Bridging the Gap

Cultural Competency, Health Literacy & Public Health Practice with the Latino Community

Hybrid Workshop / Summer Luncheon Series

In-Person

UTRGV Cueto Building
1301 E. Madison Street
Brownsville, TX 78520

June 25, 2025

12pm – 130pm CST

Virtual

Location

Resources

View recording

This interactive workshop is designed to equip public health professionals, community health workers, and promotores with culturally responsive skills to better serve Latino communities. Participants will explore how cultural values, language, and lived experiences influence health outcomes, particularly in the context of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). The session integrates best practices in health literacy and cultural competency with practical, community-driven strategies for public health outreach. Emphasis will be placed on addressing health disparities through inclusive communication, evaluating and adapting health education materials, and using culturally relevant frameworks to assess and improve SDOH-related interventions.

This event is free to join!

Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Develop community-driven strategies for outreach and engagement that prioritize cultural relevance and accessibility
Evaluate existing health education materials for cultural appropriateness and accessibility
Implement frameworks to assess the effectiveness of SDOH interventions
Understand the intersection of cultural competency, health literacy, and the social determinants of health in the context of serving in the Latinx community

Speakers

Paulina Sosa

DrPH, MPH
President/Executive Director
Latinx Voces

Website

Dra. Paulina Sosa-Quintanilla is the Founder, President and Executive Director of Latinx Voces, a national nonprofit with the goal to amplify all Latino voices and achieve equity in health and cultural representation. Paulina has worked for more than 15 years in public health, including policy, advocacy, data analytics and community outreach. Her work has revolved around infectious disease transmission and epidemic/pandemic preparedness, including influenza and COVID-19. Paulina has also completed her doctorate in the DrPH Public Health Informatics program at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a research focus on data informatics, dashboard development, and health equity.

Paulina has worked at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as the Lead Data Analyst in the Influenza team. She has worked with the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), the American Public Health Association (APHA) COVID-19 Response Team, and the Access Smithsonian’s See Me program. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paulina provided consulting services for PAHO and other key partners in data, surveillance, and health communications.

Clarissa Guzman

Logistics Coordinator -Latinx Task Force

Tailored Engagement Coordinator – New York City

Clarissa Guzman is the Logistics Coordinator for Latinx Voces’ Latinx Task Force. Since 2020, she has supported the HACER campaign to address health disparities in the Latinx community during COVID-19. Clarissa helps facilitate national meetings, coordinates with partners, and is co-leading HACER 2.0, expanding the campaign with updated health recommendations. With over five years of experience in health education and workforce development, she now serves as a Tailored Engagement Coordinator in New York City. She designs trainings for community-based organizations focused on health equity and engagement. Clarissa holds an MPH in Social Behavior and Community Health from the University at Albany.

Webinar Resources & Next Steps

Thank you for joining our webinar! Below you’ll find links to key resources and tools shared by each speaker, as well as ways to stay connected and get involved.