Season One Wrap Up with Dr Yonette Thomas and Host Mark Sylvester

Conversations on Urban Health - Dr Yonette Thomas

In this closing episode, Dr. Yonette Thomas and Host Mark Sylvester talk about the 11 amazing conversations for Season 1. It is a sampling of what it is to come. Season 1 began with a historical overview of the organization and the progressed into what the ISUH can do and will do going forward. Dr. David Vlahov, the founding president gave this historical perspective, his ideas for the sustainability of the organization, and his excitement for the future. The organization has evolved, the energy has evolved, and there is a feeling revitalized interest, energy, and engagement. Yonette sees the “ARC” as her guiding principle for revitalizing membership and realigning the work of the ISUH. The intent with the ARC is that we begin before the conference with discussions and activities that lead into the conference in the forms of presentations, panels, and workshops. Post conference we continue those conversations so that members develop papers for publication and ideas for the next conference. The goal is to keep members interested and engaged – creating dynamic activity. Members must see the ISUH at the one organization they want to be involved in and engaged with. Each member is an urban health influencer. We heard that ISUH should focus on the next generation of urban health influencers who will be at the forefront of engaging other actors in other sectors. ISUH can create opportunities for partners and sponsors to partner with members and for partnerships between members, creating multiple nodes and tentacles of urban health action at the local, national, and global levels. For example, around SDG alignment with organizations such as the General Assembly of Partners. We heard, too, about the need for regional discussions opportunities. There is great interest in increasing membership engagement – bringing new and emerging urban health influencers into the fold. These conversations have confirmed and intensified the interest in the things in the ISUH Virtual Collaboratory. ISUH-Connect will provide an important opportunity for members to network and collaborate. We will learn what members are interested in discussing and connecting on and we can use that information to feed the virtual discussions. The ISUH-Perspectives blog provides an opportunity for written points-of-view.