Each year, the Minority Health Disparities Initiative (MHDI) hosts a conference to create space for students, researchers, community health professionals, policymakers, and organizations to come together and share strategies and resources for advancing health equity in Nebraska and beyond. We invite you to participate in the 2027 MHDI Health Equity Conference on Friday, February 19, 2027, from 8:00am – 4:00pm CT at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Attendees can look forward to a variety of health equity speakers, networking opportunities, and research sharing.
This event is FREE and open to the public, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate. More information on registration, sponsorship opportunities, and the call for abstracts to come. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at mhdi@unl.edu.
Preliminary Agenda
8:00am – 8:30am CT Check In
8:45am CT Indigenous Land Acknowledgement & Welcome with Trey Andrews
Join us for welcoming remarks and Indigenous land acknowledgments from Dr. Trey Andrews, Co-Director of the Minority Health Disparities Initiative (MHDI).
9:00am – 10:00am CT Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1A
Breaking Communication Barriers Without Breaking the Budget
Led by: Sakura Yodogawa-Campbell
This session will address the barriers many members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community will encounter when seeking behavioral health services. Communication accessibility is a priority and during the breakout session, attendees will be able to identify current accessibility barriers from understanding the ADA requirements to finding a licensed ASL Interpreter, as well as identifying available technology and resources businesses can utilize to minimize the impact on the operating expenses for their business.
Breakout Session 1B
Care Access and Mental Health for Minority Populations in Nebraska
Led by: Alex Dworak
This session will address care access and mental health, with a focus on current events, for the following overlapping and non-exclusive minority groups: Latinx, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, Rural Nebraskans, PLWHIV, and PWUD.
10:10am – 10:30am CT Wellness Activity
10:40am – 11:40am CT Poster Session
This session will showcase a multitude of projects in health equity research through brief presentations designed to encourage meaningful conversation and connection. Posters will be available for viewing on the first floor and are organized by poster number. Please check back for a complete list of poster presentations!
11:45am – 12:45pm CT Lunch & Raffle
We encourage you to network with colleagues during lunch. Lunch will be served on the second level in the Banquet Hall, and raffle winners will be announced at the end of the meal.
1:00pm – 2:00pm CT Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 2A
Place Matters
Led by: Kate Bolz
This session explores how the Community Health Endowment (CHE) advances its mission to make Lincoln the healthiest community in the nation. Attendees will learn how CHE uses grantmaking, collaboration, and education to strengthen local health outcomes. A key focus will be the Place Matters publication, which provides detailed census tract data to help residents, partners, and organizations better understand neighborhood-level health needs and take informed action.
Breakout Session 2B
TBA
Led by: TBA
More info coming soon!
2:15pm – 3:00pm CT Connect & Collaborate: Building Bridges for Health Equity Solutions
Join us for an engaging networking session designed to spark new connections while collaboratively exploring strategies to improve health outcomes for underserved communities in Nebraska and beyond. Attendees will work in small groups using a set of curated health equity themes to guide discussion. The session will conclude with an opportunity for each group to share key insights, ideas, and takeaways.
3:00pm – 4:00pm CT Keynote Speaker
4:00pm CT Closing Remarks