Established: August 2004

The Magic City Stroke Prevention Project, funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Minority Health, is a four-year community-based project designed to develop a comprehensive collaboration within the city of Birmingham in order to reduce the burden of stroke.

The project is comprised of public and private organizations representing public health, health care, business, academia, government, and the faith community. Emphasis of the project will focus on structured risk reduction programs, the promotion of physical activity, and appropriate health screenings regarding the issue of stroke.

Under the direction of the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health, the Magic City Stroke Prevention Project intends to uphold the long-standing mission of “bridging the gap between public health science and practice in risk reduction across the life span among African-American and other underserved communities to determine the benefits of sustained efforts to build community capacity and to reduce risk factors within underserved communities.”

The Magic City Stroke Prevention Project partners with numerous community and faith-based organizations in the city of Birmingham, including but not limited to: the Jefferson County Department of Health, the American Heart and Stroke Association, Congregations for Public Health, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Cooper Green Hospital and a host of others.

Five television spots have been developed and produced by the Magic City Stroke communication group highlighting the identification of stroke signs and symptoms and its associated risk factors. The project has also worked to produce a video piece to bring prominence to the issue of stroke survivorship. Spots have aired on five local television stations and four cable stations over 600 times with an audience reach of approximately 240,000 individuals. The Magic City Stroke Project has also been heard approximately 2500 times on five local radio stations since spring of 2005.

The Magic City Project has successfully awarded $220,000 in mini-grants to various neighborhood associations, churches, civic organizations and others. The project is truly one designed by and for Birmingham; and has received support from local businesses and political leaders. The success of the project could not have been accomplished without the guidance and direction of those change agents in the city of Birmingham. The project vision’s is to become a sustainable entity in the city of Birmingham through the continued collaboration of local partners addressing the issue of hypertension and stroke.

Click here to visit the Magic City Stroke project's website.