Durham Tech’s Johnson-Arnold honored as Live Fierce award recipient

Letitia Johnson-Arnold, coordinator for the Community Health Worker program at Durham Tech, was honored as the 2024 Triangle Heart Walk Live Fierce award recipient at the recent American Heart Association Heart Walk.

The award, presented by Vontier, honors individuals or organizations that “live fierce” for themselves, their loved ones and their community and that are catalysts for longer, healthier lives for people.

“The honor meant the most because the AHA is critical to promoting community health workers,” Johnson-Arnold said. “The AHA is instrumental in how we support community health workers as these workers go out into our communities.”

A community health worker builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy, according to the American Public Health Association.

The AHA has a longtime relationship with Durham Tech and its Community Health Worker program. The AHA has provided Durham Tech with automated external defibrillators used on the College’s Mobile Health Unit, which students in the Community Health Workers program work out of.  

“They do these things and more,” Johnson-Arnold said. “They have set up self-monitoring blood pressure units in our community, so our students learn in real time how to show others to take their blood pressure. Invaluable information is shared thanks to our students and the AHA.”

The AHA has empowered Durham Tech instructors to carry the message of health and careers in health by enhancing the curriculum with health lesson plans that are already “packaged.” There are 19 science-based toolkits covering two essential areas: health education and community advocacy.

“The Empowered to Serve Health lessons offer a way to engage and motivate communities to create a culture of health. We use the packaged lesson at community events,” Johnson-Arnold said. “Just another way our students get out in the community and learn how to help others help themselves through healthy habits.”

Johnson-Arnold sings the praises of the AHA and their staff sang her praises at the 2024 Triangle Heart Walk when they presented her with the Live Fierce award.

“I first received a letter saying I’d been nominated. I was surprised to say the least,” Johnson-Arnold said. “I told my husband first he just grinned and said, ‘You’re going to win.’”

Johnson-Arnold's twin sister and older sister were there at the award presentation, as were other friends and family members who helped her celebrate the honor.  

“When my name was called at the ceremony, I was shocked,” Johnson-Arnold said. “My sisters looked at me like ‘get to walking [up to accept].’ I was thrilled and excited. You do the work and don’t expect any recognition, but it does feel nice to get it.”  

Johnson-Arnold said she does the work because she is passionate about health. This passion comes because of experiences close to home with family members.

“I am passionate. I do the work because I do not want others to go through health issues my family did,” Johnson-Arnold said. “I am not doing it because others are watching. I do it to impact the lives of others.”

Johnson-Arnold said she happily and proudly shares her award with community health workers.  

“I want to thank them for all the great work they have done and are doing in the community. Community health workers are the boots on the ground. They impact lives. Their time and energy make a difference. They are needed,” she said.

The American Heart Association says its future is about improving the lives of individuals, and Johnson-Arnold shared how much she appreciates how the AHA has shared knowledge and resources with Durham Tech and the Community Health Worker program students.

“What the AHA has provided the College is immeasurable and they continue to give and share knowledge. Our students are lucky and what’s so impressive is that each takes the knowledge gained into their communities and continues sharing,” she said. “That is what community health workers do.”