Peer Education & Support
AARTH knows that the most effective change comes from within the community itself. Our work is grounded in the belief that lived experience, trusted relationships, and grassroots leadership are key to promoting health equity. Through Peer Education & Support, Community Navigators, Lay Leaders, and Volunteers, AARTH builds a culturally grounded, people-powered movement for wellness.
AARTH’s Community Navigators are more than outreach volunteers, they are relationship builders, advocates, and connectors, grounded in the cultural values and lived experiences of the people they serve. Their presence ensures that no elder feels forgotten, and every elder has access to the support, knowledge, and community they deserve.
Community Navigators work closely with local Black churches, faith-based organizations, and other cultural hubs to:
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Share health education and event information with congregations
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Encourage participation in AARTH programs
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Normalize conversations around aginga, wellness, and caregiving
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Serve as a trusted link between the faith community and public health systems
Faith remains a powerful influence in the lives of many African American elders. By partnering with churches, CNs ensure that health outreach is delivered in culturally respectful and spiritually affirming ways.
Community Navigators
As an AARTH Lay Leader, you facilitate Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) or Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) workshops. The workshop series is 6-week, 2.5 hour per week to groups of 12-15 people who have one or more chronic conditions. Leaders will always co-facilitate with another leader. No previous knowledge about chronic illness is necessary because all teaching is done from a detailed manual after completion of the certificated training using the Self-ManagementResource Center (SMRC) curriculum. Leaders receive a stipend for their time.
Lay Leaders
Volunteers
Peer support works—because it’s built on trust, shared identity, and mutual respect. In communities of color, where medical mistrust and stigma can prevent people from seeking help, peer-led programs offer an accessible, culturally grounded entry point into care and wellness.