Join us on Wednesday, November 25th, as the AVA Webinar Series presents From Community Knowledge to Collective Action: Building Partnerships for Health Equity, featuring Peace Serwaah, Marie-Claire Kapesa, and Kawsei Pillai from the the Centre for Inclusive Health Equity Collaborative (CIHEC).
Wednesday, November 25, 2026
12 – 1:30pm MST
How can community knowledge shape partnerships, inform research and move health equity into action? Bringing together perspectives from program leadership, community-engaged research and professional practice, this webinar will explore how meaningful collaboration can connect evidence with community priorities. Speakers will share insights on patient and family partnerships, knowledge mobilization, accessibility and creating opportunities for emerging leaders. Drawing on CIHEC’s Summer Health Equity Internship and its vision for a national resource hub, the session will highlight practical ways to bring people and resources together, centre lived experience and strengthen collective action for health equity.
About the Speakers
Peace Serwaah is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Inclusive Health Equity Collaborative (CIHEC), where she is building a national platform to connect communities, health organizations, researchers, and decision-makers working to advance health equity. Her work focuses on elevating community knowledge, bringing existing programs and resources together, and turning evidence into practical action. Peace founded CIHEC’s Summer Health Equity Internship to create meaningful opportunities for emerging leaders to explore community health challenges and contribute to equity-focused work. A public health graduate and Project Management Professional (PMP), she brings experience in health equity, program leadership, partnership development, and knowledge mobilization. She is committed to strengthening collaboration across the health system and ensuring that equity initiatives reflect the experiences and priorities of the communities they serve.
Marie-Claire Kapesa is a Research Coordinator with the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program (CDTRP), where she supports research coordination, community engagement, knowledge mobilization, and partnerships. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences from McMaster University, with a background in health systems, public policy, epidemiology, and health equity. Her work focuses on connecting researchers, community partners, and other stakeholders to support research that is meaningful, accessible, and responsive to the communities it serves. She has experience supporting community-engaged research initiatives, patient and family partnerships, and knowledge mobilization activities across academic and community settings.
Kawsei Pillai is a disability management professional and alumna of CIHEC’s 2026 Summer Health Equity Internship. Through the internship, she engaged with health equity alongside peers working across diverse areas of community health. Her professional experience in occupational health and return-to-work planning also informs her interest in how accessibility and workplace practices affect people’s health, wellbeing, and participation. Kawsei currently works as a Disability Case Manager at Sun Life. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Guelph and a Diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion from Humber College.