Dear HealthAdvocateX Community,

Here we are halfway through the year. I'm unsure about you, but I keep wondering where the time has gone. I am sure that summer is upon us, and with that often comes an abundance of rainbows. Not necessarily the ones in the sky, but the ones we will see waving everywhere. That’s right, June is Pride Month—a time to honor the history, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride has its roots in the 1969 Stonewall uprising, a pivotal moment that sparked a broader movement for equal rights. Since then, Pride has grown to encompass celebrations, education, and advocacy efforts that promote inclusion and well-being for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Health advocacy has long been intertwined with LGBTQ+ rights. From efforts to increase access to affirming healthcare to addressing health disparities and stigma, the work continues to ensure that every person receives compassionate, equitable care.

At HealthAdvocateX, we advocate for all communities, including LGBTQIA+ folks. As such, we invite you to join us for this month’s Community Conversation Addressing Harm for LGBTQIA Individuals: How to be an Advocate for Health Despite Challenges, where we’ll explore how we can work together to create supportive environments for LGBTQ+ individuals in healthcare and beyond. Everyone is welcome—whether you’re part of the community or an ally looking to learn more. And speaking of learning more, don’t forget to check out the XCenter’s five-part Transgender Advocacy 101 series. 

Together, we can build a healthier, more inclusive future.

Here’s to your good health!

Malynnda and the Team at HealthAdvocateX 



Member News & Announcments

Upcoming Events

June 9 – Community Conversation: Addressing Harm for LGBTQIA Individuals: How to Be an Advocate for Health Despite Challenges

REGISTER HERE

When: June 9, 2025 | 11am-12pm (PT)

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: $10 for HealthAdvocateX Members; $30 for Non-Members earning credit. Free for the general public.

Being an advocate for LGBTQIA+ individuals can start with simple measures, such as showing visible support. But what is needed more than ever now will require courage, consistency, and a willingness to speak up, especially within healthcare systems that may not always be inclusive. In this interactive session, we’ll explore what it means to interrupt harm in everyday advocacy work, from navigating microaggressions in care settings to challenging silence or avoidance when patients need support the most. We’ll also examine how current legal and political rhetoric is shaping health outcomes for LGBTQIA communities—and what advocates can do, individually and collectively, to push back against systems that perpetuate harm. Whether you’re new to LGBTQIA advocacy or looking to deepen your impact, this session will offer real tools to help you show up when it matters most.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify and disrupt everyday forms of medical harm—including bias, microaggressions, and silence—that contribute to unsafe environments for LGBTQIA individuals.
2. Understand the current legal and political landscape affecting LGBTQIA rights and the direct impact this has on the physical and mental health of the community.
3. Develop actionable strategies for allyship that go beyond performative gestures, focusing on advocacy, boundary-setting, and showing up in moments of conflict or risk.

About The Speaker:

Malynnda Stewart, PhD, BCPA is a board-certified patient advocate and the CEO of Compassionate Navigation, LLC. She believes that effective communication is a form of preventive medicine, reducing misunderstandings, improving health outcomes, and fostering trust between patients and providers. Through her consulting work, she equips patients, families, and healthcare professionals with the skills to navigate complex conversations with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Malynnda also hosts the podcast Communication Compass, which is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations strengthen their communication skills in challenging situations. Her work empowers people to engage in meaningful, solution-focused discussions that lead to better relationships, improved well-being, and more inclusive environments.



IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – FABULOUS CONTENT STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ON-DEMAND/ CLASSROOM 

Alzheimer’s Care: Empowering Families with Practical Tips

ACCESS HERE

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s at home presents unique challenges, requiring patience, adaptability, and informed strategies. This session will provide advocates with practical tips to enhance daily care and navigate the emotional complexities of Alzheimer’s caregiving. Attendees will gain actionable insights to foster a safer, more supportive environment for their loved ones while also prioritizing their own well-being

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the importance of creating a supportive home environment and recognize how individuals living with dementia navigate and interact with their surroundings.
2. Explain the role of compassionate, nonverbal communication in promoting comfort, trust, and understanding when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.
3. Identify strategies for managing the emotional challenges of caregiving and maintaining personal well-being through practical self-care practices and use of community resources.

Trauma-Informed XCENTER is Now Available On-Demand

REGISTER HERE

XCenter Series November 2024 

Trauma-Informed Care XCenter 5-Session Bundle 

When: Nov 13, 2024 - Nov 12, 2026 | 4pm-5:30pm (PT) 

Where: On-Demand 

Cost: FREE! Also available for 5.0 BCPA CE 

Join us for a deep dive into trauma-informed practices and strategies to enhance your care skills. Learn from experts in the field and connect with like-minded individuals in this virtual gathering. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, therapist, educator, or simply interested in the topic, this event is perfect for anyone looking to expand their knowledge.  

BCPA Type of CE Applying For: 

5.0 Ethics/J.E.D.I. BCPA CE 

This XCenter is FREE to attend for the general public. It is also available for 5.0 BCPA CE for $125 (HealthAdvocateX members) and $200 (non-members). 



Other Events You Might Enjoy

Unlock the Power of AI with Amy Calder at the Women’s Leadership Conference!

REGISTER HERE

HealthAdvocateX Board Member Amy Calder will be a Breakout Speaker at the 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference, happening October 7 & 8. Her session will highlight the power of AI for personal productivity—a must-attend for anyone looking to work smarter and lead with impact.

Join in person or virtually for this inspiring two-day event.

Complimentary Medicare Webinar: Understanding the Complexities of Medicare Drug Coverage

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 at 1:00pm Eastern

(12:00pm Central, 11:00am Mountain, 10:00am Pacific)

REGISTER HERE

Medicare prescription drug coverage (known as “Part D”) is the most complex and confusing component of Medicare. That reputation is well deserved! Since its inception in 2006, Part D prescription drug coverage has been restructured and revised numerous times.

This complimentary webinar will answer your questions, including:

• How Part D Medicare’s prescription drug benefit works. What it covers, what it costs, how to enroll
• How to evaluate and choose the best plan for you
• What if I enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP)
• How to interact with your Part D drug insurer and your medical providers to access prescribed medications
• When and how to make changes to your Part D drug plan
• What steps to take if your drug plan doesn’t cover a drug critical to your health

OUR COMMITMENT

Approved by the Board September 21, 2022

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Statement

Our mission is to help people transform into active participants and partners in their own health care. To make this possible, we must advocate for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) for all individuals.

We recognize that:

• Racism is a public health issue that impacts various intersections and communities differently.
• Each person is unique and therefore experiences health care differently.
• Every individual deserves health advocacy regardless of their race, ethnicity, language, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, spiritual practice, financial status, education, geography, disability, mental and physical status, age, weight, substance use disorder or other factors. 
• Our organization is uniquely positioned to raise awareness on IDEA in health and health care.

We are committed to:

• Raising awareness about the importance of IDEA in health and health advocacy in all aspects of care.
• Expanding diverse representation within our organization, expert presenters, and educational offerings.
• Intentionally messaging our values, sharing IDEA expectations for ourselves, affiliated advocates, and partnering groups.
• Creating space for respectful dialogue about representation, equitable access, and inclusive practices in health care and health advocacy.
• Educating our community and participating in opportunities about IDEA events and exercises to keep these issues in the forefront of our work.
• Implementing systems to ensure IDEA is pervasive in our organization.

We will reflect on our accomplishments with humility and grace. We will recognize our limitations and remain open to what we may not see or realize so that we can improve and or repair any harm. 



HealthAdvocate^X is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. We acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot People past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and each tribe. We invite you to join us in acknowledging and thanking indigenous people for their ongoing stewardship wherever you are located.

Land Acknowledgement Challenge

Will you help us? We invite YOU to research and submit the name of the people, your location and how you would word your own personal land acknowledgement. Our Board will be selecting and reading land acknowledgements from across the country at our Monthly Board Meetings. You can submit it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hadvx-land-acknowledgement