Several of our first-year Maternal and Child Health (MCH) students attended the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting held in Minneapolis, MN, from October 27-30th. This year’s theme, Building Trust in Public Health and Science, emphasized the critical role trust plays in advancing health equity and fostering collaboration across communities. Below is a reflection from one of our attendees.
By: Grace Hoegler
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the 2024 American Public Health Association (APHA) Conference in Minneapolis, and it was an experience that deeply resonated with me. Minneapolis was a particularly special location for APHA this year because of the clear dedication Minnesotans have towards community advocacy for racial equity, environmental justice, and collective liberation. Throughout the conference, I noticed a remarkable trust between communities and their public health partners. This was evident in the commitment of local residents to engage in public health work within their day-to-day lives, turning ordinary spaces into hubs for community support and health equity.
One session that left a profound impact on me was titled “Settler Colonialism: Connecting Palestine, George Floyd, and Environmental Justice in East Phillips,” presented by Joe Vital and City Council Member Robin Wonsley. They shared the inspiring story of the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI), a grassroots organization that won a decade-long battle to convert the industrial Roof Depot warehouse into a community resource hub and indoor urban farm. This effort, led by African American, Native American, and immigrant communities, transformed a once redlined and marginalized area into a revolutionary space for fresh food access, family resources, and community organizing.
This session was complemented by an invitation from the Rise and Remember Foundation to join a community-led pilgrimage through George Floyd Square. Walking through this vibrant space, I witnessed how the community transformed the area into a symbol of resilience and solidarity, complete with resources like a greenhouse, community meeting spaces, and the People’s Closet, a free exchange for clothes and goods.
Throughout the conference, I was reminded of the importance of listening to and uplifting communities. Public health professionals emphasized the need to transfer power from funders to those doing grassroots work, truly centering community-led research and initiatives. It was an honor to witness these principles in action in Minneapolis, and I left feeling inspired to apply these lessons in my work in New Orleans. I am especially excited to support organizations like Crescent City Family Services, which offers vital resources to pregnant and parenting mothers in New Orleans, through my involvement with the CEMCH program.
The APHA conference was a powerful reminder that public health is about people. By celebrating small victories and holding space for those who’ve paved the way, we can continue to fight for a more just and healthy future for all.
Grace Hoegler is a second-year Master of Public Health student at Tulane University, concentrating on reproductive health research, with a focus on reproductive justice and qualitative research. She currently works as a research assistant on projects related to self-managed abortion in restrictive contexts and contraceptive access for Medicaid recipients in Louisiana.
