These communities are characterized by a high prevalence of substance abuse, widespread malnutrition, poor living environments, inadequate essential services, low educational achievement, and high unemployment. The lack of highly trained black health care professionals make community health workers the crucial element in the delivery of health education. They understand the culture, have a commitment to raising the black community's health status, and have credibility in the community. The efforts to mobilize black communities have had three main components: consultation, networking with established black health worker networks, and developing and pretesting communication materials for use in public health efforts. Training workshops held in black communities provide health workers with an understanding of how to plan and carry out media campaigns related to health issues. During the workshops, community members review and comment on proposed materials, which are refined in response to the participants' comments. The result is the development of a health education program relevant to the local community.