Rising in Resistance: Advancing Community-Led Policy Solutions

MPHA’s Annual Conference brings together hundreds of public health advocates and allies from across the state to learn and re-energize for our shared work to achieve health equity in our Commonwealth. Join us and a stellar line-up of health equity change-makers on December 10, 2024 from 9:00am to 1:30pm.

Keynote by Reggie Ramos, Executive Director of Transportation for Massachusetts, who will explore the many forms of power, and the vital role democratic processes play in our ability to hold leaders accountable and organize against or rise in the face of oppression. Drawing from her experience as a leader and advocate in both Massachusetts and the Global South, Reggie will share examples of what happens when we build transparent and community-driven coalitions to drive meaningful progress towards shared goals of equitable and just communities.  

Housing justice panel discussion: Housing and homelessness experts will explore what it means to advocate for community-driven housing solutions and examine how organizations can stay accountable and responsive to community needs. Panelists include  Carolyn Chou, Executive Director at Homes for All Massachusetts; Kelly Turley, Associate Director at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless; Sharon Cho, Director at Dudley Neighbors Inc. (DNI); and Etel Haxhiaj, Worcester City Councilor and Senior Policy Manager at the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. 

A Conversation with Commissioner Robert Goldstein, MD, PhD, MA Department of Public Health: We are thrilled to announce that Commissioner Robbie Goldstein of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will sit down with MPHA’s Deputy Director, Oami Amarasingham, to share his vision and answer questions about how MDPH is committed to maintaining the progress that public health has made over decades and to moving forward in implementing strategies that will improve health equity.  

Unveiling MPHA’s 2025-2026 Policy Agenda: Join us as MPHA’s Deputy Director, Oami Amarasingham, unveils MPHA’s 2025-2026 policy agenda. The presentation will be followed by a discussion moderated by MPHA’s Campaign Director, Alexis Walls, where coalition partners Liz O’Gilvie, Springfield Policy Council + Gardening the Community; Paula Garcia, Union of Concerned Scientists; Shin-Yi Lao, Commissioner of Health and Human Services, City of Newton; and Viviana Abreu-Hernández, President of Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, will explore strategies for building power and moving Massachusetts forward in a new legislative session under a second Trump administration.  

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING:  12:30 – 1:30 pm 

At the conclusion of the conference, we will transition to the Annual Business Meeting.  This is a particularly important meeting where Members of MPHA will elect new Board Members and Officers and also vote on substantially revised organizational By-Laws.   

STUDENT SESSION:  1-2 pm 

Students are invited to a special session focused on skill-building relevant to policy advocacy and highlighting various career paths related to policy advocacy in Massachusetts. Given the importance of reproductive access and care, as both state and national policy issues, MPHA is focusing this year’s student session on reproductive justice. The session will be moderated by MPHA’s Kate Forrest and the panelists include Maia Raynor, Maternal and Child Health Policy and Program Manager at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Carrie Richgels, Policy Manager at Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts; and Debi Amburgey, a graduate student at Boston University, pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Policy & Law.

Please note the link for the student session is different than the one for the conference and annual meeting. All registrants will be sent the Zoom link for this session in an email from an MPHA staffer.

Tickets are on sale now!

• General registration is $20.
• Organizational members at the Stakeholder, Catalyst, Visionary, and Local Board of Health levels’ registration is $10.
• Student registration is $5 (tickets are free if your school or university is a sponsor).

Want to help someone else attend the conference? The Buy One Get One price is $40. This is the option to buy a ticket for yourself and sponsor a ticket for a member of the community who could not otherwise attend the conference.

If you want to become a sponsor, contact MPHA’s Development Manager, Ana Hidalgo at ahidalgo@mapublichealth.org or 857-302-7256.

To learn more about this year’s presenters, click here.

Register now!

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

Presenting

Mobilizers

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Boston Public Health Commission

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts

Benefactors

Boston College Connell School of Nursing

Massachusetts Councils on Aging

Massachusetts Nurses Association

Allies

American Cancer Society

Boston University Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health

Greater Lowell Health Alliance

Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts

Educators

Bay Path University

Boston University School of Public Health

Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College

MCPHS University

Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Regis College

Tufts University School of Medicine Department of Public Health & Community Medicine

UMASS Amherst, School of Public Health and Health Sciences