Breaking Down Barriers: Advancing Health Equity through Community Collaboration at the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference

The AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Kansas City, Mo was a resounding success. Over 1,000 leaders from hospitals, health systems, and community and public health organizations converged on the city for a full day of breakout sessions, table conversations, networking opportunities, and community immersion experiences.

Day 2 of the conference featured a range of breakout sessions that tackled topics such as transforming maternal health care for Black women, addressing food insecurity through hospital-based programs that prioritize community collaboration, and driving change through the Rise to Health Coalition. These sessions provided valuable insights and strategies for advancing health equity in communities.

But it wasn’t just about informative breakout sessions – attendees also had the chance to participate in community immersion experiences that allowed them to see firsthand the impact of health disparities and the importance of community collaboration in addressing them. Visits to places like the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Operation Breakthrough, Uzazi Village and BlaqOut helped participants understand how important it is to work together to improve healthcare outcomes.

One of the highlights of the conference was a performance by Pillsbury House Theatre from Minneapolis titled “Breaking Ice.” The show explored diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and sparked meaningful conversations among attendees. Overall, it was an inspiring event that brought together leaders from across different sectors with a common goal – to advance health equity in their communities.