On June 17, 2026, HOPE MA hosted one of several afternoon workshops at the annual Ounce of Prevention Conference, held by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Community Health and Prevention, at the DCU Center in Worcester. This year’s theme, “Prevention Along the Stream: Collaboration and Connection to Build Healthy Communities,” brought together public health professionals, community organizations, and government staff from across the Commonwealth to consider how upstream, midstream, and downstream prevention efforts can work together. 

Sahiyo’s session, “Community-Centered Coalition Building for Systems Change: A Case Study in FGM/C Prevention and Survivor Support,” was co-facilitated by Olivia Harris, Massachusetts Community Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator at Sahiyo; Caitlin LeMay, Executive Director of the U.S. End FGM/C Network; and Domenica Perrone, Director of Community Engagement and Outreach at UMass Chan’s Collaborative in Health Equity.

The workshop used the HOPE MA Coalition as a case study in community-centered, cross-sector coalition building. Participants took part in a stakeholder mapping exercise and were asked to reflect on where power imbalances arise between institutional partners, government agencies, and grassroots communities. The session attendees critically engaged with the conversation, which deepened exploration of power dynamics. 

The session fit naturally within the broader spirit of the conference, which also made space for reflections on self-care, exploration of wellness modalities, and time to network across sectors. The emphasis on care echoed HOPE MA’s own work, which spans survivor support and healing, service provider training, and upstream prevention efforts alike, all built toward the same goal of lasting systems change in Massachusetts. 

Learn more about HOPE MA and how to get involved at maendfgmc.org.