Gladys Vega, President and CEO of La Colaborativa, received the 2026 Andy Hyman Award for Advocacy at the plenary luncheon. The honor recognizes a public sector champion who embodies a commitment to principled action, leadership to advance social change, and dedication to making progress in policy.
Grantmakers In Health
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Day 2 brings the opportunity to hear about lessons learned from a community-based mental health model, celebrate our awardees, learn about the erosion of health information systems, network with health funders, and more.
The plenary, “Getting in Formation: Organizing for the Future,” examined what happens when power is not accountable to anyone or anything else. Deepak Bhargava, President of the Freedom Together Foundation, emphasized the role philanthropy must play now in supporting those on the frontlines.
Mark Constantine, Senior Vice President of Community Investment at Dogwood Health Trust in North Carolina, received GIH's 2026 Terrance Keenan Leadership Award. The honor recognizes outstanding health grantmakers whose work is distinguished by leadership, innovation, and exceptional achievement.
Grantmakers In Health
During a Wednesday afternoon plenary at the GIH annual conference, DaMareo Cooper, Executive Director of The Center for Popular Democracy, explained that organizing means everyday people leading in unexpected ways and rallying others to join them.
The GIH annual conference session “Remaining Data-Driven When Data Disappears” explored what funders can do to support data preservation and infrastructure development so data can continue to be cultivated, maintained, and used to support health decision-making and ultimately health equity.
The final day of #GIHAC26 will offer new opportunities to connect over timely topics including birth equity, healthy aging, and more. We'll conclude with a plenary on how to build trust through communication to enable change. Check out the conference app for the full list of sessions!
Wednesday morning at the GIH Annual Conference began with a host of engaging sessions. Phyllis Meadows of The Kresge Foundation moderated a standing-room-only session that explored Detroit’s Leadership for Mental Health Project alongside work from Baltimore’s Center for Urban Families.
Our opening plenary session included a panel discussion between Dr. Ibram X. Kendi of Howard University, and Richard Besser of the RWJF. Amid increasing threats to health and public health, the panel urged attendees to consider the role they can play in building an equitable and just society.
How we share information, tell stories, and communicate across movements shapes our collective power.
The closing plenary of #GIHAC26 brought together media voices to examine what it takes to build effective comms that mobilize people toward the changes needed to achieve better health for all.
