Policymaking to Advance Health & Racial Equity

How can law and policy be used to advance health and racial equity—especially in today’s evolving legal landscape? 

Recent court decisions and executive actions have increased scrutiny of equity-focused efforts. At the same time, the core civil rights framework remains intact, and many strategies to advance racial equity are fully lawful. 

This webinar explores how these legal shifts are shaping public health and racial equity work. Speakers provide foundational context for why racial equity matters, examine current litigation and changes in the external environment, and consider what these developments mean for policy efforts. 

Grounded in real-world examples, the session highlights policies that advance racial equity and the types of legal scrutiny they may face. It also introduces our legal primer that offers practical, legally grounded guidance to help policymakers, public agencies, and community partners design, implement, and defend equity-centered policies. 

Speakers:  

• Sabrina Adler, Vice President of Law, ChangeLab Solutions
• Katie Hannon Michel, Senior Attorney, ChangeLab Solutions
• Giridhar Mallya, Senior Policy Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Amalea Smirniotopoulos, Senior Policy Counsel and Co‑Manager, Equal Protection Initiative, NAACP Legal Defense Fund 

Recording: