To advance health outcomes and well-being for all Delawareans, the Delaware Division of Public Health Bureau of Health Equity will host the Pathways to Thriving Summit Wednesday, March 18, at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort.

Up to 450 leaders from healthcare and public health, economic and workforce development, housing, education, transportation and criminal justice fields will explore how cross-sector collaboration can strengthen conditions for individuals and communities to thrive. Childcare will be provided. 

The summit focuses on building the basic conditions people need to be healthy and well. It encourages participants to look beyond treating sickness or reacting to emergencies and instead address root causes by improving access to basics like safe housing, healthy food, education and healthcare.

Becky Payne, president and CEO of the Rippel Foundation, will give the keynote address, “Fostering Well-Being Through a Sense of Belonging.”

“Strong communities grow when people across different fields see they share the same goals,” Payne said. “This summit helps Delaware leaders understand how they are all part of a larger effort to support well-being.”

Additional speakers include Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay; Steven Blessing, DPH director; and Dr. Tesha Quail, DPH deputy director.

The Pathways to Thriving Summit is hands-on and focuses on action for long-term change. Participants will take part in breakout sessions, roundtable talks, group problem-solving and planning workshops, and discuss how to put these plans into action. These activities are designed to help people work across sectors, build stronger partnerships and create practical ideas to improve health across Delaware.

“Improving health and well-being means systems, policies and daily work all need to align,” said Sequoia Rent, chief of the DPH Bureau of Health Equity. “This summit brings leaders together to move from talk to action by sharing data, setting common goals, and working together to make real improvements in health and well-being across Delaware.”

The event will also feature networking spaces, a technology and innovation showcase, a local marketplace, and wellness activities to support learning and connection.

To learn more, go to publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/pathwaystothriving.