a man in dark slacks and a grey suit jacket with brown patches on the elbows gestures to a diverse group of people in a room, with some in the audience raising their hands.

Our Story

The Center For Public Health Education and Advocacy was born from a simple but urgent realization: while public health is the invisible shield protecting our communities, the investments supporting this work are increasingly precarious. We identified a critical disconnect both in how residents understand the value of public health to them and their communities and how we communicate the value of public health to the decision makers with the power to fund it.

Our journey began as a small collective of professionals and public health advocates centered on the belief that knowledge ignites transformation. We want to illuminate the inner workings of our public health system (as it so often operates in the background of our communities) to make them more tangible and, by extension, more readily appreciated by the public. By sharing the value of public health and translating complex policy science into accessible narratives and plain language, we equip residents and decision makers to recognize their shared responsibility for public health and to prioritize investment in systems that allow every community to thrive.

Today, our mission remains focused on the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of our public health systems. We serve as the bridge between communities and policymakers, ensuring that every person in every community has the resources they need to thrive, not just in times of crisis but every single day. We believe that all Americans deserve a chance to live a healthy and productive life. Our story is one of unwavering commitment that no person’s health or safety should be dependent on where they live, work, or play.

The Leadership Driving Our Work

LaDonna May-Barnes, MPH

Founder & President/CEO