HCN Global is expanding its Leadership for a Culture of Health webinar series with a new installment developed in partnership with the Society for Health Communication (SHC). This second series will convene health communicators, community leaders, and advocates to examine the structural barriers hindering access to preventive care and maternal health, and to explore how communications can help communities overcome these obstacles and drive systemic change.
The initiative is part of HCN Global’s broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud program, which originated as a multicultural, bilingual multimedia effort addressing social determinants of health affecting Latino and Black communities across the United States. Series Two builds on the first installment, which focused on recognizing and addressing structural racism’s impact on health. The upcoming sessions will tackle two critical areas where systemic barriers continue to produce inequitable outcomes: preventive care and maternal and reproductive health. Additionally, the series will examine 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.”
The two webinars, hosted by SHC in partnership with HCN Global, are free and open to health communicators, community leaders, health workers, and advocates. The first session, “Preventive Care & Healthcare Navigation,” is scheduled for August 28, 2026, and will address how 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 resources. Registration is available at Zoom registration link.
The second session, “Maternal & Reproductive Health,” will take place in November 2026 and will focus on disparities in maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black and Latina mothers and infants. It will examine communications and systems-level approaches to support healthier outcomes. Further details and speaker announcements will be made closer to the date.
This partnership leverages HCN Global’s expertise in culturally grounded health communications and community engagement alongside SHC’s national network of health communication professionals. The collaboration will extend the series’ reach across professional and community networks, including La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS, and provide 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, Executive Director of SHC. “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 that house resources for ongoing work. Resources for Latino and Black audiences are available at LatinEQUIS and Melanin Thriving. Additional Spanish-language resources are available at La Red Hispana.
