The education program began in Mankato in 1981 after two baseline surveys, in Fargo-Moorhead in 1982 after three baseline surveys, and in Bloomington in 1983 after four baseline surveys. Education activities continued in the three communities for five years concluding in the staged manner in which they began. Targeted risk factors included blood pressure, exercise habits, smoking, and blood cholesterol levels. Health messages were communicated by involvement of community leaders and organizations, media education, population-based risk factor screening and education, adult education classes, youth and parent education disseminated in schools, health professional's educa0tion, and community-wide risk factor education campaigns.