It’s been two months since we gathered for The Center for Black Health & Equity’s (The Center) 2025 State of Black Health National Conference, which offered three days of solution-based programming to help attendees connect and strategize around navigating the current public health climate. Our theme, A Call for Health Justice, acknowledged the changing tone of federal support for public health and reenergized advocates to lean on collaboration and innovation to continue our work. We hope all who attended came away with actionable steps toward our goal of health equity for all.
SBH host Dorian “The PHuncle” Johnson’s conversational approach navigated attendees through a variety of complex topics as he highlighted how the conference “connects the dots between personal choices and systemic barriers. [SBH is a] space to inspire and be inspired—to equip people with the tools to take action and the courage to demand justice.”
Our keynote speaker, U.S. Representative Justin J. Pearson, gave a rousing call to action, underscoring the need to lean on each other to achieve health justice and position ourselves to best affect change by running for public office positions and holding our representatives accountable. His speech emphasized that we, the champions of health justice, are the movement that will drive change and to remain fired up even when outside forces work tirelessly to put us out.
Over 130 speakers joined us over the course of four days, inspiring over 400 attendees to reimagine systemic change and sharing their ongoing contributions to health equity. We held tactical clinics for attendees looking for action-based information. The topics included navigating litigation as the federal government continues to erode DEI and public health policies, using evaluation results as a funding strategy, and conducting funding research and solid grant writing.
Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley returned as a powerful closing speaker. She is the chief executive officer for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). After three days of intense discussion about public health and its challenges, Arline-Bradley gave an inspiring closing address that illuminated our shared history, culture, and knowledge to overcome our current circumstances and let our vision for health justice come to light.
Additionally, select slides from the conference sessions are available on the Whova app.
The Center is thankful for all who participated in the audience and panels. The conference would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Truth Initiative, American Cancer Society Action Network, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Compassion and Choices, The CM Group-Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Chemical Insights Research Institute, American Heart Association, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Scale Link, Black Girls Guide to Menopause, Unvarnished Project, and Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
The State of Black Health Conference will return in 2027. For information on future conferences and webinars, join our mailing list at stateofblackhealth.com.
