7 Thoughts: Reflections from APHA’s 2026 Policy Action Institute

As part of our ongoing series highlighting insights gained from national conferences, this edition reflects on the 2026 Policy Action Institute hosted by the American Public Health Association (APHA) in Arlington, Va. The Policy Action Institute brings together public health professionals, policymakers and advocates from across the country to explore how public health can effectively navigate an evolving policy landscape.

This year, Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health (LPPIH) was represented by Matt Trust, MPH, MS, Community Engagement and Communications Specialist, and Sean McCormick, PhD, Director of Community Innovation. LPPIH has attended each of the last three Policy Action Institute conferences and has enjoyed the progression of the conversation about storytelling as a pillar for policy. Amid discussions about funding uncertainty, shifting federal priorities, general mistrust of science and public health, the Make America Healthy Again movement and the upcoming midterm elections, several themes emerged that both attendees felt were especially relevant to our work in neighborhoods and communities.

Seven reflections from the Policy Action Institute

1. Stories still move people more than statistics

If there was one theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout the conference, it was the power of storytelling. Speakers across multiple sessions emphasized that facts and data matter, but stories are what help people and lawmakers understand why an issue deserves their attention.

One of the most powerful examples came from Robert Sanchez, a former prisoner, kidney transplant recipient and cancer survivor, who shared how his lived experiences shaped his advocacy work. His message was simple yet profound: People connect with stories because stories help them see themselves in an issue. Data helps validate the story, but the story is what opens the door.

For those of us working in community health, this serves as an important reminder. Behind every statistic is a person, family or neighborhood whose experience can help illuminate both challenges and opportunities.

2. Understanding your audience matters as much as understanding your issue

Several presenters challenged attendees to rethink what makes advocacy effective. Expertise is important, but expertise alone rarely drives change.

One session introduced a framework built around five questions: What, Who, Why, Where and How (4W+H). The central lesson was that successful advocates spend as much time understanding decision-makers as they do understanding their own issue. Speakers encouraged advocates to think like communicators as well as the intended audience. Before making an ask, understand who has the authority to act, what pressures they face, who influences them and what outcomes matter most to them.

One panelist offered practical examples for engaging conservative lawmakers, suggesting advocates lead with framing focused on local impacts, taxpayer resources, innovation, outperforming foreign nations, domestic jobs, schools and community well-being rather than assuming a shared policy or moral vocabulary.  

Effective engagement begins with listening, learning and understanding how others see the world before asking them to act.

We are not always the right person to tell the story. Sometimes the strongest advocate is a trusted community member, employer, business leader or cross-sector partner whose voice carries greater credibility with a particular audience. Effective communication is just as much about choosing the right messenger as it is crafting the right message. 

3. Relationships remain the foundation of lasting change

The importance of relationships was a major takeaway from last year’s Policy Action Institute, and this year’s conference reinforced that lesson.

Presenters repeatedly emphasized that advocacy is not a one-time conversation or a single meeting. Trust is built over time through consistent engagement, mutual respect and genuine curiosity about the people around the table.

One speaker framed empathy as a skill rather than a feeling. Effective advocates learn to see another person’s world, understand their concerns and communicate that understanding back to them. Whether engaging elected officials, community residents or organizational partners, relationships remain in the infrastructure that makes progress possible.

4. Common ground is hard work, but it is still worth pursuing

A major theme of the conference focused on finding common ground and building coalitions in an increasingly polarized environment. Building coalitions does not mean abandoning core beliefs. It means identifying shared interests, mutual goals and opportunities for collaboration, even when perspectives differ.

Strong partnerships aren’t built by surrounding ourselves with those who already agree with us; they’re built by finding shared priorities that create opportunities to work together. In many cases, beginning with an issue that already resonates – such as workforce development or economic opportunity – can open the door to broader conversations around housing, healthcare and community well-being. 

Throughout the conference, examples were shared of bipartisan efforts that successfully advanced public health priorities by focusing on outcomes rather than ideology. The lesson was clear: Meaningful progress often begins by finding where interests overlap rather than where disagreements exist.

5. Public health must become more people-centered

One recurring message was that public health communication must become simpler, more relatable and more human.

Policy discussions are often complex, but effective communication requires translating that complexity into language people can understand. This includes the importance of social media being part of the strategy and, at times, even engaging the audience with memes and pop culture. Several presenters argued that communicators should focus less on technical terminology and more on helping people understand how policies affect their everyday lives.

Whether discussing healthcare affordability, access to services or community well-being, the most-effective messages connect policy decisions to real-world experiences. Public health professionals must continue learning how to communicate in ways that resonate beyond the walls of our own field.

6. Advocacy and organizing are different, but both are necessary

A distinction that surfaced throughout the conference was the difference between organizing and advocacy. While advocacy focuses on influencing policy and decision making, organizing is about bringing people together, building collective power and creating the conditions for change.

Expertise without community engagement struggles to build momentum. Community energy without clear policy goals can struggle to achieve lasting impact.

Every proposal should be viewed through five interconnected lenes: socio-cultural (public understanding and support), fiscal (costs and funding), political (alignment with the current political climate), legal (consistency with existing laws) and administrative (whether implementation is practical). Addressing each factor increases the likelihood that good ideas can become lasting policy. 

For LPPIH, this reflection resonated deeply. Much of our work centers on convening residents, organizations and institutions around shared goals. Strong systems-change requires both informed advocacy and authentic community engagement.

7. The future belongs to those who can adapt without losing sight of their values

The conference took place during a period of significant uncertainty for public health. Discussions frequently touched on funding cuts, policy shifts, changing political dynamics and emerging challenges facing communities across the country.

Yet despite the uncertainty, a consistent message emerged: While strategies may need to evolve, values should remain steady.

Speakers encouraged attendees to remain flexible in how they communicate, build partnerships and pursue change while staying grounded in the principles that brought them to public health in the first place. In a rapidly changing environment, adaptability and clarity of purpose are not opposing forces – they are complementary strengths.

Looking ahead

The 2026 Policy Action Institute reinforced a lesson that feels increasingly important: Effective public health work depends on our ability to connect with people.

Whether through storytelling, relationship building, coalition development or community engagement, lasting change begins when people feel seen, heard and understood. As LPPIH continues supporting neighborhood health and well-being throughout the Lehigh Valley, we remain committed to listening deeply, building trust across differences and helping communities shape the future they want to see.

It also requires recognizing that durable solutions are built alongside partners from different sectors, perspectives and lived experiences who share a commitment to healthier communities.