in lifestyle interventions, increasing health inequities among women of color that contribute to obesity disparities. This presentation will describe lessons learned from a longstanding academic research partnership with a national home visiting organization that offers a model for reaching women and achieving real world lifestyle change.
Dr. Singleton will present current evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of several local and national strategies to expand healthy food retail in low-income black communities. Furthermore, she will discuss findings from studies that evaluated the impact of these strategies on healthy food availability, food purchasing behavior, diet, and health. Dr. Singleton is an assistant professor of community health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research examines relationships between healthy food retail, food purchasing, and dietary intake in low-income communities.
African-American women are disproportionately affected with a sedentary lifestyle, high body weight, and increased risk for stress-related chronic diseases. Yoga can be an effective strategy to address adverse health outcomes by decreasing sedentary behavior and stress; however little research has been conducted to explore its effect in African-American women. This presentation will review the existing literature on the benefits of yoga and explore the potential of yoga to address health outcomes in African-American women.
Preschool-age children from low socioeconomic environments tend to have low physical activity levels. In the US, approximately 61% of preschool-age children spend most of their day in non-parental childcare settings such as preschool centers, making this an ideal setting to intervene on their physical activity levels. A significant proportion of physical activity interventions targeting preschool centers have been stand-alone programs and have been implemented by trained external staff, which is not a viable model. For a physical activity program to be viable and sustainable, the program must be integrated into the preschool day and implemented by preschool teachers. This presentation will describe the characteristics of successful preschool-based physical activity interventions. The majority of the presentation will focus on lessons learned from implementing teacher-led physical activity interventions in preschool-age children from low socioeconomic environments.
One major contributor to excess weight gain is the high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Increasing access to water and other healthy beverages is one viable strategy to reduce excess weight gain. Nationally, in 2012, 26% of adults reported consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., regular soda, fruit drinks, or both) ≥1 times daily. In 2014, consumption of SSBs at least once per day was highest among Black American adults aged 20-39 (77%), those of parenting age. Black youth have significantly higher total beverage consumption from soft drinks (30%) as compared with other children (as low as 9%). For all of these reasons, promoting healthy beverages throughout childhood and adolescence is a public health concern. This webinar aims to describe the national recommendations and resources for healthy beverage consumption among Black youth. Participants will: understand the effects on sugar-sweetened beverages on the health of Black youth, identify best practice recommendations to promote healthy beverages to Black youth, identify credible sources of information to promote healthy beverage consumption, and assess alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages to consume healthy beverages.
Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in diabetes-related outcomes persist. There is a need for effective interventions that facilitate diabetes self-management while also acknowledging the social context in which patients are trying to self-manage. We will present results from our NIDDK-funded two-year randomized pilot trial, Bridge to Health/Puente a la Salud, as well as lessons learned.
Racial disparities in weight status during the childbearing window have long-lasting implications for racial disparities in obesity over the life course. Neighborhood context is a key multilevel determinant of maternal weight status during and after childbearing. However, the multidimensional nature of neighborhood contexts is often not captured in a comprehensive way. Doing so would facilitate a more complex understanding of how neighborhoods impact on health beyond simple additive accumulations of individual factors across the social, physical, and built environment. It can also improve insight into how neighborhoods can be leveraged to enhance the effectiveness of interventions targeting maternal weight status. This talk will explore insights from my research using composite measures of neighborhood opportunity access in relation to racial/ethnic disparities in key weight-related maternal health outcomes, including gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention. The talk will conclude by proposing systems-based methods as a next step in continuing to capture the complex and dynamic aspects of neighborhood context in ways that can facilitate translation of evidence into action to improve Black maternal health.
The limited success in the prevention of diabetes and other chronic diseases and the related efforts to achieve health equity reflects a lack of knowledge about which programs and policies can effectively reach underserved racial/ethnic minority and low-resource populations. Implementation of programs and policies outside of health care settings (i.e., in community settings such as schools and childcare centers, worksites, social service organizations, and religious organizations) has high potential in this respect. However, unique challenges arise from the fact that primary missions, capacity, cultures, and values in such settings are not centered on physical health or health services delivery. This webinar will present a review of implementation research in community settings and highlight lessons learned to guide future research and practice in diverse settings and geographies.
Disparities in obesity prevalence and weight loss treatment affecting Black women persist. This is a barrier to improving health risks and outcomes in weight-related conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Black women’s provision of care to family and non-kin networks may be a barrier to achieving weight control. Examining the multiple caregiver roles, a sociocultural factor among Black women engaged in a behavioral weight loss intervention may indicate the role of such context on behavior change and weight. In this talk, Dr. Blackman Carr will discuss her work and insights surrounding Black women’s caregiving on dietary and physical activity behaviors and weight while pursuing weight loss. The webinar will also indicate potential directions for future efforts to address obesity and improve weight loss in treatment-seeking Black women. Subscribe to our channel for similar content!
African diaspora dance in public health and health care is positioned to have far-reaching implications as a tool for achieving health equity. This webinar will present African diaspora dance as a cultural determinant of health and discuss the role of African diaspora dancers as cultural bearers and trusted messengers for health promotion in the Black community. Subscribe to our channel for similar content!
Despite increased funding allocated for health and physical education (PE) programs through Every Student Succeeds Act, disparities in school-based physical activity programming persist with low-resource schools less likely to offer recess, have a certified PE teacher, or provide after-school sports programming, compared to higher-resource schools. Classroom-based physical activity interventions hold great potential for reducing physical activity disparities at school by providing children with 19 minutes of in-class activity every day (approximately two-thirds of the school-based recommendation of 30 minutes). Yet, low rates of treatment fidelity (the extent to which an intervention is delivered as conceived and planned) have been observed in low-resource schools, resulting in children accumulating less than 5 minutes of daily in-class activity. There is a critical need to develop classroom-based physical activity interventions that are tailored to context, to maximize fidelity and motivate behavior change in students toward increased activity levels. In the absence of such tailored programs, classroom-based interventions have the potential to perpetuate existing disparities in physical activity participation among low-income children. Today’s webinar will highlight the successes of a school-based physical activity program tailored for implementation in low-resource settings and how this same program was adapted for dissemination in the home environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly expanded the use of telemedicine, remote diagnosis and treatment of patients using telecommunication technology, for care delivery. Telemedicine has appeared especially promising in the management of chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which require consistent monitoring and adjustment to be optimally controlled. This webinar will provide a review of the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of telemedicine on diabetes outcomes and on disparities in diabetes care, identify the current gaps in knowledge with regard to delivery of diabetes care via telemedicine, and discuss barriers to telemedicine that can exacerbate known disparities in diabetes outcomes. Dr. Batch will conclude by discussing opportunities for future research that can inform clinical care and reduce disparities in diabetes.
Among ethnic groups in the United States, African Americans continue to be among those with notably low life expectancy and high overall rates of chronic illness, including diabetes. It is well documented that diabetes self-management decreases the severity of symptoms, slows the progression of disease trajectory, and increases the quality of life. However, socio-economic factors and the stress of structural racism continue to strongly influence health equity and disease disparities which, in turn, may interfere with self-management. While interventions focused on clinical targets have reduced the overall disease burden, they have failed to eliminate racial and geographic disparities in diabetes. To that end, there is an urgent need for sustainable interventions devoted to increasing health equity and the self-management of diabetes in African Americans. Today’s webinar will highlight the successes and challenges of a program of research dedicated to the self-management of diabetes among African Americans — including recruitment and retention — as well as discuss the next steps in practice and research. Subscribe to our channel for similar content!
In this webinar, we dive into the research and experiences of Black Americans who have successfully maintained healthy eating and physical activity behaviors for extended periods of time (more than 6 months). By understanding their strategies, we can develop intervention approaches that effectively promote health and reduce health disparities. Don’t miss out on these valuable insights that can transform the way we approach behavior change. Subscribe now and join the conversation!
Join us for an eye-opening session that delves into the transformative power of the Citizen/Community Scientist approach in improving community-led research and addressing health disparities. Article 5 of the Council on Black Health’s Black Health Bill of Rights highlights the importance of reclaiming our power and autonomy to transform our health. In this episode, we’ll provide an insightful overview of the Citizen/Community Scientist approach, developed in collaboration with Project Brotherhood. Discover how this approach can revolutionize the recruitment and engagement of diverse populations in the All of Us research program, a groundbreaking NIH-funded initiative involving communities. Find out how the Citizen/Community Scientist approach can impact your own research endeavors and contribute to sustainable solutions for improving health and reducing disparities. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in the movement for change. Subscribe now and join the conversation!
