Advocacy Summit

Hilton Washington, D.C. Capitol Hill, October 18-20, 2025

Finding Common Ground: Pathways to a Healthier Nation

SOPHE and other public health and advocacy professionals and students engage in effective advocacy for a common agenda at national, state and local levels. The Summit provides a learning environment for all levels of knowledge and experience. Participants new to advocacy learn the basics to enhance their confidence. Seasoned advocacy veterans are exposed to advanced sessions. The Summit engages public health leaders to share advocacy training, materials, and resources. Following the Summit, participants are encouraged to continue advocacy efforts in their communities.

Educational Tracks:

• Health in All Policies: Explore how policy development and implementation can improve health outcomes across populations, supporting access to resources, care, and opportunities for all community members. Effective policies can create systems of care that address social drivers of health, reduce health disparities and chronic diseases, address underlying factors contributing to health outcomes (e.g. inadequate housing, food insecurity, and unemployment) and improve the overall population.
• The Public Health Crisis: Examine the complex and urgent challenges facing public health systems today, including emerging diseases, chronic diseases to systemic inequalities. Share pedagogy strategies and advocacy skill-building techniques that can empower students to engage in their communities and shape the next generation of health education advocates.
• Community-Driven Advocacy: Highlight the role of communities in leading public health efforts, innovative partnerships in school health, and focusing on grassroots initiatives that empower local populations to address health disparities and promote systemic change.
• Health Communication Challenges: Investigate the barriers and opportunities in public health messaging, particularly during crises, and the importance of clear, accessible, and culturally competent communication strategies to enhance public understanding and behavior and promote health literacy. Challenges may also include mis/disinformation and teaching advocates to have difficult conversations.

Why people participate?

To Learn

The Summit provides a learning environment for all levels of knowledge and experience. Participants new to advocacy learn the basics to enhance their confidence. Seasoned advocacy veterans are exposed to advanced sessions.

• Multiple sessions cover basic, intermediate and advanced-level advocacy training.
• Participants select sessions of interest in health policy and public health fields.

“Our Wisconsin group had a terrific experience. We had the opportunity to debrief and found some very valuable insights, an afterthought, and significant growth in terms of advocacy skills and confidence.”

To Connect

Connect with a diverse group of health education specialists, public health professionals, undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in Washington, D.C.

“My biggest takeaway from the Summit is understanding the importance of being a strong and reliable advocate as this is essential to championing a cause that you care about.” 

For questions or additional information, contact ed*******@so***.org.