About Empowered to Serve™
What is EmPOWERED to Serve?
Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy longer, healthier lives. But that doesn’t happen equitably. Some communities face health disparities simply because of the social determinants of health where they live, learn, work, play and worship.
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, these community Ambassadors are the heartbeat of our mission.
EmPOWERED to Serve accelerates innovative solutions to eliminate disparities in under-resourced communities caused by social determinants of health, also called structural determinants. We strengthen and uplift strategic partnerships and key initiatives.
Read how our current impact is changing lives one community at a time.
The meaning of community
Impact on Social Determinants of Health
How to Be Empowered to Serve
We’re glad you’re here. Social entrepreneurs, community ambassadors, organizations and individuals interested in making a positive impact on community health — welcome! You understand your community’s unique challenges, and Empowered to Serve has connections and resources to help you solve them. Empowered to Serve resources and initiatives are made for leaders like you, to help you create a culture of health where you live, work, play and worship.
Available resources include
- 13 turnkey Health Lessons can be implemented in person or virtually.
- The Empowered to Serve Scholars initiative annually awards grants to students focused on health impact.
- The Empowered to Serve Business Accelerator provides executive MBA-like training and capital access to social entrepreneurs.
- Empowered Community Innovation Exchange is a repository of community transformation best practices and social impact business models, and also a place to connect with local and/or like-minded organizations to drive partnerships, expansion, technical assistance and potential funding.