After surveying more than 900 participants, Youngstown Health Improvement Zones, a group of local health workers, found employment, housing and education to be some of the top concerns. The group is also aware that major health disparities plague Mahoning County.

"We do have an infant mortality issue in the Mahoning County area," said Andrea Bivens, community health workers supervisor for Youngstown Health Improvement Zones. "And it's our Black infants versus our White infants, there's a very large disparity between the two," she said.

Bivens told 21 News combatting that issue is one of their top priorities.

"Our goal is to bring on someone who can help us cater to black women and maternal health and also for other women who may be interested as well," Bivens said.

The plan is to educate women, even in their own homes, of the risks during pregnancy and the importance of keeping themselves healthy and staying on top of doctor's visits.

"We focus on prenatal nutrition, we focus on safe sleep, we focus on family planning," said Bivens. "If our omen are unhealthy, then our babies are going to be born unhealthy and it leads to pre-term birth, it leads also to still birth, it leads to miscarriages and so, we want to educate our women on their health," Bivens said.

Healthier food options at corner stores in the community is also on this group's agenda.

"If we can't get a co-op grocery store, can we maybe provide you with maybe a freezer or an area of the store where we can offer fresh vegetables," Bivens said.

While there's still work to be done, Bivens tells 21 News, they're working strategically and forming new relationships to bring effective change to the city of Youngstown.