2021 Policy Action Institute Networking Sessions

Tune in at noon on Friday, April 9 to join a discussion on one of the following public health topics:

1. All of Us, Health Equity and Policy Implications
   The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program aims to bring precision medicine to every community. It’s also working to create the most diverse research hub and data set for health researchers. Join Dr. Randall C. Morgan, Jr., MD, MBA, president and CEO of the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute and Dr. L. Faye Grimsley, PhD, CIH, MSPH, associate professor and head of the Department of Public Health Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana and Director of Xavier’s MPH health equity degree program to discuss the policy needed for health equity.
2. Spring Into Action: Using Your Voice as a Public Health Advocate
   “Spring” into action as a public health advocate this April. In this breakout session, join APHA Government Relations staff and other advocates to discuss public health advocacy priorities, what makes an effective advocate and what tools you can use as part of your personal advocacy strategy.
3. Racism is a Public Health Crisis
   Inequities in the COVID-19 pandemic, uprising over police violence and the Movement for Black Lives have punctuated racism as public health crisis. Join us for a discussion about how our organizations and institutions are naming and addressing racism as a determinant of health. We ask that you approach this session with curiosity, lean into discomfort and inquire to learn.
4. Can Fiction Help Us Advance Health Policy?
   Jordan Reese of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Karen Lord, an award-winning fiction author and research consultant, will lead participants in a conversation about the power of fiction to help us see society’s problems and solutions in new ways, and advance health policy both locally and nationally. Written in 2019 for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s fiction anthology Take Us To A Better Place: Stories, Karen Lord’s prescient story “The Plague Doctors” takes place in 2079 when a mysterious illness called the grey pox is spreading all over the world. The discussion will explore how fiction can illuminate the interconnected nature of health and wellbeing, and examine how speculative fiction can help readers (including policymakers) envision a healthier future. Download the free e-book at www.rwjf.org/fiction.
5. Storytelling to Affect Change
   We all have a story to tell about the things that matter to us, and we can use those stories to affect change. Stories create connection, generate empathy and understanding, and inspire action. For “building bridges” and “creating health,” stories are the No. 1 communications tool everyone should know how to use. Starting with audience, message, and outcome desired, let’s shape your narrative with storytelling techniques that get you where you need to go.
6. Exploring a Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention
   Violence is a major issue that impacts our lives daily, causing non-fatal injuries as well as premature death. Using a comprehensive public health approach, we aim to address the underlying causes to interrupt it at its root. In this breakout session, we will engage in dialogue to discuss how best to build upon current prevention efforts to address violence with even greater intention. It will also serve as forum for us to do an internal audit of public health, ensuring that our efforts are fostering thriving, safe, equitable and healthy communities that are free from violence and ripe with opportunity.