Meet the Heart N Hands Board of Directors
Our Mission is to heighten awareness of heart disease in our community by reaching organizations interested in educating girls and their families about heart health and heart disease prevention
Meet Our Founder & CEO
Essence Harris Banks, MBA
Essence Banks is a heart disease survivor and advocate since September 2004. At the age of 30, Essence was in the prime of her life, the picture of health when she started experiencing shortness of breath and heart palpitations during her workouts. Then one day as she was carrying her son, Jaden inside she could not catch her breath and felt fluttering in her chest - she knew something was wrong. Her primary care physical at the time ran several tests - NOTHING - then told her she was having panic attacks and to take 3 days off of work. Essence knew there was more to story so she contacted a cardiologist who discovered over 90% blockage in 2 arteries. Today, Essence is a supporter and advocate of heart health awareness in women and works with several organizations such as American Heart Association and WomenHeart National Coalition of Women with Heart Disease as a champion and spokeswoman to raise awareness about heart health and prevention.
For speaking and booking inquiries, please reach out to [email protected]
"Heart disease can affect anyone at any time, know the warnings signs, risk factors and above all LISTEN to your body." Essence
Essence Harris Banks, MBA
Essence Banks is a heart disease survivor and advocate since September 2004. At the age of 30, Essence was in the prime of her life, the picture of health when she started experiencing shortness of breath and heart palpitations during her workouts. Then one day as she was carrying her son, Jaden inside she could not catch her breath and felt fluttering in her chest - she knew something was wrong. Her primary care physical at the time ran several tests - NOTHING - then told her she was having panic attacks and to take 3 days off of work. Essence knew there was more to story so she contacted a cardiologist who discovered over 90% blockage in 2 arteries. Today, Essence is a supporter and advocate of heart health awareness in women and works with several organizations such as American Heart Association and WomenHeart National Coalition of Women with Heart Disease as a champion and spokeswoman to raise awareness about heart health and prevention.
For speaking and booking inquiries, please reach out to [email protected]
"Heart disease can affect anyone at any time, know the warnings signs, risk factors and above all LISTEN to your body." Essence
Founding Heart N Hands Board of Directors | Established 2014
Heart N Hands Staff
Ari Booth, Director of Strategy & Fund Development
Ari Booth currently serves as Human Resources Business Partner for RiseImpact Capital, LLC, a tax credit investment and syndication firm located in New Orleans, LA. Prior to joining the firm, Ari assisted the pre-opening and opening teams of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans holding 3 roles (HR Generalist, Recruiting Manager, and Talent Acquisition Manager) and worked in various cities within the Four Seasons brand spanning over 6 years. She hails from Austin, TX where her immediate family resides and proudly boasts her Philadelphia roots as an avid Eagles fan (fly Eagles fly!).
A Spring 2016 graduate of American University’s Kogod School of Business (Washington, DC), Ari holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Management & Psychology and is also a designated Senior Certified Professional within the world-renowned Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), while actively pursuing a Master’s Degree in Labor & Employment Relations at Penn State University. A born advocate of serving the community through the advancement of women, she is also a proud member of the mission-driven Junior League of New Orleans.
As a former 4-year, Division-I scholarship student-athlete, Ari is no stranger to discipline, healthy living and maintaining long-term vitality in both body and mind. From a young age, she has poured into girls of all nationalities through the sport of basketball, giving insightful lessons on all aspects of the game as well as life – including the importance of balancing one’s personal health with the day to day demands of work and family. Today, Ari is an avid supporter of heart health and the holistic wellbeing of women and is thrilled to serve as Director of Operations for the Heart N Hands organization.
Ari Booth currently serves as Human Resources Business Partner for RiseImpact Capital, LLC, a tax credit investment and syndication firm located in New Orleans, LA. Prior to joining the firm, Ari assisted the pre-opening and opening teams of the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans holding 3 roles (HR Generalist, Recruiting Manager, and Talent Acquisition Manager) and worked in various cities within the Four Seasons brand spanning over 6 years. She hails from Austin, TX where her immediate family resides and proudly boasts her Philadelphia roots as an avid Eagles fan (fly Eagles fly!).
A Spring 2016 graduate of American University’s Kogod School of Business (Washington, DC), Ari holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Management & Psychology and is also a designated Senior Certified Professional within the world-renowned Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), while actively pursuing a Master’s Degree in Labor & Employment Relations at Penn State University. A born advocate of serving the community through the advancement of women, she is also a proud member of the mission-driven Junior League of New Orleans.
As a former 4-year, Division-I scholarship student-athlete, Ari is no stranger to discipline, healthy living and maintaining long-term vitality in both body and mind. From a young age, she has poured into girls of all nationalities through the sport of basketball, giving insightful lessons on all aspects of the game as well as life – including the importance of balancing one’s personal health with the day to day demands of work and family. Today, Ari is an avid supporter of heart health and the holistic wellbeing of women and is thrilled to serve as Director of Operations for the Heart N Hands organization.