NEWARK, N.J. - s4story -- What began as a small Rutgers-funded initiative to address vaccine confidence and health equity has grown into a movement connecting communities, educators, healthcare professionals, advocates, and partners across New Jersey, New York, and Côte d'Ivoire.
On July 11, HAVA Institute and the Health Equity Education Coalition (HEEC), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will host "A Night for Côte d'Ivoire – Torchlight to Abidjan" at Rutgers University in Newark. The event will bring together leaders from healthcare, academia, public health, philanthropy, community organizations, and the private sector to support trust-centered approaches to community health.

In 2022, a Rutgers University Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy Innovation Grant helped launch VEEC. What started as a local effort grew into a collaborative network working to strengthen trust and advance health equity across New Jersey.

"When we first started, I thought we were addressing information gaps. What communities taught us was something much more important. People were looking for trusted relationships—people they knew, people who listened, and people who understood their lived experiences. That insight changed the trajectory of our work," said Dr. Hajar Shirley, Founder of VEEC and Co-Founder of HAVA Institute.

Today, HAVA Institute and VEEC are expanding partnerships from New Jersey to Harlem and Côte d'Ivoire, bringing together community, healthcare, academic, philanthropic, public-sector, and private-sector partners to advance maternal and child health through trust-centered public health approaches.

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Every health system relies on people, processes, partnerships, technologies, and data. Yet those systems achieve their greatest impact only when trust exists.

Trust helps individuals engage with health information, navigate care, embrace prevention, and participate in decisions that affect their well-being. It is the connective tissue that allows innovation, healthcare delivery, and public health investments to translate into meaningful outcomes.

HAVA Institute was founded on the belief that trust grows where people feel seen, heard, and connected. Culture, storytelling, and community engagement create pathways for those connections, helping transform trust from an abstract concept into something people experience in their daily lives.

For HAVA Institute Co-Founder and Cultural Ambassador Vado Diomande, culture is central to that work. Born into the Mahou traditions of Côte d'Ivoire and later a principal dancer with the Ballet National de Côte d'Ivoire, he has spent decades sharing Ivorian culture around the world.  "Growing up in Côte d'Ivoire taught me that culture is one of the ways communities pass knowledge from one generation to the next. Through music, dance, storytelling, and tradition, people learn who they are, where they come from, and how they care for one another. When people feel connected to their culture and history, there is a stronger foundation for trust, unity, and action."

The evening will feature cultural performances, storytelling, a silent auction, and opportunities for guests to connect with leaders committed to advancing health equity locally and globally.
"Throughout my career, I have worked across industry, academia, public health, and community organizations. One lesson has remained constant: no single sector can solve today's health challenges alone. Progress happens when communities, healthcare systems, researchers, policymakers, philanthropies, and industry leaders come together around a shared purpose." Shirley

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"This journey started with a small grant and a question about trust. Along the way, it became a community effort, then a statewide initiative, and now a growing global network of partnerships. I'm continually inspired by what becomes possible when people from different backgrounds, sectors, and communities come together to learn from one another and work toward healthier futures," said Shirley.

Event Information
A Night for Côte d'Ivoire – Torchlight to Abidjan July 11, 2026 | Rutgers University, Newark, NJ
Event information and registration:
https://havainstitute.com/abidjan-2026/torchlight-to-abidjan-a-night-for-cote-divoire/

About Health Equity Education Coalition

Health Equity Education Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing health equity through education, research, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. Founded at Rutgers University, as an evidence-based model to advance vaccine equity, VEEC brings together students, healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and community leaders to strengthen trust and improve health outcomes through community-centered approaches.

https://vaxequityedu.com/movement-for-immunity/

About HAVA Institute for Cultural Public Health

HAVA Institute advances cultural public health through the integration of arts, storytelling, community engagement, ancestral knowledge, and evidence-informed practice. Working across communities, sectors, and geographies, HAVA Institute develops innovative approaches that strengthen trust, support local leadership, and improve health outcomes. Through partnerships with HEEC and a growing network of collaborators, the organization connects culture, health, and community to help build healthier futures locally and globally.