VANCOUVER – The Center for Social and Environmental Justice at WSU Vancouver presents, “Health Disparities and Inequities: Mobilizing a Regional Response,” April 18 from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The conference brings together health researchers, public health workers, community leaders, and activists from Multnomah and Clark counties.
It will address some of the most pressing health issues in the two counties and outlying areas such as rising rates of HIV/AIDS among communities of color, health impacts of toxic contaminants in the high fish diets of tribal communities in the Columbia River Basin, and the health impacts of the Columbia River Crossing.
Keynote speaker, Brian K. Gibbs, senior research scientist and director of the Program to Eliminate Health Disparities in the Department of Health Policy and Management of the Harvard School of Public Health, will give the opening keynote address, “From Freedom to Fight: Community-Academic Solutions to Reduce Disparities in Health and Health Care,” from 9 to 10 a.m.
A panel on “Urban Environmental Health Issues,” will turn particular focus to the environmental health impacts of the Columbia River Crossing, with featured speakers including Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart; Mara Gross, policy director for the Coalition for a Livable Future; and Jeri Sundvall-Williams, former director of the Environmental Justice Action Group.
Seats available at the workshops and will be granted on a first-come, first-seated basis after pre-registered attendees have been seated.
To learn more or to register, visit http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/events/health.
