HCN Global has announced an expansion of its Leadership for a Culture of Health webinar series through a new partnership with the Society for Health Communication (SHC). The second series will focus on structural barriers to preventive care and maternal health, aiming to equip health communicators, community leaders, and advocates with practical tools to address these challenges.
The initiative is part of HCN Global's broader Culture of Health / la Cultura de Salud program, which began as a multicultural, bilingual multimedia effort targeting social determinants of health in Latino and Black communities across the United States. The first series, launched earlier this year, helped participants recognize and address structural racism's impact on health. The new series builds on that foundation by turning to two additional areas where systemic barriers drive inequitable outcomes: access to preventive care and maternal and reproductive health.
According to Alison Rodden, CEO of HCN Global, the series is designed to turn awareness into action. "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," she said.
The webinars, hosted by SHC in partnership with HCN Global, will pair expert perspectives with practical frameworks and real-world examples. Both sessions are free and open to health communicators, community leaders, health workers, advocates, and others working with communities affected by health inequities.
The first webinar, "Preventive Care & Healthcare Navigation," is scheduled for August 28, 2026. It will examine how factors such as 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 information and resources. Registration is available at this link.
The second webinar, "Maternal & Reproductive Health," is planned for November 2026. It will address disparities in maternal health outcomes, with particular attention to Black and Latina mothers and infants, and examine communications and systems-level approaches that support healthier outcomes. Speakers and registration details will be announced closer to the session.
The partnership extends beyond the webinars by leveraging HCN Global's culturally grounded communications expertise and SHC's national network of health communication professionals. The series will be promoted across professional and community networks, including La Red Hispana, Melanin Thriving, and LatinEQUIS. Both webinars will be recorded and made available on demand.
Dana Chomenko, Executive Director of SHC, emphasized the importance of these topics: "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. This partnership gives our members culturally grounded examples and tools they can use, not just another conversation about the problem."
To support continued learning, HCN Global has dedicated webpages with resources for Latino and Black audiences. These are available at LatinEQUIS and Melanin Thriving. Additional Spanish-language resources can be found on La Red Hispana.
This initiative is significant because it addresses persistent health inequities that affect millions of Americans. By focusing on preventive care and maternal health, the series aims to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for marginalized communities. The free, accessible webinars and on-demand resources provide actionable strategies for those on the front lines, potentially leading to better health navigation, increased trust in health systems, and improved community resilience.
