09/22/2026
Thank you to everyone who joined Health Equity Initiative for our Book Event & Discussion! We were delighted to hear from co-editors and authors Renata Schiavo & Jennifer Weiss, along with three health equity champions and chapter contributors, who shared insights on the topics they contributed to Health Equity: Strategies for Action (Wiley, 2026).
It was a wonderful evening of conversation, learning, and reflection around advancing health equity.
Some key takeaways:
- Health equity is a complex topic and movement that cannot be addressed solely within the realm of public health. We need a systems-thinking approach and everyone’s engagement in addressing health inequities.
- Data and statistics reveal the story of health inequities and should be used strategically to advance health equity.
- Community-driven solutions recognize the lived experience and expertise of community members and should be prioritized in addressing health equity issues.
- The concept of a geographical community should be expanded to include not only residents, but also businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations and professionals who should contribute to the community's health and social outcomes.
- Empowering people to stay healthy means making changes and removing barriers to healthy and productive lives at the community system level, rather than "blaming the victim" and focusing solely on individual responsibility.
- Governments need to interact with community and advocacy frameworks in order to advance health equity.
Thank you to everyone who dedicated their evening to discuss health equity and social justice!
