Featured Panel Discussion:
Unlocking Community Health Treasures: Mapping Our Collective Strength: Community health assets, including skills, knowledge, social networks, and local
organizations, are vital building blocks for improving population well-being and addressing
health inequalities. By leveraging these assets through authentic partnerships and
collaborative initiatives, hospitals, health systems, and community organizations
can create concrete conditions for healthier communities and drive meaningful progress
on shared health priorities.
Panelists:
&²Ô²ú²õ±è;• Petrina Martin Cherry, Vice President of Community Engagement and External Affairs, Boston Medical Center
Health System
&²Ô²ú²õ±è;• Dr. Michael Curry, Esq., President & CEO, Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
&²Ô²ú²õ±è;• Juan Lopera, Chief Community and Health Impact Officer, Beth Israel Lahey Health
&²Ô²ú²õ±è;• Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health, City of Boston
Other panel discussions include:
The Wounds We Don’t See: Reclaiming Mental Health from Trauma to Triumph: This panel dives deep into the often-unseen psychological wounds youth and young
adult carry - wounds inflicted by racism, poverty, family loss, school pushout, criminalization,
and historical oppression. It asks: What happens when the systems meant to protect
are the very sources of pain? And more importantly: How do we move from trauma-informed
to trauma-transformed care that centers youth as architects of their healing?
Intersecting Identities, Invisible Struggles: The Mental Health Realities of Women
of Color in Academia and the Workplace: This panel examines the compounded impact of racism, sexism, and classism on the
mental health of women of color, particularly in high-stress environments like academia,
corporate spaces, and healthcare. The session will highlight both lived experiences
and evidence-based strategies for institutional support and reform.
Breaking the Silence: Black Men, Mental Health, and Healing: This panel brings together Black men from diverse backgrounds to engage in an open
and powerful conversation about mental health in Black communities. Panelists will
explore the cultural, historical, and systemic barriers to emotional wellness, share
personal and professional insights, and discuss strategies for healing, resilience,
and collective care. This session aims to dismantle stigma, affirm vulnerability,
and foster intergenerational dialogue around mental well-being.
Divine Resilience: Spirituality as a Mental Health Lifeline: Spirituality plays a crucial role in health outcomes, with research demonstrating
its positive impact on mental and physical well-being. This would include lower mortality
rates and improved coping mechanisms for patients with serious illnesses. Spiritual
practices and community participation are associated with greater longevity, reduced
depression, decreased substance use, and enhanced quality of life across diverse patient
populations.
