Featured Initiatives

Pressure Project

Barbershop outreach programs, which began in the 1980s, leverage trusted relationships between barbers and clients to deliver health information and improve health outcomes in Black men. Healthy Heart Nation has launched an initiative to place blood pressure units in Black barbershops across America with online education, access to nutrition, and local resources.

Spectrum News Article

Press Enterprise Article

Press Release for February 2023 Pressure Project Event

Welcome to the Healthy Heart Nation

Educating our communities on disparities and how to overcome them.

Our Services

The Healthy Heart Nation has been delivering focused discussions surrounding disparities in the African American community for over two decades.

Panelists

If you are looking for top notch, experienced and exceptional communicators, please look no further than one of our panelists. We have leaders in every profession ready and more than able to enlighten and inspire.

Workshops

Prior to COVID-19, Workshops were being provided in-person. COVID-19 didn’t stop us, we are now providing workshops virtually through social media outlets e.g. Facebook and YouTube.

Wellness Retreats

In the busy society that we live in, it has become increasingly important that people take time to come together to recharge your battery. The Healthy Heart Nation Wellness Retreats are focused on Mental, Physical and Spiritual renewals.

Seminars

For the individuals who are looking to receive the much needed edge to their overall professional offering, the Healthy Heart Nation facilitates seminars focused on a wide variety of topics.

Meet Our Board

Danette Batiste, ITILv3
Board Chair

Danette Batiste brings her 25 + years of experience serving in various C-Suite positions in the IT industry to the role of CEO / Executive Director of Healthy Heart Nation. As the Executive Director of Healthy Heart Nation, Batiste fills the key administrative leadership role and directs the team. Batiste sets the cultural tone of the organization and represents the keystone of the nonprofit. Responsibilities include motivating the team, overseeing finances, and working to create the most impact possible on behalf of the mission of the organization.
Batiste was Vice President of Operations for CC-OPS for 17 years. Batiste was responsible for a team that at one time consisted of more than 300 employees and subcontractors in 40 states.
Batiste is an experienced and dynamic leader, with a strong reputation for managing multiple resources to achieve optimum results for her clients through the effective engagement of projects, and successful orchestrating implementations and transitions in multiple client engagements. Batiste received her undergraduate degree from Oakwood College and attended the University of Phoenix for her MBA. You can follow her on instagram @danettebryantbatiste or on linkedin

Brian E. Hardy, M.B.A.
Director

Mr. Hardy has provided Professional Management Consulting solutions for over 25 years for numerous companies within select industries. He possesses vast experience particularly within the Telecommunications, Aerospace, and Government industry. His background includes managing and participating in the full range of operational planning and financial modeling activities that include the evaluation of emerging technologies to outsourcing global operations. Brian is currently the Executive Vice President of ITConnect Incorporated, a Technology Services Firm and Founder/Managing Partner at Fifty Two Consulting. Brian is a board member for several non profit organizations, including recently being selected as the Board Treasurer and Technology Committee Chair for the Association of Passive Optical LAN and a director on the board of the Benjamin Banneker Foundation. Prior non profit appointments included Board Director for the National Black Business Council and Director and Secretary for the Black Business Association of Los Angeles. Brian received his undergraduate degree from Oakwood College and received his Masters of Business Administration (Technology Management) from the University of Phoenix.

DeVona Roseberry, J.D.
Director

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, DeVona spent her formative years in the Atlanta area. DeVona earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Oakwood College (now University) and her Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School. DeVona is passionate about educating and exposing youth to opportunities for better emotional, mental and physical well-being.
In addition to serving as General Counsel for Healthy Heart Nation, DeVona Roseberry is the founder of Roseberry Law, LLC. Her seventeen years of legal experience include specialties in the areas of Juvenile Law, Adoptions, Family Law, and Business Organizations. In addition to managing her private law practice, DeVona serves as a contract attorney for two family resource courts in the state of Georgia. DeVona is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and the National Association of Counsel for Children.

Michelle Burroughs, M.P.H.
Director

Michelle C. Burroughs is the Founder and CEO of MC² Consulting, LLC. Committed to advocating for women’s health equity and specializes in women empowerment and leadership.
Michelle is currently the Director of Community Engagement and Outreach for the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine’s Center for Healthy Communities (CHC). She leads the CHC in promoting community-engaged research. The mission of CHC is focused on remedying social injustices and health disparities that contribute to the poor health of individuals in California’s Inland Empire and beyond. Michelle has a depth of experience as a public health practitioner in, direct patient care, community engagement strategies, state, and county public health program administration, implementation, and evaluation. Michelle brings a public health career of over 25 years, is a master connector, collaborating with diverse organizations to solve complex problems facing counties, cities, and school districts within the private, public and non-profit sectors.
Michelle earned her Master’s in Public Health from Loma Linda University and a Bachelor of Science from Howard University.

Michael B. Kelly II, Director

Over the last decade, Kelly worked as a Senior Leader in the Non-Profit space for an organization that became the standard for social impact, community engagement, as well as diversity & inclusion. In this role, he led an amazing team of full & part time staff along with over 100 volunteers. Kelly used his passion for creativity to engage communities, develop programs that gave people opportunities to be the best versions of themselves while positively impacting society. Kelly’s ability to help people & organizations embrace differences has helped many to see that what makes us different is a strength and not a weakness. Additionally, Kelly leveraged film and media for Social Impact, Community Engagement, and Diversity and Inclusion.

Dr. Jarilyn Conner, Director

Dr. Jarilyn Conner graduated from Howard University and has a PHD in Mass Media Communication.
Dr. Conner’s focus is on Autism and the discrepancies and issues involved with African American parents seeking help for their children. Dr. Conner has done many speaking engagements with Dr. Temple Grandin. Dr. Conner’s passion is engaging with children and sharing with parents the resources and programs that are in the community to break the barriers, stigmas and stereotypes of a child diagnosed with autism. Dr. Conner has empowered many parents and their children to not feel embarrassed, ashamed or isolated from sharing their personal stories. As an advocate for children with autism, Dr. Conner is grateful for the opportunity to share the knowledge of others experiences and bridging the gap between educators, caregivers, and medical professionals.

Media Contact

April Rushing,
VP Communications

For media inquiries please contact April Rushing at April.Rushing@myhhn.org. To find out more about Healthy Heart Nation visit their website and social media pages, www.myhhn.org, @healthyheartnation3075 (YouTube), @healthyheart.nation.5 (Facebook), @healthyheartnation_ (Instagram) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthy-heart-nation (LinkedIn).

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Media Contact
Healthy Heart Nation
April Rushing, VP, Communications
April.Rushing@myhhn.org