Empowered to Serve™

Programs addressing health equity and improving the health of communities that are often overlooked
About Us
Black nurse giving young girl a high five

Empowered to Serve is a platform inspired by American Heart Association volunteers around the country who are passionate about driving change through health justice and empowerment in their communities.

Communities need localized solutions that will help individuals and families escalate beyond poverty and achieve improved life outcomes. No one knows the changes needed in a community as well as the members themselves.

Explore the Empowered to Serve programs and resources to boost your impact.

Young adult students smiling and posing together outside

Heart Clubs

You’re never too young to make an impact!

Start a Heart Club in Your High School
EmPOWERED to Serve Mid-South Business Accelerator 2022 awardee

Business Accelerator

Regional & National

Providing founders making a health impact with equitable access to resources and funding

Learn About the Accelerator

a digital tablet, newspaper, smartphone and coffee cup are sitting on a white table inside a bright living space

Innovation Academy

Free Self-paced Courses

Build your resolve, readiness and skills to be an active, productive and impactful business.

Access the Innovation Academy

A group of AHA's Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholars Program 2021 scholars

AHA Scholars

Scholarships & Mentorships

EmPOWERED Scholars, HBCU and HSI opportunities for future leaders and mentors in health equity

AHA Scholars Opportunities

Community Resources

Tools to help you contribute to your neighborhood and beyond

Community Health Lessons

Man taking blood pressure

18 science-based toolkits covering two essential areas: health education and community advocacy

Explore the Lessons

EmPOWERED Voices

Kenza Martin, Heart and Soul president; Sherman Wright, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Ten35; Pamela Garmon Johnson, Vice President Health Equity and National Partnership;Ebony Smith, a.k.a ‘The Ghetto Guru’; Andrew Suggs, CEO Live Chair Health

Stories around the people, coalitions, and individuals making transformative changes to the social determinants of health

Inspiring Stories

Stroke Resources

Face Arm Speech Time Stroke Awareness Message

Helpful materials to educate people on the warning signs of stroke...F.A.S.T.

Get Stroke Materials

Women’s Health Support

A group of smiling people wearing red is walking down a sidewalk and cheering.

Addressing the awareness and clinical care gaps of women’s greatest health threat, cardiovascular disease

Go Red for Women
A group of young people are on the ground practicing chest compressions on CPR manikins.

Teens Come Together to Learn Hands-Only CPR

More than 500 youth members from our strategic alliance Jack and Jill of America, Inc. learned the importance of CPR and how to perform hands-only CPR.
Our Strategic Alliances
head shot of Sybil Wilkes, a Black woman smiling and wearing a black top and a silver necklace

Check In & Check Up for Your Health with Sybil Wilkes

Don’t miss this!
Host Sybil Wilkes calls on community partners to inform and empower Black Americans for better health. Watch past shows, or tune in to her livestream.
Check In & Check Up

Empowering Headlines

News, stories and videos that impact your well-being.
Read more Health Equity Headlines
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person using a laptop

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Learn about our work in:
  • Community activism
  • Health education for you and your community, and
  • Social justice for historically under-resourced communities.
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