HEF Summit honors years of work advancing equity for children and families
On October 7, 2025, the Healthy & Equitable Futures Learning Collaborative (HEF) hosted a vibrant community summit at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester, NY. Convened by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation (GRHF) and guided by parent and community voice, the summit was a joyful celebration of collective progress, shared power, and community leadership.
NPLI was proud to attend in support of this groundbreaking effort and join in honoring the parent leaders, organizations, and changemakers shaping a healthier and more equitable Rochester.
Seven Years of Community-Led Change
The summit theme, “Breaking Cycles, Building Futures,” reflected the powerful work taking place across Monroe County to improve outcomes for Black and Latino children ages 0 to 8. For the past seven years, families, grassroots organizations, and community partners have collaborated through HEF to redesign systems, reimagine care, and put parent leadership at the center of decision-making.
The event featured a keynote by Dr. LeKeyah N. Wilson, a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Dr. Tokeya Graham, and a musical performance by the School 58 Jazz Band. Attendees also explored the “Families Leading Change” exhibit, which chronicled the evolution of HEF and showcased the voices, victories, and lived experiences behind the work.
A Model of Shared Power
GRHF began this journey in 2018 by partnering with families and NPLI to shift how funding decisions were made. Over time, that experiment evolved into the Healthy & Equitable Futures Collaborative, an initiative now rooted in three Levers for Change: family leadership, social-emotional wellness, and representative and inclusive systems.
Parent Leader Facilitators (PLFs) have been instrumental in co-creating this work from the start. Their leadership has shaped evaluation, grantmaking, organizational practice, and policy priorities across the Collaborative. They have also advocated for investments in joy and healing, ensuring that equity is not only about outcomes but also about how families are supported along the way.
“This was part of their vision, and that’s why it was important for us to follow their lead and bring this to life,” shared Danette Campbell, Senior Program Officer at GRHF. “The summit was a culmination of this journey and an opportunity to share the progress made in advancing whole-child health across Monroe County.”
A Celebration of What’s Possible
The HEF Summit was truly a moment of reflection and recognition for a community that continues to lead, even in the face of ongoing challenges. It highlighted what becomes possible when philanthropy shares power, when organizations listen to families, and when leadership grows from the ground up.
NPLI remains honored to support this work as a partner in the HEF Collaborative. We are continually learning from the example set by Rochester’s parent leaders and look forward to sharing these lessons with the broader field.
To learn more about the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, visit thegrhf.org. To learn more about the Healthy & Equitable Futures initiative, visit hefcollab.org.
