HCN Global is expanding its Leadership for a Culture of Health webinar series with a second installment developed in partnership with the Society for Health Communication (SHC). The new series aims to bring together health communicators, community leaders, health workers, and advocates to explore structural barriers to preventive care and maternal health—and practical ways communications can help communities navigate those barriers and advocate for change.
Leadership for a Culture of Health is part of HCN Global's broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud initiative, which originally began as a multicultural, bilingual multimedia program addressing social determinants of health affecting Latino and Black communities across the United States. Series Two builds on the first installment launched earlier this year, which helped community leaders recognize, discuss, and address structural racism and its impact on health. The next phase turns to two additional areas where systemic barriers continue to drive inequitable outcomes: access to preventive care and maternal and reproductive health. Across both topics, the series 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," says Alison Rodden, CEO of HCN Global.
Hosted by the Society for Health Communication in partnership with HCN Global, the two webinars 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, scheduled for August 28, 2026, focuses on Preventive Care & Healthcare Navigation. This session will examine how factors including health coverage, language access, transportation, and immigration-related concerns can 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 https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nKtYoT6uSYWUbJqX6JrAnQM.
The second webinar, scheduled for November 2026, will address Maternal & Reproductive Health. This session will explore disparities in maternal health outcomes, with particular attention to Black and Latina mothers and infants, and examine communications and systems-level approaches that support healthier outcomes. Speakers and registration details will be announced closer to the session.
The partnership brings together HCN Global's longstanding experience in culturally grounded health communications and community engagement with SHC's national network of health communication professionals. Through the partnership, SHC and HCN Global will extend the reach of the series across professional and community networks, including La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS, while connecting participants with resources that can support continued learning and action beyond the live sessions. Both webinars will also 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," says Dana Chomenko, MA, PMP, Executive Director of the Society for Health Communication.
HCN Global has dedicated webpages that continue to house resources designed to help community leaders and organizers continue this work beyond the live sessions. Resources for Latino and Black audiences are available through LatinEQUIS at wearelatinequis.com/leadership-for-a-culture-of-health and Melanin Thriving at melaninthriving.com/leadership-for-culture-of-health. Additional Spanish-language resources can be found on La Red Hispana at laredhispana.org/liderazgo-para-una-cultura-de-salud.
