Background
The beauty and strength of the Latina/Hispanic culture rests in the family, and the heartbeat of the family is the wife and mother. Unfortunately, heart disease and stroke are attacking that heartbeat. As the Latino/Hispanic population grows, so do deaths related to heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Nearly 33 percent of deaths among Hispanic females can be attributed to heart disease and stroke.
Why
Part of the challenge for the Latina/Hispanic community is to raise awareness about heart disease and its risk factors. As key gatekeepers for health, it is essential to educate women about their risk and family’s risk for heart disease and stroke –this is the goal of Vestido Rojo, an activation of the Go Red Por Tu Corazon movement.
How
Vestido Rojo is an annual, half-day, women’s-only event comprised of health screenings, health-focused breakout sessions and a luncheon featuring educational and inspirational speakers. Emphasis is placed on recruiting local speakers, sponsors and organizations to provide all content. The American Heart Association and its Vestido Rojo committee recruit "Madrinas", Hispanic/Latina women in the community, to each fill a table of ten, acting as the primary source for all participants.
