Authentic community engagement is the foundation for understanding and addressing the social, economic, and environmental drivers of population health and health inequities. “Community” can mean many things, from people connected by geography to those united by shared identities.
When community members are actively engaged as collaborators in planning, implementing, and evaluating health initiatives, the insights and solutions that emerge are more relevant and sustainable. The result is real progress toward better health and well-being for all.
To bring this work to life, the AAMC Center for Health Justice is launching a community engagement webinar series featuring six community engagement stories that truly “walk the talk.” The series begins on June 25, and registration is now open for all sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be part of these timely and impactful conversations. Reserve your spot today!
Session 1:
Thursday, June 25, 2026
2–3:15 p.m. ET
This webinar brings together two powerful examples of community-driven health partnerships that demonstrate how trust, shared leadership, and cultural grounding can transform outcomes.
The session will highlight the nearly decade-long Duke AME Zion HEAL (Health Equity Advocates and Liaisons) partnership, a collaboration built on deep relationships between AME Zion faith leaders and Duke Health’s CERI (Community Engaged Research Initiative) team. Rooted in mutual respect and shared values, this collaboration has cocreated culturally relevant health-education programs, expanded access to trusted information, increased research participation, and generated significant health impact as well as millions in research funding.
In parallel, the webinar will explore Health Commons, a partnership between the University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and Houston’s historic Third Ward. Developed in response to long-standing marginalization and community distrust of institutions, Health Commons centers on shared power and co-leadership from the outset. By honoring the neighborhood’s rich cultural legacy and prioritizing authentic engagement, the initiative works to rebuild trust and create sustainable, community-centered change.
Session 2:
Thursday, July 16, 2026
2–3:15 p.m. ET
This webinar highlights two innovative collaborations that demonstrate how community leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and a commitment to equity can reshape systems and improve health outcomes.
The session will feature the partnership between Harvard Medical School’s Mental Health For All Lab and aves Mental Health, which centers lived experience as a driving force for change. Through programs such as the EMPOWER Peer Support Initiative and the Experts by Experience Consultancy, individuals with lived experience are not only included but compensated and empowered to shape research, policy, education, and workforce development — advancing health justice and more equitable mental health care on a global scale.
The webinar will also explore the ThriveOn Collaboration in Milwaukee. This cross-sector collaboration formed in response to social unrest to address the root causes of health disparities. Bringing together the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and Royal Capital, the collaboration focuses on social, economic, and environmental drivers of health. Its flagship project, ThriveOn King, has transformed a historic space into a vibrant community hub, offering housing, early childhood education, workforce opportunities, health and wellness resources, and spaces for connection. With thousands of visitors and hundreds of events in its first year, it stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when institutions invest in communities and meet people where they are.
Session 3:
Thursday, September 17, 2026
2–3:15 p.m. ET
This webinar showcases two compelling community engagement stories that demonstrate how lived experience can drive transformative, system-level change.
Grounded in the understanding that health injustice is rooted in power differentials, one story traces the creation of Health Equity And Leadership (HEAL), a clinic-based community-organizing initiative operating in conjunction with Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine. Through deep engagement with communities of color in East Portland, Oregon, HEAL brought to the surface critical barriers such as lack of language access in health care, where even something as seemingly simple as medication instructions could become dangerous if not translated to the patient’s language. These community insights catalyzed a statewide coalition and ultimately led to the passage of the most inclusive medication-label-translation legislation in Oregon in 2019. Beyond policy wins, HEAL has mobilized communities to secure $67 million in additional affordable housing and to foster social connection during COVID-19 isolation. HEAL is now launching an innovative medical home for individuals returning from incarceration, all guided by community voice and leadership.
This webinar will also highlight a multi-year collaboration at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine that reimagines medical education through authentic community engagement. Developed in partnership with community advocates, individuals with lived experience, and interdisciplinary professionals, this initiative centers community members as co-educators and curriculum architects, not guest speakers. Grounded in trauma-informed principles, the curriculum integrates community-informed cases, standardized patient encounters, and longitudinal learner experiences. Shared decision-making, equitable compensation, and continuous improvement processes ensure that community voices shape all aspects of design and implementation.