The Johnson Center for Learning & Impact is hosting the fourth annual Isles Virtual Forum, “Cultivating Equity for Thriving Communities,” a free event held May 20 through 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom. Free registration is available online. Visit www.isles.org.
Trenton-based nonprofit Isles developed the virtual forum in 2021 to create an intentional sharing of practices among those doing grassroots community work with like-minded organizations, policy makers, and researchers. The goal is to share what is working in historically oppressed communities locally, regionally, and across the country and explore more effective strategies for successful community development, policy work, and systems change.
The 2024 Forum is a space where thought-leaders and practitioners can come together online to share challenges and emerging ideas and discuss ways that we can work together to drive greater impact in the communities we serve.
The free event includes a series of webinars, panels, and discussions focused on fostering ideas for actionable change that will improve equity and help lead to thriving communities. Each day of the forum focuses around a daily theme with in-depth sessions that cover a wide range of subjects. Daily themes for 2024 are:
• Day 1: Environmental Health
• Day 2: Building Wealth
• Day 3: Transportation & Mobility
• Day 4: Innovative Approaches to Violence Prevention.
Among the sessions scheduled for each day are:
Day 1, Environmental Health, includes a session on “Maternal Health, Lead, and Racial Disparities.” Current research shows that lead is a factor in health disparities into adulthood, including black maternal mortality and morbidity. Isles’s Elyse Pivnick and Rutgers’ Brian Buckley lead a discussion about this research and how they propose to raise awareness and improve healthcare protocols to better serve women and families during prenatal and postpartum periods.
Day 2, Building Wealth, includes “Micro but Mighty: Supporting Entrepreneurship in the U.S.” Whether accurate or not, the concept that America was “built by small businesses” has been a dominant talking point since its founding. The reality is much more complicated. While the dream of owning a business as way to gain long-term financial stability remains a goal for many, a major challenge exists for women, people of color, immigrants, and other individuals with limited resources to access the capital, business training and support needed for success. This session revisits the recent history of microbusiness development in the U.S., explores the current landscape for these types of business ventures, and discusses what’s needed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs in the 21st century.
Day 3, Transportation and Mobility, offers a session on “The Future of Public Transit in New Jersey.” Panelists discuss the current state of affairs for transit in New Jersey, best practices, and what changes could be made to “connect residents to millions of employment and economic opportunities, essential services, community resources, entertainment, and social activities.” The session examines funding and planning/land-use solutions, from the looming fiscal cliff to longer-term sustainable answers that could help provide real access and options for the entire state.
Day 4, Innovative Approaches to Violence Prevention and Reduction, includes the session “Building Resilience: The Role of Healthcare Providers in Community-based Violence Intervention.” Isles brings practitioners together to share best practices and approaches to addressing community-based violence. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in fostering resilience and promoting interventions that go beyond traditional healthcare settings, creating safer and healthier communities. Explore innovative strategies, hear from experienced professionals, and join the conversation on how healthcare providers can make a meaningful impact in violence intervention and community resilience.
To view the complete Forum schedule, including descriptions of each session, session timing, and presenters, and to register to attend here.
