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On November 5 and 6, 2026, nearly 600 Community Health Workers, supervisors and allies gathered in Columbus for the Ohio Statewide CHW Conference, “Meeting the Moment.” It was the largest one yet, and The Garden of HOPE Foundation was proud to be part of it.
Every book has its first reader. At this conference, mine was ReNee Wren, the very first buyer of The ABCs of AI for Seniors: Tech Made Simple in the Age of Spacetime. It was our first meeting ever. She took home two of my books, including The Ribbon’s Early Whisper: The Screen & The Signal, and asked me to autograph them in Igbo. I wrote, “Nwe obi ụtọ ịgụ akwụkwọ a,” which means “Enjoy reading this book.” That moment brought together everything I offer: health, technology, and our language and culture.
Our work began with Community Health Workers, and CHWs remain at its heart. Through our Rural Healthcare Project in Owerre-Nkwoji, Imo State, Nigeria, CHWs help screen community members, document results in digital health records, and connect people to treatment and care. Phases I and II, blood pressure and diabetes screening, are complete, and we are building toward Phases III and IV, malaria and cancers.
On November 6, 2026, together with NAPPSA (Nigeria Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in America), we held a Community Health Outreach at the Owerre-Nkwoji Community Health Centre to provide treatment for those identified in Phases I and II.
The lessons from Columbus travel home with us: train CHWs well, use technology wisely, and keep trust at the center.
Meeting the Moment: Highlights from the 2026 Ohio Statewide CHW Conference
Know someone who cares about their community? Tell them about becoming a CHW. To learn more about The Garden of HOPE Foundation and our Rural Healthcare Project, explore hopegarden.space or contact us.