Schedule at a Glance

The Advocacy Summit is designed to build momentum on Saturday and Sunday, and then culminate with Hill Day on Monday when attendees can turn their knowledge into action and make their voices heard directly with policymakers.

* Breakfast, lunch and a light snack are served Sunday, but attendees are encouraged to eat lunch before Saturday afternoon sessions start.

Saturday, October 18

12 – 6 pmRegistration OpenGrand Ballroom Registration 
1 – 1:15 pmAdvocacy Summit Welcome 
Heidi Hancher-Rauch, PhD, MCHES®, SOPHE President

Framework of the Advocacy Summit 
Keely Rees, PhD, MCHES®, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
Grand Ballroom 
1:15 – 2:15 pmOpening Keynote/Plenary I: Why Advocacy Matters
Glenn E. Schneider, DrPH, MPH, The Horizon Foundation 
Moderator: Keely Rees, PhD, MCHES® 
Grand Ballroom 
2:15 – 2:30 pmBreak
2:30 pmConcurrent Session A1: Oral Session 
Reframing Misinformation: Community Voices Through Dialogue, Art & Action 
Moderator: LaVerne Partlow, MEd

Reframing Misinformation: Dialogue, Art, and Civic Engagement 
Beth Hoffman, Pittsburgh, PA 
 
Centering Community Expertise: Pathways to Inclusive Movement Building 
Danielle Melissa Joyner, MPH 
Keon Gilbert, St. Louis University 
Melody Goodman, PhD, MY 
Grand Ballroom  
2:30 pmConcurrent Session A2: Oral Session 
Advancing Youth Mental Health and Reviving Student Advocacy 

Moderator: Michelle Williams, PhD, MSPH, MPH, MCHES 

Driving Youth Mental Well-Being at the School Community Level: Using Data and Community Engagement to Reduce Social Isolation 
April Jasmine May C Ducusin 
Megan Smith 

Boise State University 
 
Planning and Promotional Changes to Restart and Grow a Student State Advocacy Event 
Anders Cedergren, PhD, CHES 
Executive 
2:30 pmConcurrent Session A3: Skill-building Workshop 
Strategic Advocacy for Public Health: Leveraging AI and the Decision Maker Matrix for Policy Impact 

Moderator: Alexis Blavos, PhD, MCHES® 

Strategic Advocacy for Public Health: Leveraging AI and the Decision Maker Matrix for Policy Impact 
Megan Williams, PhD, CHES, Texas A&M University 
Sagamore Hill 
3:30 pmPoster Sessions
P-01. Understanding Ohio’s WIC Enrollment Gap through Community Engagement 
Shelley Hill, MPH, CHES 
 
P-02. Reclaiming Power: The Equity in Public Health Initiative 
Roger S. Abim-Karmon 
 
P-03. Persistent Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Burden: Policy Gaps and the Imperative for Equity-Focused Advocacy 
Tiwana, Mannat, BDS/MPH Candidate 
 
P-04. From Policy to Practice: Seizure Safe Classrooms in Arkansas 
Britt Dorfman, MPAP

P-05. Community-Based Vaccine Advocacy for Spanish-Speaking Populations  
Debra Balandran, BA 

P-06. Messaging Matters: A Training Program to Tailor Safe Gun Ownership Messaging 
Zingg, Taylor, Ph.D., CHES® 
 
P-07. Hospital Websites: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services 
Esther Lo 
 
P-08. Nutrition Assistance Programs and Health Outcomes in CA Immigrants 
Esther Kang 
 
P-09. When and Where I Enter: A Stakeholder Analysis of Why Centering Black Women in Legislative Leadership and Policy is the Blueprint for Achieving Health Equity and Preventing Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases 
Dr. Ivorie A. Farley-Cook 
 
P-10. A Seat at the Table: Examining a Produce Prescription Program in NV 
Elika Nematian 
 
P-11. Due for Change: Disability Gaps in Perinatal Emergency Department Use 
Noah Matthew Contreras 
 
P-12. Bridging Health Gaps Through Innovation in Wastewater Surveillance 
Adam Gushgari 
Grand Ballroom Foyer 
4:30 pmHESPA Highlights Overview 
Moderator: J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD, MPH, MCHES®
Antonio J. Gardner, PhD, MS, MCHES®  

Plenary II:  Bridging the Divide: De-escalating Conflict and Leading Difficult Conversations in Public Health Advocacy 
Malynnda Stewart, PhD, BCPA, Founder and CEO of Compassionate Navigation 
Grand Ballroom 
6 pmEnd of Day 1

Sunday, October 19

7:30 am Breakfast Grand Ballroom Foyer 
7:30 am – 6 pmRegistration OpenGrand Ballroom Registration 
8 amWelcome – Day 2 Overview
William Datema, DrPH, MS, MCHES®, SOPHE CEO
Brittney Chang, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
Grand Ballroom  
8:15 – 9:15 amPlenary III: The Public Health Workforce and Communication Collaborative: Strengthening Workforce Capacity and Rebuilding Public Trust 
Brian Castrucci, DrPH 
President and CEO
de Beaumont Foundation 

Moderator: Heidi Hancher-Rauch, PhD, MCHES®   
Grand Ballroom 
9:15 amBreak 
9:30 –
10:25 am
Concurrent Session B1: Skill-building
Workshop A for Students
Moderator: May Ubeku, MPH
Grand Ballroom  
9:30 –
10:25 am
Concurrent Session B2: Skill-building
Workshop 
Elevating the Profession: Redefining Health Education in the Evolving Landscape   

Moderator: J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD, MPH, MCHES® 

Karen Mancera-Cuevas 
Marissa L. Brash, DrPH EdD MPH MS CPH 
National Health Council, Washington, DC 
Executive 
9:30 –
10:25 am
Concurrent Session B3: Lightning Talks 
Oral Session
Student-Powered Food Accessibility: Campus and Community Advocacy for Policy Change 

Moderator: Jean M. Breny, PhD, MPH 

Student-Led CalFresh Advocacy at 10 Los Angeles Institutions 
Natasha Wasim, MPH,PhD© 
Los Angeles Food Policy Council 
 
Nourishing Advocacy: Community-based Food Access Organizers Mobilize for Municipal Policy Change in New Haven, Connecticut 
Alycia Santilli, MSW 
Southern Connecticut State University 
Sagamore Hill 
9:30 –
10:25 am
Concurrent Session B4: Skill-Building Workshop 
Public Health Curriculum: The Need to Advocate 

Moderator: Alexis Blavos,, PhD, MCHES® 

JEDI in Our Public Health Curriculum: The Need to Advocate 
Alexis Blavos,, PhD, MCHES® 
SUNY Cortland
Antonio J. Gardner, PhD, MS, MCHES® 
The University of Alabama 
Dr. Jodi Brookins-Fisher, PhD, MCHES®, FESG 
Central Michigan University
Heidi Hancher-Rauch, PhD, MCHES® 
Butler University
Glenn Schneider, DrPH, MPH 
The Horizon Foundation 
Hermitage 
10:25 – 10:30 amBreak 
10:30 – 11:25 amConcurrent Session C1: Skill-building Workshop for Seasoned Advocates 
Communicating about Public Health: Tested Messaging and How to Use It 

Moderator: Alexis Blavos, PhD, MCHES® 

Communicating about Public Health: Tested Messaging and How to Use It 
Nalini Padmanabhan 
de Beaumont Foundation 
Executive  
10:30 – 11:25 amConcurrent Session C2: Skill-building Workshop for Newcomers 
In Our Fearless Era: Becoming a Local Advocacy Legend 

Moderator: Heidi Hancher-Rauch, PhD, MCHES® 

In Our Fearless Era: Becoming a Local Advocacy Legend 
Marianne Hedrick Weant, MSPH, MA  
North Carolina Alliance for Health 
Katie Dawkins, MLS 
North Carolina Alliance for Health 
Sagamore Hill 
10:30 – 11:25 amConcurrent Session C3: Lightning Talks 
Oral Session
Advancing Equity: Closing the Women’s Health-Wealth Gap & Uplifting Black Maternal Health 

Moderator: LaVerne Partlow, MEd

Advocating for Narrowing Women’s Health-Wealth Gap 
Julie Friedman, MPH, CHES 
Iris Cantor UCLA Women’s Health Education & Research Center 
 
Our Mamas, Our Mission: A Community-Driven Approach to Improving Black Maternal Health Outcomes in Mississippi Through Policy and Advocacy 
Asia Rush, MPH
Nakeitra L. Burse, DrPH 
Six Dimensions 
Hermitage 
11:25 -11:30 amBreak 
11:30 am – 12:15 pmNetworking LunchGrand Ballroom Foyer 
12:15 – 1:25 pmSkill-building Coaching Workshop 
Revisit our Ask(s) 
Heidi Hancher-Rauch, PhD, MCHES® 
Grand Ballroom 
1:25 – 1:30 pmBreak 
1:30 – 2:25 pmPlenary IV: Advocacy in Action: Role-Playing Effective and Ineffective Hill Visits 
Moderator: Brittney Chang
Alexis (Lexi) Blavos,, PhD, MCHES®
Brittney Chang
Heidi Hancher-Rauch, PhD, MCHES®
Keely Rees, PhD, MCHES®
Grand Ballroom 
2:25 – 2:30 pmBreak 
2:30 – 4 pmCoaching Tables 
Alexis (Lexi) Blavos, PhD, MCHES® 
Brittney Chang 
Gnora Mahs, Dr.PH, MPH 
Kendall Smith
J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD, MPH, MCHES® 
Executive 
4 – 4:30 pmHill Visit Schedule
Christopher Kush
, CEO, Soapbox Consulting
Luke Gliner, Soapbox Consulting
Grand Ballroom 
4:30 – 5:30 pmHill Visit Planning (Convene with state delegates)
Brittney Chang, Advocacy Summit Co-Chair
Keely Rees, PhD, MCHES®, Advocacy Summit Co-Chair
Anders Cedergren, PhD, CHES® 
Katie Wagoner, MPH, MCHES® 
Grand Ballroom 
5:30 pmWrap-Up and Closing
Brittney Chang, Advocacy Summit Co-Chair
Keely Rees, PhD, MCHES®, Advocacy Summit Co-Chair
Grand Ballroom 
5:30 pm End of Day 2

Monday, October 20

7:30 – 8:15 amGrab and Go Coffee & TeaHotel Lobby 
8:15 amAdvocacy Kick-Off and Walk to Capitol Hotel Lobby 
9 amGroup photo on the Hill in the morning U.S. Capitol 
Senate side 
9:30 amKickoff at the Hill U.S. Capitol 
10:30 am – 5 pmHill Visits U.S. Capitol 

*Times are tentative. Schedule subject to change.