Petersburg – Healthy Hearts Initiative

Who We Are:Healthy Hearts Initiative Petersburg meeting

The Petersburg Healthy Hearts Initiative Learning Collaborative is a community-led heart disease and stroke learning collaborative in which over 80% of members represent the priority populations living within target census tracts with the highest rates of hypertension prevalence.

Mission: Our mission is to empower the Petersburg community to confront heart health disparities by fostering a culture of self-care, trust, and integrity.

Vision: We envision a future where the Petersburg community thrives in health and wellness, with residents who are empowered to take charge of their well-being and actively contribute to creating sustainable solutions for themselves and their neighbors.

Our Goals

  • Increase blood pressure self-monitoring among African Americans 45+
  • Increase number of Heart Healthy Ambassadors among African Americans 18+
  • Create opportunities for lifestyle changes through health education, health promotions, programs and events
  • Provide access to healthy, clean, affordable, and nutritious foods
  • Advocate for solutions to challenges and barriers of social determinants of health

Data

In Petersburg, there are 7,884 people living in poverty (25.32%, compared to VA average: 11%)

Unemployment: 7.65% in Petersburg (VA average: 4.01%)

45.3% of adults have high blood pressure

CDC information on death rates in Petersburg from 2022 and 2023 reveals the leading cause of death to be heart disease and strokes, representing about 22% of all deaths in the city.

The Team

Gloria Rose

Zelda Dugger-Tucker

Felicia Fisher

Janice McKeever

Mary Hill

Tiara Russell

Victoria Sanders

Rashid Hines

Kristopher Russell

Last Updated: December 6, 2024