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 will convene health communicators, community leaders, health workers, and advocates to examine structural barriers to preventive care and maternal health, and to explore practical communications strategies that help communities navigate these barriers and advocate for change.
This initiative is part of HCN Global's broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud program, which began as a multicultural, bilingual multimedia effort addressing social determinants of health in Latino and Black communities across the United States. Series Two builds on 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. The next phase focuses on two additional areas where systemic barriers drive inequitable outcomes: access to preventive care and maternal and reproductive health. The series also examines how chronic stress and systemic barriers affect 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,” said Alison Rodden, CEO of HCN Global. “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.”
Hosted by SHC in partnership with HCN Global, the two webinars pair expert perspectives with practical frameworks and real-world examples. 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,” will be held on 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 to reduce barriers, improve navigation, and connect people with trusted information and resources. Registration is available at this link.
The second webinar, “Maternal & Reproductive Health,” is scheduled for November 2026. It 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. Speaker and registration details will be announced closer to the session.
The partnership extends the series' reach across professional and community networks, including La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS, while connecting participants with resources for continued learning and action beyond the live sessions. 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,” said Dana Chomenko, MA, PMP, Executive Director of the Society for Health Communication. “This partnership with HCN Global gives our members culturally grounded examples and tools they can use, not just another conversation about the problem.”
HCN Global has dedicated webpages housing resources for continued 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/.
