2026 Health Equity Council Conference

Join us for a day of cross-sector collaboration, shared learning, and the kickoff of the 2026 Kent County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) – a critical tool for turning data and community insight into opportunities for deeper alignment and collective actions that advance health equity.

The second annual Health Equity Council Conference presents this year’s conference theme, Beyond the Numbers: Aligning Data and Community Dialogue for Community-Driven Change. This theme reflects the heart of the CHNA process: understanding community needs not just through quantitative data, but through the lived experiences, wisdom, and leadership of those most impacted by inequities.

Breakout sessions, panels, and keynote presentations will highlight different aspects of the community health improvement cycle—from equitable data practices to community-led solutions, to cross-sector collaboration and policy alignment. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how to engage in the 2026 CHNA process, along with practical tools to better understand community needs, center lived experiences and take coordinated action within their organizations and across partners to advance health equity.

Info: Sessions: 1. Data to Action: CHNA Data as a Pathway to Health Equity 2. Lifting Local Voices: Community Driven Solutions and Grassroots Projects 3. Stronger together: Aligning Efforts for Greater Impact

Info: To close out our time together, we will hear from a panel of representatives from local community-based organizations (CBOs) and system-level leaders—including funders, health system executives, and local government representatives to connect the themes explored through the day and examine how they intersect to advance health equity. Through candid dialogue, panelists will share their focus areas, decision-making frameworks, and opportunities for collaboration, helping to demystify how community insight reaches system leadership. This dynamic conversation will highlight practical pathways for deeper alignment and collective action, offering a powerful conclusion to our time together and a forward-looking vision for driving equitable change in our community.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher GVSU Master of Public Health Program