Ninety-five individuals representing organizations in Baltimore City and Baltimore County and local health departments, including Howard and Anne Arundel counties, attended the Johns Hopkins Center for Salud/Health and Opportunities for Latinos (Centro SOL) annual Latine Health Conference on Friday, May 9.

Centro SOL’s mission is to promote equity in health and opportunity for Latinos by advancing clinical care, research, education and advocacy for Latinos in Baltimore.

The conference, which was co-sponsored by the HEAL Refugee Health & Asylum Collaborative and the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute, brought together experts, advocates and community members to discuss family safety amid policy uncertainty. This year’s theme explored the implications of shifting executive actions affecting health care, public health and research, drawing from lessons learned through lived experiences.

“At a time when immigrant families are facing growing uncertainty and fear, this conference served as both a mirror and a map,” says Monica Guerrero Vazquez, M.S., M.P.H., Centro SOL’s executive director. “The conference focused on uplifting the voices of those most impacted — youth, families, front-line workers — and weaving those voices into a broader vision of care, safety and solidarity. None of this is possible alone. It takes deep teamwork across institutions, disciplines and lived experiences to build the kind of network our communities need. The time to act with courage and compassion is now. I am profoundly grateful to our team at Centro SOL, sponsors and speakers for their passion to advocate for safety and healthy communities for everyone.”

Keynote speaker Lara Jirmanus, M.D., M.P.H., shared her approach to supporting immigrant patients in health care, offering insights into the intersection of health, legal advocacy and organizing. Jirmanus has been involved in grassroots organizing, advocacy and research for many years, addressing worker and immigrant rights in the United States, infectious diseases in Brazil and the impact of conflict and displacement in the Middle East.

“Dr. Jirmanus’ keynote speech set the tone for the conference as one of solidarity and advocacy, reigniting our dedication to the safety and health of immigrant children and their families,” says Rachel Duncan, M.B.A., Centro SOL’s operations manager.

A conference panel discussed integrative collaborations that keep immigrant communities safe, informed and supported amid uncertainty. Panelists were Beth Blauer, J.D., vice president for public impact initiatives at The Johns Hopkins University; Catalina Rodriguez Lima, M.A., director of the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Edith Hinson, co-director of the Detained Adult Program, Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; and moderator Sarah Polk, M.D., Sc.M., M.H.S., director of Centro SOL.

“The panelists shared data and professional expertise, highlighting how immigrants strengthen communities, how the increased presence of immigrants in Baltimore corresponds to the reduction in violent crime in the city, and what services exist and are needed to mitigate harmful, pervasive anti-immigrant rhetoric and actions. The panelists’ unequivocal commitment to the health and well-being of immigrants and the City of Baltimore was galvanizing,” says Polk.

Following the keynote speaker and panel, conference attendees worked in facilitated small groups to discuss action-planning for strengthening our networks of support and resiliency.

“This conference is a powerful example of how partnerships can foster systemic change and solidarity,” says Nick Cuneo, M.D., M.P.H., co-founder and executive director of the HEAL Refugee Health & Asylum Collaborative, which provides comprehensive primary and mental health care to immigrant survivors of torture and trafficking and co-sponsored the conference.

For more information, visit JHCentroSOL.org.