2025 NDORH Racial Healing Through Public Health Leadership
On January 21, 2025, Prevention Institute convened a virtual conversation in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing, bringing together staff leaders to reflect on the connections between lived experience, public health, and racial justice.
Moderated by La’Quana Williams, Associate Program Director, the discussion grounded the conversation in health equity and racial justice while guiding reflections across the panel, with panelists sharing how their personal journeys have shaped their commitment to this work and how racial healing shows up across their practice:
- Vince Leus, Program Manager, spoke to advancing California reparations efforts and the role of policy in acknowledging and addressing historical and ongoing harms.
- Lisa Fujie Parks, Associate Program Director, reflected on community-centered approaches to safety and violence prevention and how they contribute to healing and wellbeing.
- Kalia Pannell, Community Impact & Engagement Specialist, described building and supporting AESOP’s Network as a way to strengthen community leadership, connection, and collective action.
- Dana Fields-Johnson, Director, highlighted Communities of Care and the strategies that strengthen connection, support, and healing within communities.
Together, they explored how this work has expanded Prevention Institute’s partnerships—deepening collaboration with organizations working at the intersection of public health and racial justice, and creating space for more inclusive, community-centered approaches. Panelists also reflected on how centering racial healing not only informs individual programs, but strengthens Prevention Institute’s broader efforts to advance health, safety, and wellbeing.
Watch the recording to hear how lived experience, partnership, and practice come together to support racial healing and systems change.