Research Focus & Challenges - Research focusing on minority communities and underserved populations is being devalued and defunded [1] - Defunding health equity research leads to the loss of community stories, experiences, and connections [1] - Researchers are facing challenges in continuing their work due to defunding, impacting their ability to pay participants, staff, and purchase necessary materials [1] Personal Impact & Concerns - Researchers express anger, frustration, disillusionment, and exhaustion due to the challenges in conducting research that focuses on communities with the greatest needs [2] - Early-career researchers are being asked not to study who they are, leading to feelings of being tired and disillusioned [2] - There is uncertainty about the future of health equity research and a need for support to continue this work [5][6] Systemic Issues & Advocacy - Current systems are perceived as primarily serving the wealthy, well-educated, and well-connected, neglecting vulnerable populations [1] - All communities deserve care that prioritizes and personalizes services to their individual health needs [1] - The research is shaped by personal experiences, values, and a desire to improve health access and outcomes for communities [1] - Researchers advocate for fostering a community focused on advancing health and equity in all communities [8]

Core Message - Visibility is not vanity, but a form of resistance against erasure, emphasizing the importance of marginalized stories [3] - Challenging dominant narratives is risky but essential for liberation and agency [5] - Erasing stories leads to erasing people, highlighting the need for diverse voices to multiply humanity [19][30] Personal Narrative & Societal Impact - The speaker's personal journey involves grappling with identity, societal expectations, and religious constraints [1][2][3][8][9][13][15][17] - The speaker's experience in a cult illustrates how fear can be exploited to control individuals [12][13] - The speaker's experiences with marriage and divorce reflect a struggle for belonging and self-acceptance [15][16][17][18][19] Theater & Community Engagement - The speaker's work with a theater group of adults with disabilities highlights the importance of seeing individuals as human, beyond labels [21][22][23][27] - The theater production example demonstrates how individuals can defy expectations and shatter stereotypes [27][28] - The speaker emphasizes the power of stories to connect people and challenge biases, leading to liberation [7][29][30]