HCN Global is expanding its Leadership for a Culture of Health webinar series with a new partnership with the Society for Health Communication (SHC), aiming to address structural barriers in preventive care and maternal health. The second series will bring together health communicators, community leaders, health workers, and advocates to explore how communications can help communities navigate these barriers and advocate for change.
The initiative, part of HCN Global's broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud program, 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 installment, which focused on structural racism and its health impacts, and now turns to access to preventive care and maternal and reproductive health, areas where systemic barriers continue to drive inequitable outcomes. The series will also examine the effects of chronic stress on mental health 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.”
The two webinars, hosted by SHC in partnership with HCN Global, pair expert perspectives with practical frameworks and real-world examples. Both sessions are free and open to those working with communities affected by health inequities. The first webinar, “Preventive Care & Healthcare Navigation,” is scheduled for August 28, 2026, and will examine how factors like health coverage, language access, transportation, and immigration-related concerns affect access to preventive care. Participants will learn ways to reduce barriers and improve navigation. Registration is available at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nKtYoT6uSYWUbJqX6JrAnQM.
The second webinar, “Maternal & Reproductive Health,” scheduled for November 2026, will explore disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black and Latina mothers and infants, and examine communications and systems-level approaches to support healthier outcomes. Speaker details and registration will be announced closer to the session.
The partnership leverages HCN Global's experience in culturally grounded health communications and SHC's national network of professionals. Together, they will extend the series' reach across professional and community networks, including La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS, and provide resources for continued learning. Both webinars will be recorded and 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, Executive Director of SHC. “This partnership gives our members culturally grounded examples and tools they can use, not just another conversation about the problem.”
HCN Global has dedicated webpages with resources for Latino and Black audiences, available at wearelatinequis.com/leadership-for-a-culture-of-health and melaninthriving.com/leadership-for-culture-of-health. Spanish-language resources can be found at laredhispana.org/liderazgo-para-una-cultura-de-salud.
