We are delighted that the American Heart Association has announced the Heart of Giant Foundation (HGF) for the third year in a raw EmPOWERED to Serve Community Ambassador. In Early 2022, HGF conducted a webinar series on important heart health information to educate community members. Fifty-oneAs a result, people participated live in the webinars with many questions to the presenters. After that, we shared the recordings and disseminated the key points through various channels, including websites and social media.
EmPOWERED to Serve is a platform inspired by American Heart Association (AHA) volunteers around the country who are passionate about driving change through health justice and empowerment in their communities. The American Heart Association’s EmPOWERED to Serve platform harnesses the passion of individuals and organizations to overcome barriers to health equity. Through creative and innovative action in advocacy, policy, education, and social change models, the community Ambassadors are the heartbeat of their mission.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and vascular dementia. Heart disease and stroke are the top and fifth-leading causes of death in the United States (US). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2018, nearly 500,000 deaths in the US included hypertension as a primary or contributing cause. It is estimated that 45% of adults in the US have hypertension, but only 24% have their condition under control. In Boston – Massachusetts, 34% to 42% of individuals from communities such as Mattapan and Dorchester, predominantly Black and people of color (POC), live with hypertension.
In sync with EmPOWERED to Serve priorities for community health, HGF strongly believes that community impacts everything we do. So far, HGF has partnered with Community Development Organizations (CDOs) such as Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) in collaboration with AHA to deliver a Blood Pressure Screening and Referral Initiative to ABCD’s clients and Mattapan residents on the 4th Monday of every month, starting 10 AM – 12 PM in ABCD’s community room. Community partners include YMCA and Planet Fitness, Breaktime, Daily Table (Dorchester), and Community Servings. Also, we have worked with faith-based organizations such as AME Bethel Church and are actively working to partner with other CDOs.
Thank you, AHA, for recognizing our community efforts in driving high blood pressure awareness, empowering individuals living with hypertension to have better therapeutic outcomes, and driving health equity in black communities.
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