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Hypertension, also known as chronic high blood pressure (130/80 mm or higher), occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is too high and causes the vessels to expand. Imagine a garden hose that is being squeezed but instead its your arteries and blood vessels. Overtime, this can damage your blood vessels. This can lead to developing other serious health conditions such as heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and eventually lead to death. Hypertension forces the heart to work harder and accelerates plaque buildup in arteries, reducing blood flow, which is why it is so heavily considered to be a prerequisite to cardiovascular diseases.

High blood pressure among Black Adults. www.heart.org. (n.d.). https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/know-your-risk-factors-for-high-blood-pressure/high-blood-pressure-among-black-adults

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1. Increase in the # of Black men in San Francisco who believe going to see a health provider to receive annual routine check ups and maintain health is important by 6 months (Attitude).

2. Increase the number of Black men in San Francisco who believe managing their stress levels is important by 6 months (Attitude).

3. Increase in the # of Black men who know of the sodium-related health risks and can identify common high-sodium foods in everyday foods by 6 months (Knowledge).

4. Increase in the # of Black men in San Francisco who believe monitoring their blood pressure is vital by 6 months. (Attitude)

5. Increase in the # of Black men who know how to check their blood pressure and monitor it by 3 months. (Knowledge)

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1. Increase͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ and͏͏ African͏͏ American͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ who͏͏ regularly͏͏ monitor͏͏ their͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ at͏͏ home͏͏ or͏͏ in͏͏ community͏͏ settings͏͏ at͏͏ least͏͏ 3͏͏ times͏͏ a͏͏ week͏͏ within͏͏ 1͏͏ year.͏͏ (Behavior)

2. Increase͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ and͏͏ African͏͏ American͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ who͏͏ reduce͏͏ sodium͏͏ intake͏͏ by͏͏ preparing͏͏ low-sodium͏͏ meals͏͏ at͏͏ home͏͏ and͏͏ limiting͏͏ fast-food͏͏ consumption͏͏ within͏͏ 1͏͏ year.͏͏ (Behavior)

3. Increase͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ and͏͏ African͏͏ American͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ who͏͏ have͏͏ the͏͏ skills͏͏ to͏͏ properly͏͏ use͏͏ and͏͏ track͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ readings͏͏ using͏͏ home͏͏ monitoring͏͏ devices͏͏ within͏͏ 1͏͏ year.͏͏ (Skills)

4. Increase͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ and͏͏ African͏͏ American͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ who͏͏ use͏͏ stress-management͏͏ techniques such͏͏ as͏͏ deep͏͏ breathing,͏͏ mindfulness,͏͏ or͏͏ physical͏͏ activity at͏͏ least͏͏ three͏͏ times͏͏ per͏͏ week͏͏ within͏͏ 1͏͏ year.͏͏ (Behavior)

5. Increase͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ and͏͏ African͏͏ American͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ who͏͏ schedule͏͏ and͏͏ complete͏͏ at͏͏ least͏͏ one͏͏ primary͏͏ care͏͏ visit͏͏ for͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ evaluation͏͏ and͏͏ preventive͏͏ services͏͏ within͏͏ 1͏͏ year.͏͏ (Behavior)

6. Increase͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ and͏͏ African͏͏ American͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ who͏͏ follow͏͏ through͏͏ with͏͏ their͏͏ provider’s͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ care͏͏ plan,͏͏ including͏͏ medication͏͏ adherence͏͏ and͏͏ one͏͏ follow-up͏͏ visit͏͏ within͏͏ 6͏͏ months͏͏ of͏͏ their͏͏ initial͏͏ appointment.͏͏ (Behavior/Skills)

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Long-Term͏͏ Outcomes͏͏ (1–3͏͏ Years)

Outcome͏͏ 1:

Decreasing the number of hypertension cases in black men in San Francisco within 2 years

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Black men lead all U.S. racial and ethnic groups in hypertension mortality rates, being about twice as likely as the rest of the population to die from hypertension-related causes. They have also seen a sharp increase in hypertension diagnoses at readings above 130/80 mmHg, rising from 42% to nearly 59%. Black men experience higher prevalence, earlier onset, and more severe outcomes of hypertension than any other group in the United States. They are 2.5 times more likely to die from hypertension-related deaths compared to White men and are the least likely to receive consistent follow-up treatment and care.

(Ferdinand, 2018; Ogunniyi, Commodore-Mensah, & Ferdinand, 2021)

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racial disparities hypertension black men

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Hypertension͏͏ among͏͏ Black͏͏ men͏͏ has͏͏ reached͏͏ a͏͏ critical͏͏ level͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ United͏͏ States͏͏ and͏͏ continues͏͏ to͏͏ worsen͏͏ over͏͏ time.͏͏ Many͏͏ develop͏͏ high͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ earlier͏͏ in͏͏ life,͏͏ sometimes͏͏ beginning͏͏ in͏͏ childhood͏͏ and͏͏ adolescence,͏͏ which͏͏ sets͏͏ the͏͏ stage͏͏ for͏͏ lifelong͏͏ cardiovascular͏͏ risks.͏͏ The͏͏ prevalence͏͏ of͏͏ hypertension͏͏ among͏͏ U.S.͏͏ Black͏͏ men͏͏ was͏͏ previously͏͏ reported͏͏ at͏͏ around͏͏ 42%,͏͏ but͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ updated͏͏ clinical͏͏ guideline͏͏ defining͏͏ high͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ as͏͏ ≥130/80͏͏ mmHg,͏͏ that͏͏ number͏͏ has͏͏ increased͏͏ to͏͏ nearly͏͏ 59%͏͏ (American͏͏ Heart͏͏ Association,͏͏ 2024).͏͏ This͏͏ means͏͏ that͏͏ more͏͏ than͏͏ half͏͏ of͏͏ Black͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ U.S.͏͏ now͏͏ live͏͏ with͏͏ elevated͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure.
The͏͏ long-term͏͏ effects͏͏ are͏͏ severe.͏͏ Research͏͏ shows͏͏ that͏͏ Black͏͏ men͏͏ face͏͏ a͏͏ four-͏͏ to͏͏ five-times͏͏ higher͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ dying͏͏ from͏͏ hypertension-related͏͏ complications͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ stroke,͏͏ heart͏͏ failure,͏͏ and͏͏ end-stage͏͏ kidney͏͏ disease͏͏ compared͏͏ to͏͏ White͏͏ men͏͏ (Abrahamowicz͏͏ et͏͏ al.,͏͏ 2023).͏͏ This͏͏ data͏͏ indicates͏͏ the͏͏ widespread͏͏ and͏͏ serious͏͏ nature͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ problem,͏͏ highlighting͏͏ the͏͏ urgent͏͏ need͏͏ for͏͏ stronger͏͏ prevention,͏͏ education,͏͏ and͏͏ long-term͏͏ care͏͏ in͏͏ Black͏͏ communities.

(American͏͏ Heart͏͏ Association,͏͏ 2024;͏͏ Abrahamowicz͏͏ et͏͏ al.,͏͏ 2023)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9838393/

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extent of hypertension among black males

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Racism and discrimination in society and healthcare settings contribute to hypertension on an interpersonal level. When being seen by healthcare providers, one feels unheard, dismissed, and disrespected, which causes delays to treatment, increases stress, mistrust, and negatively affects the health.

Johnson, T. (2023, November). Stress and High Blood Pressure in Black people: What's the Link? Goodrx. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/black-health/stress-and-blood-pressure

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Hypertension can be caused by multiple individual level causes including lifestyle behaviors such as smoking, poor-diet, or high alcohol use. Additionally, genetic factors that retain salt and water also play a significant role in hypertension amongst Black men with conditions affecting aldosteronism and the Liddle phenotype.

Grillo, A., Salvi, L., Coruzzi, P., Salvi, P., & Parati, G. (2019). Sodium Intake and Hypertension. Nutrients, 11(9), 1970. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11091970

Spence, D. J., & Rayner, B. L. (2018, June 25). Hypertension in blacks | hypertension. AHA Journals. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.11064

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At the community level, hypertension is influenced by :

Limited healthcare services are available in underserved communities without access to nearby clinics. Receiving care can be high-cost and hard to access due to a lack of insurance coverage, which prevents people with hypertension from receiving consistent and effective treatment.

Limited access to healthy food and has more access to fast food within the environment, which creates a poor diet that increases blood pressure due to high intake of sodium and saturated fats.

NIH ( 2024, May 16.) Adverse social determinants of health linked to treatment-resistant hypertension in Black Americans. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/adverse-social-determinants-health-linked-treatment-resistant-hypertension-black-americans

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Systematic issues that Black men in the United States face come from many different aspects such as food systems (policies influencing lack of healthy food access, processed foods are cheaper to produce and sold at a cheaper price than whole foods), systemic racism/oppression, and even discriminatory lending. All of these factors are issues that often lead to the individual being diagnosed for hypertension or worsening other diagnosed heart conditions.

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The high prevalence of hypertension in communities that are at the poverty income ratio are a result of because they often do not have health insurance. When someone does not have health insurance they are faced with more stressors which lead to those individuals at a higher risk than those who live in wealthier communities. Many among this group are not eligible for federal assistance programs such as SNAP. The majority of these findings show that Black men are disproportionately affected by these systematic barriers. Decades of discriminatory lending, called redlining, have kept Black families segregated in neighborhoods with fewer resources and greater chronic exposure to environmental hazards, such as unclean drinking water, noise, and air pollution

Another aspect of systematic disparities that black men face at a higher rate is discriminatory employment and educational systems which result in higher levels of poverty that create financial strain, housing and food insecurity, strained relationships, and less access to good health insurance.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, November 22). Excess burden of poverty and hypertension, by race and ethnicity, on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/23_0065.htm

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In a study conducted in 2011 the majority of Black Americans (55%) said they have had negative experiences with doctors, including in instances where they are having to speak up to get proper care because of the feeling like the pain they were experiencing was not taken seriously. Additionally from that same study the majority of Black Americans (55%) said they have had negative experiences with doctors. For example, there was a program targeting high blood pressure at Kaiser Permanente in California this organization eliminated differences in control among Black and white adults. The program used electronic health records to track blood pressure, increased doctor-patient conversation outside of office visits and lowered the price of blood pressure medication to make it more affordable and accessible. When proactive measures are taken like this then we would be able to see an uptick in patient trust, improvement of their well being and in their overall life However that is far from the reality, research also showed Black adults were disproportionately enrolled in lower-performing health plans nationwide. With these systematic healthcare disparities alongside with the systematic disparities they face a majority of their lives, this causes Black men to have higher rates of distrusts in systems and especially when it comes to healthcare and providers. Because of the high amount of distrust in healthcare seen among Black men, they are less likely to take the prescribed medication that is made to help lower their blood pressure.

Ayanian, J. Z., Landon, B. E., Newhouse, J. P., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2014). Racial and ethnic disparities among enrollees in Medicare advantage plans. New England Journal of Medicine, 371(24), 2288–2297. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmsa1407273

Cox, K. (2024, June 15). 6. Black Americans and mistrust of the U.S. Health Care System and Medical Research. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/06/15/black-americans-and-mistrust-of-the-u-s-health-care-system-and-medical-research/

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The high rates of hypertension among Black/African American men in the United States have profound health and economic impacts. Nearly 58% of Black men are affected by high blood pressure, one of the highest rates globally and highest prevalence of any racial group making them especially vulnerable to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, which remain the leading causes of death in this population. Uncontrolled hypertension also directly leads to higher rates of kidney disease, dementia, vision loss, and sexual dysfunction, while Black men are 4 times more likely than white men to develop end-stage renal disease or suffer strokes. Despite there being strong awareness and relatively high treatment rates, being 64% for Black men, only about half achieve effective blood pressure control, which is far more lower than for white adults. These results in disproportionate rates of fatal complications such as heart failure and premature cardiovascular death, with more than half of heart failure hospitalizations under the age of 50 occur in this group. To add on, the national annual cost linked to high blood pressure for the entire US was estimated at $219 billion in 2019, due to healthcare expenses, lost-productivity, and related complications.

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/cardiovascular-health-risks-continue-to-grow-within-black-communities-action-needed

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11531251/

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30050-1/fulltext

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

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Beats of Strength: the Heart Health Initiative for Black men in SF

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Black men who live in San Francisco

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Building on cultural wealth of Black men San Francisco Residents

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Building on cultural wealth of Black men San Francisco Residents

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This͏͏ program͏͏ and͏͏ its͏͏ components͏͏ were͏͏ designed͏͏ using͏͏ Tara͏͏ Yosso's͏͏ cultural͏͏ wealth͏͏ theory͏͏ to͏͏ improve͏͏ health͏͏ outcomes͏͏ for͏͏ Black͏͏ men͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco.͏͏ The͏͏ program͏͏ acknowledges͏͏ that͏͏ participants͏͏ possess͏͏ valuable͏͏ cultural͏͏ knowledge,͏͏ traditions,͏͏ and͏͏ lived͏͏ experiences͏͏ that͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ powerful͏͏ tools͏͏ for͏͏ enhancing͏͏ heart͏͏ health͏͏ within͏͏ their͏͏ community.͏͏

Through͏͏ group͏͏ sessions,͏͏ we͏͏ aim͏͏ to͏͏ foster͏͏ social͏͏ support,͏͏ shared͏͏ learning,͏͏ and͏͏ collective͏͏ empowerment.͏͏ By͏͏ involving͏͏ local͏͏ pastors,͏͏ barbers,͏͏ coaches,͏͏ and͏͏ other͏͏ respected͏͏ figures,͏͏ the͏͏ program͏͏ engages͏͏ cultural͏͏ connectors͏͏ who͏͏ also͏͏ encourage͏͏ health͏͏ management.͏͏

Cooking͏͏ demonstrations͏͏ featuring͏͏ culturally͏͏ familiar͏͏ meals͏͏ allow͏͏ participants͏͏ to͏͏ celebrate͏͏ their͏͏ heritage͏͏ while͏͏ sharing͏͏ experiences͏͏ and͏͏ exploring͏͏ healthier͏͏ preparation͏͏ methods͏͏ together.͏͏ Finally,͏͏ distributing͏͏ pamphlets͏͏ throughout͏͏ the͏͏ city͏͏ will͏͏ raise͏͏ awareness͏͏ about͏͏ hypertension͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ community͏͏ and͏͏ create͏͏ opportunities͏͏ for͏͏ connection͏͏ and͏͏ community-driven͏͏ solutions.

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Program Activities Phase 1: Program Development (mos. 1-3)

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Program Activities Phase 1: Program Development (mos. 1-3)

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Hire͏͏ community͏͏ leaders͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ pastors,͏͏ barbers,͏͏ and͏͏ coaches͏͏ who͏͏ have͏͏ strong͏͏ connections͏͏ with͏͏ local͏͏ residents.͏͏ Their͏͏ trust͏͏ and͏͏ influence͏͏ will͏͏ help͏͏ spread͏͏ the͏͏ word͏͏ and͏͏ encourage͏͏ participation.

Purchase͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ monitors͏͏ to͏͏ use͏͏ during͏͏ classes,͏͏ allowing͏͏ participants͏͏ to͏͏ track͏͏ their͏͏ progress͏͏ at͏͏ home.

Create͏͏ outreach͏͏ materials,͏͏ including͏͏ flyers,͏͏ pamphlets,͏͏ and͏͏ a͏͏ social͏͏ media͏͏ page,͏͏ to͏͏ share͏͏ updates,͏͏ promote͏͏ events,͏͏ and͏͏ raise͏͏ awareness͏͏ about͏͏ heart͏͏ health.

Hire͏͏ qualified͏͏ instructors͏͏ and͏͏ nutrition͏͏ educators͏͏ who͏͏ can͏͏ teach͏͏ participants͏͏ about͏͏ healthy͏͏ eating,͏͏ exercise,͏͏ and͏͏ stress͏͏ management͏͏ in͏͏ simple͏͏ and͏͏ realistic͏͏ ways.

Develop͏͏ the͏͏ program͏͏ curriculum͏͏ and͏͏ lesson͏͏ plans͏͏ to͏͏ guide͏͏ all͏͏ classes͏͏ and͏͏ activities͏͏ throughout͏͏ the͏͏ program. Select͏͏ a͏͏ program͏͏ location͏͏ in͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco͏͏ that͏͏ is͏͏ easily͏͏ accessible͏͏ by͏͏ public͏͏ transportation͏͏ and͏͏ set͏͏ up͏͏ a͏͏ consistent͏͏ schedule͏͏ for͏͏ workshops͏͏ and͏͏ check-ins.

Prepare͏͏ participant͏͏ resources͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ handouts,͏͏ activity͏͏ trackers,͏͏ and͏͏ goal-setting͏͏ sheets͏͏ to͏͏ support͏͏ learning͏͏ and͏͏ motivation.

Recruit͏͏ black male participants͏͏ from͏͏ San͏͏ Francisco,͏͏ focusing͏͏ on͏͏ communities͏͏ most͏͏ affected͏͏ by͏͏ high͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ and͏͏ heart͏͏ disease.͏͏

Outreach͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ conducted͏͏ through͏͏ churches,͏͏ barbershops,͏͏ local͏͏ clinics,͏͏ and͏͏ community͏͏ centers.

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Program Activities Phase 2: Program Implementation (Months. 3-24)

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Program Activities Phase 2: Program Implementation (Months. 3-24)

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Train Local Community Leaders/Heart Health Ambassadors in From Pressure to Power

10 community leaders will meet once a month for 1 hour for 4 months for training

Training Approach

Lecture/Presentation

Training Topics

The risks , disparities, and complications participants face, when someone is ignorant of their blood pressure levels.

The importance of following up with their medical care provider after receiving a high blood pressure/hypertension diagnosis

To be able to manage and take control of their blood pressure and their health.

We will be talking to and training local African American community leaders who our targeted population respect and feel comfortable with such as African American fraternity groups, worship leaders and community barbers.

Train community leaders on how to use blood pressure cuffs, become informed of risk factors/information about hypertension & be able to educate the community

Black Men Heart Health Management Workshop

30 Strong Hearts participants will meet for 1 hour and 45 min. sessions once a month for 7 months

Workshop Topics

Start with health management topics such as hypertension, blood pressure management, preventative health, importance of routine check up, healthy eating, stress management, how culture plays a role in their diet and health. Then will rotate with group B.

Training approach

Our program will focus on black men in SF who struggle to manage their blood pressure or are at risk of having hypertension. We will input lectures to teach about preventative healthcare focused on managing blood pressure

Healthy Heart Cooking Workshop

30 Healthy Heart Cooking workshop participants will meet for 2 hours sessions once a month for the following 7 months.

Training Topics

Cooking techniques, meal planning, understanding food labels, understanding sodium and its effect on hypertension, healthy habits.

Training Approach

Provide hands-on cooking demonstrations with instructors assisting, provide weekly meal preps examples, provide label reading practices and show how to read sodium labels, demonstrate sodium effects on blood pressure, and provide ways to track sodium intake for a healthier lifestyle.

Information distribution for Heart Wise Community

Heart Wise Community pamphlets will be distributed and conduct street outreach by 4 instructors of the program to residents of San Francisco to recruit Black men to attend heart health management. This will occur twice a month for 2 hours for 2 months

Pamphlet Content

How to sign up for the program, where the program will be located, what times the program will meet and how long the participants will be apart of the program. Also will include info graphics of how many black and African American men in San Francisco develop hypertension.

Training Approach

Once the health ambassadors are hired and trained, they will pass them out in front of the building/ site location and will spread out a one-block radius from the site location and ask for permission to leave one pamphlet in the store so that customers can read while waiting or take a picture of the pamphlet

Conduct Social Media Campaign

Instructors of the Strong Hearts program will handle and develop social media posts

Social Media Marketing campaign will run for 19 months

Strong Hearts will provide updates and summaries of both past and incoming meetings as well as engaging in media advocacy to promote campaign messages

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Beats of Strength Project Director (Full-Time)

Beats of Strength Project Coordinator (Part-Time)

Local Community Leaders

Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Stress Management Instructor

Cooking Workshop Assistant (part time)

Expanded Ambassador Outreach

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Program Activities Phase 3: Closing ( Months 22-24)

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Program Activities Phase 3: Closing ( Months 22-24)

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Healthy͏͏ Heart͏͏ Celebration

͏͏We’ll͏͏ hold͏͏ a͏͏ “Healthy͏͏ Heart͏͏ Celebration”͏͏ where͏͏ participants͏͏ can͏͏ come͏͏ together͏͏ to͏͏ share͏͏ their͏͏ stories,͏͏ cook͏͏ healthy͏͏ meals,͏͏ and͏͏ recognize͏͏ how͏͏ far͏͏ they’ve͏͏ come.͏͏ Family,͏͏ friends,͏͏ and͏͏ community͏͏ partners͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ invited͏͏ to͏͏ join.͏͏ It’s͏͏ a͏͏ way͏͏ to͏͏ show͏͏ appreciation͏͏ for͏͏ everyone’s͏͏ effort͏͏ and͏͏ to͏͏ remind͏͏ participants͏͏ that͏͏ taking͏͏ care͏͏ of͏͏ their͏͏ heart͏͏ health͏͏ is͏͏ something͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ proud͏͏ of.

Certificates͏͏ and͏͏ Resource͏͏ Kits

͏͏Everyone͏͏ who͏͏ completes͏͏ the͏͏ program͏͏ will͏͏ receive͏͏ a͏͏ Certificate͏͏ of͏͏ Completion͏͏ and͏͏ a͏͏ Heart͏͏ Health͏͏ Resource͏͏ Kit.͏͏ The͏͏ kit͏͏ will͏͏ include͏͏ a͏͏ home͏͏ blood-pressure͏͏ monitor,͏͏ a͏͏ small͏͏ recipe͏͏ booklet͏͏ made͏͏ by͏͏ participants,͏͏ and͏͏ a͏͏ list͏͏ of͏͏ local͏͏ fitness͏͏ and͏͏ nutrition͏͏ resources.͏͏ The͏͏ goal͏͏ is͏͏ to͏͏ make͏͏ sure͏͏ everyone͏͏ leaves͏͏ with͏͏ something͏͏ useful͏͏ they͏͏ can͏͏ continue͏͏ to͏͏ apply͏͏ after͏͏ the͏͏ program͏͏ ends.

Evaluation͏͏ and͏͏ Feedback

͏͏We’ll͏͏ collect͏͏ short͏͏ surveys͏͏ and͏͏ hold͏͏ group͏͏ discussions͏͏ to͏͏ hear͏͏ directly͏͏ from͏͏ participants͏͏ about͏͏ their͏͏ experience; what͏͏ worked,͏͏ what͏͏ didn’t,͏͏ and͏͏ what͏͏ changes͏͏ they’ve͏͏ noticed͏͏ in͏͏ their͏͏ health͏͏ or͏͏ routines.͏͏ We’ll͏͏ also͏͏ review͏͏ progress͏͏ logs͏͏ and͏͏ activity͏͏ data͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ a͏͏ clear͏͏ picture͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ program’s͏͏ impact.

Final͏͏ Report͏͏ and͏͏ Sharing͏͏ Results

͏͏The͏͏ team͏͏ will͏͏ write͏͏ up͏͏ a͏͏ short͏͏ report͏͏ highlighting͏͏ the͏͏ key͏͏ results,͏͏ lessons͏͏ learned,͏͏ and͏͏ success͏͏ stories.͏͏ This͏͏ report͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ shared͏͏ with͏͏ funders͏͏ and͏͏ local͏͏ health͏͏ partners͏͏ to͏͏ help͏͏ support͏͏ future͏͏ programs͏͏ and͏͏ show͏͏ the͏͏ impact͏͏ this͏͏ one͏͏ made͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ community.

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5 From Pressure to Power Training for Ambassadors

10 community leaders

30 participants (Same 30 participants per training) participating in the program

12 Healthy Heart Cooking Workshops

6 Strong Hearts Workshops

38 Social Media posts/updates as a part of the Beats of Strength Campaign

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Johnson, T. (2023, November). Stress and High Blood Pressure in Black people: What's the Link? Goodrx. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/black-health/stress-and-blood-pressure

N.I.H ( 2024, May 16.) Adverse social determinants of health linked to treatment-resistant hypertension in Black Americans. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/adverse-social-determinants-health-linked-treatment-resistant-hypertension-black-americans

Cardiovascular Health Risks continue to grow within black communities, action needed. American Heart Association. (n.d.). https://newsroom.heart.org/news/cardiovascular-health-risks-continue-to-grow-within-black-communities-action-needed

Siddiqui, T. W., Siddiqui, R. W., Nishat, S. M. H., Alzaabi, A. A., Alzaabi, F. M., Al Tarawneh, D. J., Khan, A., Khan, M. A. M., & Siddiqui, S. W. (2024, October 3). Bridging the gap: Tackling racial and ethnic disparities in hypertension management. Cureus. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11531251/  https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30050-1/fulltext

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 17). FASTSTATS - leading causes of death. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

High blood pressure among Black Adults. www.heart.org. (n.d.). https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/know-your-risk-factors-for-high-blood-pressure/high-blood-pressure-among-black-adults

Ferdinand, K. C., & Graham, R. M. (2018, December 17). Uncontrolled hypertension in Black men: Is cutting blood pressure in the barbershop a long-term solution? Circulation, 139(1). https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038240

Ogunniyi, M. O., Commodore-Mensah, Y., & Ferdinand, K. C. (2021, December 14). Race, ethnicity, hypertension, and heart disease: JACC Focus Seminar 1/9. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 78(24), 2460–2470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.06.017

Abrahamowicz,͏͏ A.͏͏ A.,͏͏ Ebinger,͏͏ J.,͏͏ Whelton,͏͏ S.͏͏ P.,͏͏ Commodore-Mensah,͏͏ Y.,͏͏ &͏͏ Yang,͏͏ E.͏͏ (2023,͏͏ January͏͏ 9).͏͏ Racial͏͏ and͏͏ ethnic͏͏ disparities͏͏ in͏͏ hypertension:͏͏ Barriers͏͏ and͏͏ opportunities͏͏ to͏͏ improve͏͏ blood͏͏ pressure͏͏ control.͏͏ Current͏͏ Cardiology͏͏ Reports,͏͏ 25(1),͏͏ 17–27.͏͏ https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-022-01826-x

Ayanian, J. Z., Landon, B. E., Newhouse, J. P., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2014). Racial and ethnic disparities among enrollees in Medicare advantage plans. New England Journal of Medicine, 371(24), 2288–2297. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmsa1407273

Cox, K. (2024, June 15). 6. Black Americans and mistrust of the U.S. Health Care System and Medical Research. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/06/15/black-americans-and-mistrust-of-the-u-s-health-care-system-and-medical-research/