Graphic depicting topics discussed at the C2Dream Conference

Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM) Hosts Inaugural Conference

2 minutes

The Inaugural C2DREAM Conference “Building Community Across Minnesota for Equity in Reducing Chronic Diseases” took place virtually on June 15, 2022. Attended by over 180 people from Minnesota and across the country, the conference served as a space to listen, share and learn about inequities faced by Black, Indigenous and communities of color. It also set the stage for community members and researchers to co-produce lasting solutions to reduce cardiovascular disease inequities.

The panel discussion, “Perspective on Racism and Other Social Factors Contributing to Cardiovascular Disease Inequities,” featured these expert panelists: 

  • LaPrincess Brewer, MD, cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic

  • Nadine Graves, JD, attorney, Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, adjunct/affiliated professor, Mitchell Hamline School of Law and board chair for We Are All Criminals

  • Antony Stately, PhD, executive officer and president for the Native American Community Clinic (NACC)

The discussion was also moderated by Rachel Hardeman, PhD, MPH, C2DREAM MPI, Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health, the Blue Cross Endowed Professor in Health and Racial Equity, and the Founding Director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity.

You can view the panel discussion here.

The conference included two breakout sessions introducing the C2DREAM research projects and creating a space to discuss the essential changes needed at multiple levels to reduce chronic diseases and promote equity across Minnesota. View C2DREAM Conference graphics and timelapse videos by Rio Holaday.

C2DREAM is a partnership between the University of Minnesota Program in Health Disparities Research, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System, and Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute. Funding is provided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P50MD017342.

You can read the live tweets by the UMN Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity here.