Join us for a two-part webinar series on Belonging and Public Health in Canada, hosted by Jorge Garza, Director of Communities Building Belonging at the Tamarack Institute.
Part 1: The Foundation: Belonging as a Social Determinant of Health
Date: April 9, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Speakers: Pemma Muzumdar & Nadha Hassen
Part 2: Action & Implementation: Building Belonging into Public Health Practice
Date: April 16, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Speakers: Shaina Schafers & Abigail Cameron
Part 1: The Foundation: Belonging as a Social Determinant of Health
April 9, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
This webinar will establish the critical connection between belonging and public health. We will explore the concept of belonging as a social determinant of health, examining how social cohesion, connection, and a sense of community impact physical and mental well-being. We will delve into current research and data showcasing the effects of loneliness, social isolation, and exclusion on various health outcomes within diverse populations.
The speaker will discuss the physiological and psychological pathways through which belonging influences health and highlight the importance of addressing social cohesion and belonging in public health initiatives.
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Speakers
Pemma Muzumdar, MPH (she/her). Knowledge Translation Specialist, National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH)
Pemma Muzumdar lives in Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) on the unceded lands and waters of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. Pemma completed her Master of Public Health at the University of Waterloo. Currently, she is a Knowledge Translation Specialist with the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. In her everyday work, Pemma supports the public health community to build a culture of equity and address interrelated structural, social, and ecological determinants of health. She has led and contributed to work on anti-racism, intersectionality, environmental and climate justice, migrant health and more. Pemma co-produces Mind the Disruption, a podcast about building a healthier world for everyone.
Nadha Hassen, PhD MPH (she/her). Mitacs Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Nadha Hassen is a Mitacs Postdoctoral Fellow at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She is a public health and environmental studies scholar focused on healthy and just places and spaces. Dr. Hassen’s research explores health and social equity in different environments and takes an interdisciplinary approach with a focus on intersectional anti-racism. Her research and evaluation work is community-engaged and participatory where she collaborates with marginalized communities to address the social and structural determinants of health.
Dr. Hassen has a PhD from the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University and a Master of Public Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, specializing in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences. As a health researcher, she has worked at both policy and community levels. She works at the intersections of social, racial, and environmental justice. She is also on the Board of Directors for 8 80 Cities, a non-profit organization focused on creating healthier, more equitable and sustainable cities for all people.
Part 2: Action & Implementation: Building Belonging into Public Health Practice
April 16, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET
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Building on the foundational understanding from the first webinar, this session will focus on practical strategies for integrating belonging into public health practice. We will explore successful community-based public health initiatives that prioritize belonging.
The speakers will discuss how to develop and implement equity-centred interventions, foster community engagement, and build public health partnerships to strengthen social cohesion and belonging in a digital world.
Speakers
Shaina Schafers (she/her). Community Health Specialist (Tri-Cities), Population and Public Health. Fraser Health
Shaina Schafers is a public health practitioner dedicated to community-based health initiatives and public policies that advance health equity. She is a Community Health Specialist at Fraser Health Authority and has previously worked with community health centres, grassroots organizations, and community-based participatory research on projects that promote accessible health services and social inclusion with equity-deserving groups. She draws inspiration from leaders, writers, artists, and changemakers who cultivate hope and work collectively to build a more just and liberated society.
Abigail Cameron (she/her). Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives & Development. S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Abigail Cameron has extensive experience working with not-for-profit organizations within community development, strategic planning, and project management roles. With a passion for community engagement and health promotion, she oversees initiatives that promote equity and inclusion using person-centered and trauma-informed approaches. She currently holds the role of Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives and Development with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., where she oversees the Local Immigration Partnership and anti-racism initiatives, and leads the development team to support sustainability and innovation in existing and new programs.