The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate an innovative 8-wk stress reduction program called Resilience, Stress and Ethnicity (RiSE) program designed to reduce chronic stress associated with perceived discrimination among African Americans. African Americans residing in the Maywood community between the ages of 25 and 75 with at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor such as being overweight, having high blood pressure, or diabetes will be enrolled. The following specific aims will be addressed:

Aim 1: Determine the feasibility and acceptability of the program as a strategy to reduce chronic stress in African Americans within the Maywood and surrounding community.

Aim 2: Examine the extent to which training in RiSE (1) improves psychological well being, (2) decreases inflammatory burden, and (3) reduces cardiovascular risk in African Americans

Participants will be randomized to either the RiSE program or the control (no intervention group). Participants will provide blood and saliva samples as well as complete written questionnaires asking them questions about their health, well-being, and early life at the start of the study, half way through the study (at 4 weeks), at the completion of the intervention (8 weeks) and 3 months after the completion of the intervention).