February 2025 Common Ground Newsletter

February/March 2025 Newsletter

Save the date for the Speak Life! Health Equity Conference

The Speak Life! Health Equity Conference returns on April 24!

The theme of this year's Speak Life! Health Equity Conference 2025 is “Generational Resilience: Honoring Our Ancestors, Celebrating Today, Creating Hope for Tomorrow.” This full-day event will explore the health impacts of racism and discrimination; reflect on how our communities have thrived despite systemic barriers; and learn culturally specific and traditional/historical approaches to healing. It will be held at Monroe Community Hospital, 435 E. Henrietta Road in Rochester. Learn more.

National Week of Prayer dedicated to the healing of HIV/AIDS

Several local congregations will take part in a National Week of Prayer for the healing of HIV/AIDS, from March 2-9, 2025. The week is dedicated to ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in every state, country neighborhood, street and family. Services will be held online and in person.

The Faith Communities Project will host a Women & Girls Living and Loving Well with HIV Regional Committees Hybrid Event on Thursday, March 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. (including dinner).

People can join online or in person at Common Ground Health, 1150 University Avenue, Building 5, in Rochester. To register for dinner, please email phyllis.jackson@commongroundhealth.org.

To join online, register here.

Statement on Black History Month 2025

Common Ground Health’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-racism (IDEA) Team issued a statement to commemorate Black History Month in February. The statement reflects Common Ground’s recognition and celebration of Black History Month as an important time to honor the history, achievements and contributions of Black Americans.

It concludes: “Black history is American history. Black health is public health. And at Common Ground Health, we don’t just acknowledge this in February—we live it every day, every month, and every year.”

View the full statement.

Healthi Kids participated in Global School Play Day

On February 5, Healthi Kids provided healthy snacks, play supplies and activity ideas to more than a dozen Rochester City School District schools, as part of Global School Play Day—an international event to bring attention to the importance of play in schools. View a photo gallery here. 

Event: Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference and Seed Swap on March 22

Hosted by the Rochester Urban Ag Working Group, the Urban Agriculture Conference will feature hands-on workshops, guest experts, and gardening tables and displays. This year’s conference, which is free of charge, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East High School, 1801 East Main Street in Rochester. Lunch is included.

Register here.

Event: Public Health Partnership Conference, April 30-May 2

The NYS Association of Rural Health’s 2025 Public Health Partnership Conference will feature sessions presenting a wide array of public health knowledge and insights from local county health department directors and community-based organizations. The in-person event will be held at the Ithaca Conference Center, 118 East Green Street. Learn more.

Event: Let’s Talk About Health: Caring for Older Adults in Rural New York, May 9

In the headlines

13WHAM: Rochester students celebrate Global School Play Day with activities and games

Rochester Business Journal: Wade Norwood

13WHAM: Local chapter of Alzheimer's Association offers community forum on disease

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