Health professionals throughout Westchester County gathered at the Yonkers Riverfront Library this morning to promote healthy lives and well-being in Yonkers.

It's a new era for the Yonkers LYFE Coalition, which introduced its next phase in its mission to eliminate health disparities throughout the city.

Standing for "Living Your Fullest Every Day," the movement began back in 2018 – after the Yonkers YMCA received a federal Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health grant.

After receiving a second state grant from the Nepperhan Community Center, LYFE Coalition was able to focus on reducing obesity in schools and the community.

Now in its new stage dubbed "LYFE Coalition 2.0" – the movement is shifting its focus to Black maternal health. Cheryl Brannan, of the Yonkers LYFE Coalition, says Black mothers die at an alarming rate. As a result, the group is working to help mothers know their health stats throughout their pregnancies and create a higher quality of life in Yonkers.

"We want to make sure we're bringing health equity to the workers who live, work, pray, and play in the city of Yonkers. And when we have healthier communities and healthier residents , then we are able to be more productive, and more impactful," says Brannan.

Sister to Sister International created the Westchester Black Maternal and Child Center of Excellence, which provides support for Black birthing women to positively impact outcomes.

For this next phase, LYFE Coalition will be working alongside multiple community partners, including St. Johns Riverside Hospital, the Yonkers YMCA and the Westchester County Department of Health.