Anti-Racist & Health Equity Series
This curated collection of sessions highlights diverse voices, evidence-based insights, and actionable strategies that promote health equity across communities. From addressing Black maternal and infant mortality to examining the political determinants of brain health, these events highlight critical conversations and practical tools for creating a more just and inclusive public health system. Whether you’re exploring the life course approach to equity, integrating anti-racist frameworks into policy, or navigating community resilience during funding crises, each session offers insight, inspiration, and action toward meaningful change.
Brandy A. Davis, LMSW
Session 1: Community in Times of Funding Crisis
May 29th, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
When public health budgets tighten, communities with
the fewest resources often bear the greatest burden. In
this timely session, Brandy Davis explores how to uphold
anti-racist practices and equity-centered public health
strategies during funding shortages. Learn how to build
trust amid uncertainty, advocate for equitable allocation
of resources, and navigate ethical grantmaking and
participatory budgeting.
Session 2: Black Maternal and
Infant Mortality
June 24th, 2025 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
In this critical session, Dr. Dawn Owens Robinson breaks
down the facts and the factors contributing to this public
health crisis. With a focus on data from both the U.S.
and Colorado, attendees will explore World Health
Organization recommendations and examine what
meaningful, equity-based change looks like in practice.
Dr. Dawn Owens Robinson
Obiora Okoye
Session 3: Political Determinants
of Brain Health
July 10th, 2025 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm
Brain health is more than biology—it’s political. Join
Obiora Okoye as he explores how legislation, voting
access, and structural power shape neurological well-
being across populations. This session shines a light on
the political forces driving cognitive health disparities
and equips public health professionals with advocacy
tools to push for policy changes.
Session 6: Cultivating Empathy and
Equity in Public Health Practice
October 23rd, 2025 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
In the fight for health equity, how we listen matters. This
transformative session equips public health
professionals with the tools to communicate more
effectively with BIPOC communities, while developing a
deeper empathy for the layered injustices these
populations face.
Katherine Newell Okojie
Dr. Kelet Robinson
Session 7: The History and Future
of Cervical Cancer
November 5th, 2025 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Cervical cancer is more than a clinical condition—it's a
public health case study shaped by science, stigma, and
systemic inequity. This session traces the evolution of
our understanding of cervical cancer, from early
misconceptions to modern-day screening
recommendations. Participants will explore how societal
values and access to care have influenced prevention
efforts, and where gaps in equity remain.
Session 8: Empowering
Communities: Trauma-Informed
and Inclusive Strategies
December 2nd, 2025 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Equity isn’t one-size-fits-all—and neither are the
communities we serve. This session centers on
dismantling systemic barriers that prevent access to
equitable healthcare, especially in rural, frontier, and
under-resourced urban areas. Participants will explore
how trauma-informed and culturally responsive care can
be adapted across diverse settings to support healing
and resilience.
Fatima Kiass
Kenisha Coon
Session 9: Integrating an Antiracist
Lens into Public Health Policy
December 15th, 2025 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm
Policies shape the health of our communities—but who
benefits, and who is left behind? This session empowers
CPHA members and partners with the tools to assess
and implement public health policies through an
antiracist lens. Explore how to identify and dismantle
systemic barriers baked into policy decisions, and learn
practical strategies for crafting equitable, justice-
centered solutions.