HCN Global is expanding its Leadership for a Culture of Health webinar series with a new program developed in partnership with the Society for Health Communication (SHC). The series will convene health communicators, community leaders, health workers, and advocates to examine structural barriers to preventive care and maternal health, and to explore how communications can help communities navigate these challenges and advocate for change.
The initiative builds on HCN Global's broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud effort, which began as a multicultural, bilingual multimedia program addressing social determinants of health in Latino and Black communities across the United States. The new series follows the first Leadership for a Culture of Health installment, launched earlier this year to help community leaders recognize and address structural racism's impact on health. This next phase shifts focus to two areas where systemic barriers continue to drive inequitable outcomes: access to preventive care and maternal and reproductive health. The webinars will also examine the effects of chronic stress and systemic barriers on mental health, well-being, and community resilience.
“Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud has always been about turning awareness into action, and this next peer-to-peer learning series does that. Community leaders and health communicators are on the front lines of these conversations promoting equitable solutions every day. Our job is to make sure they have the tools, the language, and confidence to meet the moment,” said Alison Rodden, CEO of HCN Global.
The two webinars, hosted by SHC in partnership with HCN Global, will pair expert perspectives with practical frameworks and real-world examples that participants can apply in their own organizations and communities. Both sessions are free and open to health communicators, community leaders, health workers, advocates, and others working with communities affected by health inequities.
The first webinar, “Preventive Care & Healthcare Navigation,” is scheduled for August 28, 2026. It will examine how factors such as health coverage, language access, transportation, and immigration-related concerns affect access to preventive care. Participants will explore ways community leaders and health communicators can help reduce barriers, improve navigation, and connect people with trusted information and resources. Registration is available at Zoom Webinar Registration.
The second webinar, “Maternal & Reproductive Health,” is slated for November 2026. It will explore disparities in maternal health outcomes, with particular attention to Black and Latina mothers and infants, and will examine communications and systems-level approaches that support healthier outcomes. Speaker and registration details will be announced closer to the session.
The partnership leverages HCN Global's experience in culturally grounded health communications and community engagement, combined with SHC's national network of health communication professionals. Through this collaboration, the series will extend its reach across professional and community networks, including La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS. Both webinars will be recorded and made available on demand.
“Preventive care and maternal health are two of the clearest examples of how structural barriers show up in everyday outcomes — and health communicators have a real role to play in closing those gaps. This partnership with HCN Global gives our members culturally grounded examples and tools they can use, not just another conversation about the problem,” said Dana Chomenko, Executive Director of the Society for Health Communication.
HCN Global has dedicated webpages that continue to house resources for community leaders and organizers. Resources for Latino and Black audiences are available through LatinEQUIS at LatinEQUIS Leadership for a Culture of Health and Melanin Thriving at Melanin Thriving Leadership for Culture of Health. Additional Spanish-language resources can be found on La Red Hispana at La Red Hispana Liderazgo para una Cultura de Salud.
