Over the past decade, stroke prevalence in Northern California has increased most significantly among the Hispanic population, rising by 16.1%. In response, the Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa (KP SRO) Stroke Champion Registered Nurses focused their 2025 outreach efforts on Hispanic and Spanish-speaking communities.

This year’s two major community events included the 2nd Annual Rohnert Park Car Show and the 16th Annual Fiesta de Independencia at the Luther Burbank Center, which drew nearly 6,000 attendees, its largest turnout to date. At both events, Spanish-speaking nurses, Yesenia Acuna, RN; Melissa Melendez, BSN, RN; Katherine Campos, BSN, RN; and Carmen Ramirez; BSN, CC-RN, provided education on stroke warning signs, prevention strategies, and the importance of calling 911 at the first sign of stroke.

The nurses who participated in these events shared that the opportunity to connect with the Hispanic community made a lasting impression, reinforcing the importance of providing life-saving stroke education. The KP booth featured a fun spin wheel, educational pamphlets, posters, and giveaways, all designed to engage and inform attendees. The team hopes to make this an annual tradition to continue strengthening community awareness and promoting equitable care.

These outreach efforts reflect the KP SRO Stroke Program’s commitment to advancing equitable, timely care through community engagement and education.