INTRODUCTION: This article describes the development of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process conducted in the context of a randomized community health education trial utilizing community health workers (CHWs). OBJECTIVES: To present lessons learned from the utilization of CBPR methodology in a cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention trial among Mexican American adults in a U.S.-Mexico border community and to disseminate the baseline results associated with risk factors for CVD and their associated demographic and psychosocial characteristics. METHODS: Participants were 328 Hispanic adults ages 30-75 with at least one risk factor for CVD (overweight, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetic or hypertensive), who were recruited through approaching households in randomly selected census tracts within a specified zip code area. RESULTS: CBPR methods were applied during the different stages of the research enterprise to support the development and implementation of the intervention trial aim at reducing cardiovascular risk factors for Mexican American adults. Data from baseline were used as an important component of dialogue with the community. DISCUSSION: CBPR proved to be a good learning process for all partners involved. The risk profile of the participants demonstrated the "epidemic" nature of CVD morbidity conditions associated with Mexican origin populations living in a U.S.-Mexico border community. The CBPR dialogue was instrumental as a process to help disseminate to the community the need for projects like the one described in this articlehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2865886/?tool=pubmed