Community AmbassadorsLearn about the community ambassadors who help empower adults to live their healthiest lives.
Join our Community Ambassador Network
We invite you to join and spread the word about an exclusive network of trusted leaders, organizations, and businesses in the Black community to help us empower more adults to live their healthiest lives. As a “Live to the Beat” Community Ambassador, you can help those in your community lower their risk for heart disease and stroke. As an Ambassador, you would:
- Sharing heart-healthy messages and resources with your community.
- Promoting opportunities for your audiences to win cool prizes for taking healthy steps.
- Sharing your outreach to inspire others.
- Gaining national recognition and a chance to earn prizes of your own.
Check out the “Live to the Beat” catalog of resources to see the materials you will have access to. Visit bit.ly/communityambassadorsnetwork to express interest and get started.
In the
Spotlight
We are proud to feature these ambassadors who are making a big difference reaching people online and in their local community.
Mary Ponder
I live to the beat because I think it's important to take care of our hearts. Despite my physical limitations, I plan to participate in the American Heart Walk this year. I believe that we should encourage others to "Live to the Beat." I have done so by sharing the educational materials with the community and hope to continue to do so in the next year.
Nikia White-Spots
I live to the beat because it lets me know I am in CHARGE. As a 48 year old woman who had a stroke a year ago, 5 months after my father's passing from renal failure, I know how it feels to be at a disadvantage where your health is concerned. I have lowered my daily stress levels, lost weight, and started putting me first. I have been facilitating a weekly, peer-lead exercise program here in my community for a few years now . We help others learn about healthy eating and exercise. We also track our progress and hold each other accountable.Meet Our Ambassadors
Hundreds of ambassadors across the country have raised their hands to help their communities Live to the Beat. They are educating people about small steps to prevent heart attack and stroke as part of their day-to-day work.
- Alison Austin
Albany, GA, PRUITTHEALTH PALMYRA NRC - Haneda L. Garner
Alexandria, VA, HG Travels - Michelle Bush
Americus, GA, West Central health District/Public Health - Demaris Watson
Anderson, IN, Sari-Heart Foundation Inc - Debra Franklin
Apex, NC, Bicycle Oven Company - Ada Dieke
Atlanta, GA - Adam Petty
Atlanta, GA, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (AAC) - Asia Rivers
Atlanta, GA, Morehouse School of Medicine - Cicily Newby
Atlanta, GA, The Faith Center (Tucker) - Dana Austin
Atlanta, GA, Center for Global Health Innovation - Denzel Veale
Atlanta, GA, Village Medical - Felicia Drummond
Atlanta, GA, Ditch, Inc. - Jamilah Burnly
Atlanta, GA, Sigma Gamma Rho Soroity - Jimmie Simmons
Atlanta, GA, Grady Behavioral Health - Lila Gilliam
Atlanta, GA, Sigma Gamma Rho (Spelman College) - Tina Ann Cecelia Kerr-Thompson
Atlanta, GA - LaShawna Stowe
Bakersfield, CA, African American Network of Kern County - LaShawna Stowe
Bakersfield, CA - Pamela Xenakis
Baltimore, MD, Ascension St Agnes - Sal Shah
Baltimore, MD, Leadership Health - Julianne M. Haydel
Baton Rouge, LA, Haydel Consulting Serivces, LLC - Pat Greene Pinckney
Beaufort, SC, Healthy Churches Consortium - Sarah Lane
Bellingham, WA, Health Ministries Network - Dianne Toney
Birmingham, AL, First Baptist Church of Zion City - Kathy Dennis
Bloomfield, CT - Tiffany Christian
Boone, NC - Kitty Mahoney
Boston, MA, Massachusetts Association of Public Health Nurses - Maiya Coilton
Boston, MA, THE BLACK BRAIN HEALTH COLLECTIVE - Ashley Carmenia
Charlotte, NC, Carmenia Consulting LLC - Shanelle Brown
Charlotte, NC, Greater Mt Moriah Primitive Baptist Church - Sherree Bradley
Charlotte, NC, Cityblock Health - Tamyca Danielle Brown
Charlottesville, VA - Latisa Dewitt
Chicago, IL, Lily of Valley Foundation - Nykesha Jones
Chicago, IL, Rush University Medical Center - Katrina Watson
Christiansburg, VA - Dr. Faith Richard
Cleveland, OH, Healthcare Access Worldwide Inc - Patrice Sirmons
Cleveland, OH, PSD Consulting Group - Emily Sims
Columbia, SC, Partners for Change of the Carolinas - Project Wellness - Rachael Habash
Columbus, GA, Walk with a Doc - Theresa Jacobs
Conyers, GA, Georgia Primary Care Association - Juan C. Escandón
Davenport, FL, IMA - Ravenn Worthen
Deridder, LA - Chris Espersen
Des Moines, IA, NACHC - Zakiya Jenkins
Des Moines, IA, Grace Fitness - George Days
Detroit, MI - Jametta Lilly
Detroit, MI, Detroit Parent Network - LaToyia Shannon
Detroit, MI, JNS Health Solutions - Patricia Williams
Detroit, MI - Natalie Andrews
Dover, DE, Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Program - Marshauna Sagesse
Duluth, GA, MGS Wellness, LLC - Cedra Starks Cisco
East Orange, NJ, East Orange Department of Health and Human Services - Imani Cabrera
East Orange, NJ, East Orange Department of Health & Human Services - Sade Boss
East Orange, NJ, East Orange Department of Health & Human Services - Janessa VandenBerge
Eau Claire, WI, Eau Claire City-County Health Department - Cori Tallman
Elkins, WV, Randolph-Elkins Health Department - Lu Tramill
Evansville, IN, Agape Healthcare Solutions - Stephanie Barboza
Fall River, MA, C.L.U.B Blessed Services Inc. - Crystal Edmonds
Fayetteville, NC - D.S. Wilson
Fot Lauderdale, FL, D Satterwhite Wilson Consulting Group - Jennifer Cooper
Frederick, MD, Hood College - Desiree Williams
Granite City, IL - Betsy Richter
High Point, NC, YWCA - William Crenshaw
Houston, TX, Medium Man LLC - Erica Smith
Indianapolis, IN - Dr. Bianca Simmons
Jackson, MS, Infinite Rehab and Wellness - Mary Williams
Jackson, MS - Dr. Juanita Singleton, PhD
Kansas City, MO, REGAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS - Shannon DiMaggio
Kansas City, MO, reStart Inc. - Susan Grinslade
Lancaster, NY, University at Buffalo SON, Buffalo Community Health Equity Center - Skarlet Walls
Las Vegas, NV, For the People Health Services - Dr. Obumneke Amadi-Onuoha
Laurel, MD, Discover Health Global Initiative - Vaughan Sanders
Lilburn, GA, New Mercies Christian Church - Michael Scott
Little Rock, AK, ARORA - Brenda Maull
Los Angeles, CA - Renee Poole
Los Angeles, CA, Association of Black Women Physicians - Amy Bornhoft
Lynchburg, VA, CAN - Kinzetta Cobbs
Lynchburg, VA, COMMUNITY ACCESS NETWORK - Patricia Diane Galloway
Macon, GA, Bethel CME Church- Social Concerns Ministry - Tasha Edwards
Madison, AL, Hip Healthy Chick - Tanisha Hooker
McDonough, GA - LaTonya Horne Agbagwu
Meridian, MS, Greater Meridian Health Clinic, Incorporated - Pedro Martinez-Clark
Miami, FL, Amavita Heart and Vascular TM - Velma Pete
Missouri City, TX - Jia Johnson
Mobile, AL - Leshaundria Smith
Montgomery, AL, Fearless Fitness - Ariel Clark
Nashville, TN, Tennessee Pharmacists Association - Edgar Romero
New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers Graduate Society of Healthcare Leaders - Rebecca Thompson
New Glarus, WI, WI Community Health Empowerment Fund - Karen Green
New Haven, CT - Megan Wadsworth
New Orleans, LA, LSU School of Public Health - Nikia White-Spots
New Orleans, LA, Desired Connections - Barbara George
New York, NY, NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island - L. Nicholas
New York, NY - Mamadou Soumahoro
New York, NY, NYCDOHMH Adolescent Health Unit - Jamelia Lewis-Ridgird
Newark, NJ, South Ward Promise Neighborhood - Liza de la Cruz
Norfolk, VA, Virginia Department of Health - Geraldine Bell
Norway, SC, Cedar Grove MBC - Sara Eve Sarliker
Olympia, WA, Washington State Department of Health - Denise N. Youmans
Orangeburg, SC, Practical Compressions™ - Kimberly Breuer
Orlando, FL, EliteCare Health Center - Samantha Cotler
Orlando, FL, AdventHealth - Thelma Reis
Phoenix, AZ, Arizona Department of Health Services - Taunita Renee Trotter
Pittsburg, CA - Denise Sanders-Boutte
Port Arthur, TX, South East Texas Health Resources - Deborah Martin
Portland, OR - Mikal H. Shabazz
Portland, OR, Inner City Muslim American Movement and Associates - Pastor Renee Ward
Portland, OR, More Than An Overcomer - Ujuonu Nwizu
Portland, OR, Oregon Health Equity Alliance - Lorraine Middleton
Poughkeepsie, NY, United Way - Erin O'Brien
Providence, RI, RI Nurses Institute -Nurses Middle College - Meg Sherdan
Providence, RI - Q'Vaunda Curry
Quincy, FL, Vitamin Q Fitness - William Pertet
Raleigh, NC, NC DPH - Tiffany Copeland
Richmond, VA, Sports Backers Fitness Warriors - Alisha M. Hanes
Rock Island, IL - Anita J.
Sacramento, CA - Mary A. Ponder
Sacramento, CA, River Oak Center for Children, Inc. - Carmichael, CA - Elaine Eng
San Diego, CA - Nancy Asare
San Diego, CA - Lisa Word
San Francisco, CA, Bridgespan - Pamela M. Cross, MSHS
San Francisco, CA, The Wellness Ministries, International Inc - Brandon Mabey
Shohola, PA, HOSA - Margaret J. Furdge
Sledge, MS, Mt. Zion Baptist Church - Jamie Austin
St. Louis, MO - Debbie Williams
Starke, FL, Florida Department of Health - Francys Johnson
Statesboro, GA, Magnolia Baptist Church - Cynthia Williams
Stockton, CA, San Joaquin General Hospital - Mallory Abbott
Toledo, OH, Global Heart Hub - Catina Nicole Burrell
Tyrone, GA - Malinda W. Knight
Vidalia, LA, Temple of Deliverance Apostolic Ministries - Johanna Segovia
Washington, DC, National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) - Trinna Kirkland
Washington, DC, NurseFromBirth - Tammy Williams
West Chester, PA, Envision2bWell Inc dba EnvisionWell - Lezlie Mestdagh
West Des Moines, IA, Iowa Heart Foundation - Margo Wagner
Wichita, KS, Quality Insights and Ascension Via Christi - Melanie Burnett
Winfield, KS, William Newton Hospital - Loki Sahafi
Woodinville, WA