NETTIE JACKSON

Nettie Jackson is the Cultural Initiatives Director for the Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart and the American Stroke Association.  Nettie had been with AHA for 15 years and has worked in a number of areas.   She has worked in areas from Programs to Advocacy and is currently Cultural Initiatives Director for Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association/

She attended the University of Alabama and has extensive training in policy development, organizational and Board development and community organization.  She has a wide range of political and community organization experience including management, development, research and fundraising.  Nettie has developed and worked with our legislators to pass legislation including a tobacco tax for Georgia, (the first in 30 years) and Public Access to Defibrillation.     

She serves on several Boards and has a real desire to work with communities to improve health through health policy and education.   She served on the National Work team with AHA, CDC, NIH and others to chart the focus of CVD and stroke education and awareness.  Most recently she served on the National team for the American Stroke Association to develop the new Power To End Stroke campaign.

Nettie has won numerous awards and this year she received the Rome Betts Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Initiatives; he highest national award for outstanding achievement for staff of the American Heart Association.

She has been married for 37 years and has two wonderful daughters.  Her passions are politics and traveling.   
 

Overview of Power to end Stroke

What is Power To End Stroke?  POWER is truly revolutionary.  It is a multi-year, grassroots education campaign designed to increase awareness of stroke risk and warning signs in the African-American community.  This campaign embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans.  It also unites us to make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within our community. 

Through Power To End Stroke, the American Stroke Association is working to:

§        create awareness around the serious health disparity of stroke in African Americans;

§        drive the message that in many cases, stroke may be preventable;

§        increase knowledge of the risk factors for stroke, particularly high blood pressure and diabetes;

§        give information to African Americans to help reduce their risks;

§        improve healthcare professionals’ adherence of primary and secondary stroke prevention guidelines

In addition to raising awareness of stroke, the campaign strives to encourage individuals to call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-4-STROKE or visit the web site to:

·        Take the stroke pledge to begin the journey to reduce stroke risk;

·        Receive free information about African Americans and stroke;

·        Find out how to reduce stroke in their community by becoming involved with the Power To End Stroke campaign.

As the campaign progresses you will see a number of activities take place both nationally and locally. For example, we are excited to announce that we have partnered with the Ad Council to produce a nationwide public service campaign.  The first television spots are being finalized as we speak and we should see them on air soon. 

We are working on other components for the campaign such as a national icon day in order to mobilize the country on a single day to highlight the Power To End Stroke program.

With your help, we will also continue to participate in local events to help spread awareness and increase the number of individuals who sign the stroke pledge and become part of Power To End Stroke.

Thank you for being here this evening and I look forward to working with all of you to inspire African Americans to take charge and exercise their POWER to fight this devastating health threat.