MEET THE HOUSTON ADVISORY COUNCIL
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​LATONYA WHITE, MA | Heart N Hands Houston Chapter Lead 
LaTonya White attended Prairie View A & M University an HBCU. She graduated, receiving her Masters degree in Educational Counseling. 

LaTonya had the pleasure of Educating students to be great as an Educator & as a Lead School Counselor for 8 years.  LaTonya decided to further educate through entrepreneurship. She is a native Houstonian, Motivational Speaker, Travel Magazine contributor, blogger, Podcaster, and serial entrepreneur.

LaTonya is proud to be a native of Houston, where she resides with her beautiful children, and 3 fur babies. Heart Disease is no stranger to her family. Her mother suffered a mild heart attack many years ago and is blessed to live and tell about it today.  ​However, Heart disease did unfortunately claim the lives of both her mother's parents. 

WHO WE ARE

Our MISSION is to EMPOWER, EDUCATE and RAISE AWARENESS of heart health, heart disease prevention, provide heart health education, and encourage healthy lifestyle choices for young girls aged 10-18 and their families.

We promote physical activity, heart healthy eating and heart healthy lifestyle choices. 

Our GOAL is to achieve improved heart health and increased education and awareness in young girls with a focus on heart disease prevention - no. 1 killer of women. 
Meet our Founder, President & Heart Disease Survivor, Essence Banks
Essence Harris Banks, Our Founder & President
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 organizations such as American Heart Association (Executive Leadership Team for GoRed, Circle of Red) and WomenHeart Spokeswoman and Champion -National Coalition of Women with Heart Disease.  
​                                        "Heart disease can affect anyone at any time, know the warnings signs, risk factors and LISTEN to your body ." Essence
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Do you know what causes cardiovascular disease in women? What about the survival rate? Or whether women of all ethnicities share the same risk?

The fact is: cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute!
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But it doesn’t affect all women alike, and the warning signs for women aren’t the same in men. What’s more: These facts only begin to scratch the surface.
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There are several misconceptions about heart disease in women, and they could be putting you at risk.

    Contact Heart N Hands HOUSTON