DPH to Host Summit on Building Healthy, Strong Communities in Delaware
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

DOVER, DE (February 10, 2026) – To advance health outcomes and well-being for all Delawareans, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Bureau of Health Equity will host the Pathways to Thriving Summit on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort. Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay will speak as well as DPH Director Steven Blessing and DPH Deputy Director Dr. Tesha Quail.
Up to 450 leaders from health care and public health, economic and workforce development, housing, education, transportation, and criminal justice will explore how cross-sector collaboration can strengthen conditions for individuals and communities to thrive. Registration is open now through Tuesday, March 17 at https://bit.ly/4pqDE9G with early-bird pricing available through Saturday, February 14. Childcare will be provided. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are also available.
The summit focuses on building the basic conditions people need to be healthy and well. It encourages participants to look beyond treating sickness or reacting to emergencies and instead address root causes by improving access to basics like safe housing, healthy food, education, and health care.
The Pathways to Thriving Summit is hands-on and focuses on action for long-term change. Participants will take part in breakout sessions, roundtable talks, group problem-solving, planning workshops, and discuss how to put these plans into action. These activities are designed to help people work across sectors, build stronger partnerships, and create practical ideas to improve health across Delaware.
“Improving health and well-being means systems, policies, and daily work all need to align, said Sequoia Rent, chief of the DPH Bureau of Health Equity. “This summit brings leaders together to move from talk to action by sharing data, setting common goals, and working together to make real improvements in health and well-being across Delaware.”
Becky Payne, president and CEO of the Rippel Foundation, will give the keynote address, “Fostering Well-Being Through a Sense of Belonging.”
“Strong communities grow when people across different fields see they share the same goals,” Payne said. “This summit helps Delaware leaders understand how they are all part of a larger effort to support well-being.”
The event will also feature networking spaces, a technology and innovation showcase, a local marketplace, and wellness activities to support learning and connection.
For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/4pqDE9G.
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Delaware Health and Social Services | Division of Public Health | Date Posted: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

DOVER, DE (February 10, 2026) – To advance health outcomes and well-being for all Delawareans, the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Bureau of Health Equity will host the Pathways to Thriving Summit on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort. Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay will speak as well as DPH Director Steven Blessing and DPH Deputy Director Dr. Tesha Quail.
Up to 450 leaders from health care and public health, economic and workforce development, housing, education, transportation, and criminal justice will explore how cross-sector collaboration can strengthen conditions for individuals and communities to thrive. Registration is open now through Tuesday, March 17 at https://bit.ly/4pqDE9G with early-bird pricing available through Saturday, February 14. Childcare will be provided. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are also available.
The summit focuses on building the basic conditions people need to be healthy and well. It encourages participants to look beyond treating sickness or reacting to emergencies and instead address root causes by improving access to basics like safe housing, healthy food, education, and health care.
The Pathways to Thriving Summit is hands-on and focuses on action for long-term change. Participants will take part in breakout sessions, roundtable talks, group problem-solving, planning workshops, and discuss how to put these plans into action. These activities are designed to help people work across sectors, build stronger partnerships, and create practical ideas to improve health across Delaware.
“Improving health and well-being means systems, policies, and daily work all need to align, said Sequoia Rent, chief of the DPH Bureau of Health Equity. “This summit brings leaders together to move from talk to action by sharing data, setting common goals, and working together to make real improvements in health and well-being across Delaware.”
Becky Payne, president and CEO of the Rippel Foundation, will give the keynote address, “Fostering Well-Being Through a Sense of Belonging.”
“Strong communities grow when people across different fields see they share the same goals,” Payne said. “This summit helps Delaware leaders understand how they are all part of a larger effort to support well-being.”
The event will also feature networking spaces, a technology and innovation showcase, a local marketplace, and wellness activities to support learning and connection.
For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/4pqDE9G.
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.