August 2026 Newsletter

Playful Learning Summit highlights the power of play for children and adults

Participants played "Head, shoulds, knees, and grab!" during a morning breakout session, then discussed how to adapt the game for a variety of academic lessons.

Educators, child care providers, and community leaders gathered at the 2026 Playful Learning Summit to explore how play supports children’s learning, development, and sense of belonging. Keynote speaker and founder of The Play Lab Foundation Kisa Marx opened the event encouraging attendees to help build a supportive village for every child. Eight breakout sessions examined topics ranging from inclusive and sensory-responsive play to literacy, educator resilience, and community partnerships. Attendees left with practical strategies and a renewed understanding that play is not separate from learning. It is essential to helping children connect, grow, and thrive.

Learn more.

Will you join us in honoring the past while empowering the future?

Twenty years. Thousands of women. One powerful message: your health matters.

Twenty years ago, Director of Community Health and Well-being Jackie Dozier brought a group of women together around a simple but powerful belief: when Black women are healthy, supported, and connected, entire communities benefit. What began as a backyard gathering has grown into A Call to Women of Color, a beloved annual tradition centered on sisterhood, wellness, and empowerment.

This year, that legacy continues with a special three-day anniversary celebration honoring the women who helped build A Call to Women of Color while inspiring the next generation to prioritize their health, embrace their strength, and support one another. Join us on September 11, 12, and 13 as we celebrate 20 years of community, connection, and the enduring power of women coming together.

Visit commongroundhealth.org/actwoc to learn more.

Health coalitions bring services and resources directly to the people

This summer, the African American Health Coalition and Latino Health Coalition helped bring health information, services, and resources directly into Rochester neighborhoods, making it easier for residents to connect with the support they need. 

Pictured above from left to right: Carlos Ortiz Bonilla, Dr. Mary Bisbee-Burrows (Chair), Juireith Donko-Hanson, Anika Griffiths, Aisha Howard, and Jeffrey Freeman of the African American Healthcare Coalition.

The African American Health Coalition's Health Care Rodeo series, held June 6, July 11, and August 8, visited community gathering spaces across the city, offering health screenings, blood pressure checks, HIV/STD testing, health insurance information, mental health resources, dental care information, and connections to a variety of local services. The events were designed to meet people where they were and remove barriers to accessing care and information. 

Attendees checking in at the International Plaza for Unidos Por La Salud/United for Health.

The Latino Health Coalition's Unidos Por La Salud: Wellness and Health Engagement on Every Local Street (WHEELS) event, held August 21, brought together health care providers, community organizations, and residents at International Plaza. Attendees received information about health care services, health insurance, housing assistance, employment opportunities, legal services, financial literacy programs, and other community resources, while also enjoying food, music, and family activities. 

Together, these initiatives demonstrated a shared commitment to health equity by recognizing that good health depends on more than medical care alone. By bringing services and information directly into the community, both coalitions helped strengthen connections between residents and the resources that support healthier lives.

In the headlines

Latino Health Coalition plans free Rochester wellness event Aug. 21, Finger Lakes 1

Clinical and Translational Science Institute Celebrates $29 Million Award and 20 Years of Impact, University of Rochester Medical Center

The new grant will strengthen rural outreach, with CTSI working alongside Common Ground Health and the Center for Community Health and Prevention to advance community‑led engagement, Rochester Beacon

UR Medicine research institute receives $29 million in NIH grants. Finger Lakes 1

Jun­eteenth Com­munity, Circle Awards hon­ors local pion­eers, Democrat & Chronicle

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