‘Community on a mission’: My City My Health equity conference kicks off Nov. 15 in Des Moines

My City My Health: Des Moines, a growing health equity conference in its third year, will kick off in a new location. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 15, at the River Center in Des Moines. Tickets are $50.

The event is the brainchild of friends and co-founders Corey Lewis, a health coach at Broadlawns Medical Center, and Larry Twitty Jr., a corporate talent consultant. The conference brings together public health professionals and community advocates for meaningful conversations and an experience Lewis describes as a “vibe.”

“The mission is to improve our community, to give back to our under-resourced communities and talk about inequities,” Lewis said. “So we are a community on a mission.”

Twitty said via email that health equity is about leveling the playing field and ensuring everyone has the chance to thrive and live with dignity.

“Health equity is personal to me because I’ve seen firsthand how access — or lack of access — to quality health care can shape a person’s life and opportunities,” he said. “Too often, people’s health outcomes are determined not by their needs, but by their zip code, socioeconomic status or the color of their skin. I believe that’s not only unjust but entirely preventable.”

Lewis said the mental health panel is his favorite part of the conference and continues to be a popular draw. The panel will explore the importance of community healing and emphasize the role of collective support in addressing mental health challenges, according to the website.

Panels include:

• Save Black Mothers: Addressing Maternal Health Disparities
• Equity @ Work
• Immigrant Health and Health care Experience
• Inclusive Health care
• Community Healing: Mental Wellness in our Communities

“The biggest takeaway we want our attendees to leave with is a clear understanding that health equity is both a community responsibility and a personal commitment,” said Twitty. “It’s not just about improving statistics or closing gaps — it’s about real people, real families and real lives impacted by the decisions we make together.”

More than a dozen health organizations will serve as sponsors, including presenting sponsor Unity Point Health. About 200 attendees are expected.

“I hope that this makes people really want to take that next step to say, ‘OK, how can I support this movement by being more involved in what’s going on at the Capitol,'” Lewis said. “I feel like that is going to be the underlying theme on a lot of these panels — do you see why civic engagement is important?”

Lewis said My City My Health Inc., also recently became a nonprofit organization. The goal is to raise awareness about important health equity topics, including Black maternal health, mental health, immigrant health and more. The organization also plans to produce a documentary.

The conference has also been held in Iowa City and will return there next April, Lewis said.