UNIFIED ACTION FORUM AGENDA

Day 1 | SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026

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10:00 AM EST

Check-In & Arrival

 

12:00 PM EST

Lunch & Welcome

Julie Kennedy Lesch

Sharonda Sikes

Clayton Andrews

 

1:00 PM EST

Building Our Foundation: Why We're Here & How We'll Work Together

Dr. LaKeia Bailey

Ivy Welsh

 

1:30 PM EST

Grounding Ourselves: Voices in the Room, Realities in SCD

 

3:00 PM EST

From Councils to Co-Leadership: Models for Integrating Lived Experience

Kiara Parker

Heather Avant

Justine Nicholas

 

4:00 PM EST

Community Collaborative Projects: The Power of the Patient Voice

CBO Presentations

 

5:15 PM EST

Early Access to Storytelling & Creative Arts | Recording Studio

How to Make Media Contacts as a Sickle Cell Stakeholder / Health Educator

Alexandria Green

Sharonda Sikes

 

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Day 2 | APRIL, 12, 2026

 

8:00 AM EST

Breakfast

 

9:00 AM EST

Morning Wellness

 

9:20 AM EST

Unified Action: The Collaborative Network — Day 2 Kickoff

Ivy Welsh

Dominique Goodson

 

9:45 AM EST

Crafting Impact: A Hands-On Workshop in Storytelling for Change

Dr. Ajibike Lapite

Sharonda Sikes

Dr. Paul Domanico

 

11:00 AM EST

Beyond the Ideal Patient: Research That Includes Who We Serve

Dr. Alexis Thompson

Dr. Raymona Lawrence

 

12:15 PM EST

Lunch

 

Harnessing Momentum: Policy Pathways for SCD Progress

The Leavitt Group

 

Victoria Gemme

Maphilar Dahn

 

Afternoon Breakouts

 

1:30 PM EST

Regional Breakouts: Build a Foundation for Collaborative Regional Action Planning

 

2:45 PM EST

Discussion Breakouts

 

Calling Community In: Allyship in Action

Dr. Yvette Miller

 

Harnessing the Power of Tech / AI to Improve Healthcare Outcomes

Mel Hayes

Jason Moore

 

4:00 PM EST

Closing & Next Steps

 

Recording Studio & Media Training

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