We recently connected with LaTonya Duncan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi LaTonya, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My Mission for 1 Heart is to Educate through Fashion on the Aspects of heart disease. When I first started doing this as a community service project through the American Heart Association I had no idea that it would be the start of the foundation for me to build my own nonprofit. I did the Go Red for Women campaign with them for 6 years then a supporter came and asked why I was not doing the same thing but a little different knowing that I know where our funds are going and who we are helping. After confirmation 1 Heart was born. Heart disease runs in my family with deadly heart attacks to strokes all across the board. I had a stroke in 2014 then my husband had 3 in 2017. So educating on mental, emotional and spiritual health along with family support, healthy eating and exercise is very important to me and for my recipients.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have always had a passion for Service so fulfilling this Godly call was one that I did not take lightly. I have a passion for fashion and have been in the industry since I was 13 years old, I love the idea of providing 3 things that I cherish the most. Fashion, mentorship and education joining them together to make this beautiful masterpiece called 1 Heart. The main thing when it comes to heart disease is knowing the signs and when your body is giving you hints about certain things, don’t ignore it, go ahead and get it checked.”To make sure more people know those signs, and more people get the care they need providing financial help to cover medical costs and medication for heart patients.
I am married to my handsome husband Reginald L. Duncan and we have 4 beautiful and talented children, Our oldest son Christian, daughter Autussi, sons Reginald Jr and Evan. I first learned that I had high blood pressure 25 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest son and my journey manifested from there. I have been diagnosed with not just High Blood Pressure but a enlarged heart, Mitral Valve Prolapse and in 2014 I experienced a T.I.A Transient Ischemic Attack ( also known as a mini stroke) and Bell’s Palsy in 2019 So I am thankful that God has still Blessed me to be amongst the living. What better way to provide education to the public while entertaining them at the same time. We have designers that come from near and far to be a part of this production and to support 1 Heart as they themselves have or either has a family member with Heart Disease. I am a fashion Designer, stylist and Make-up Artist so I am excited to see where this journey will take 1 Heart as we give you fashion with a focus, and a purpose.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Well it’s not just my unlearned part but for my public supporters that attend my events. At every single show that we have had, someone leaves having learned something they never knew before. I think the very first show that we did there was a young lady that had attended and a few days afterward, she emailed me and stated that she listened to what I was saying and after hearing the signs, she
knew something in her wasn’t right. She went to the doctor and afterward, informed me of what
was found. There also was a lady at another event speaking on the behaviors of her husband and
the antidepressants he now has to take because of his stroke. I understood that and spoke on
behalf of my husband because he’s still processing the idea of being fifteen minutes from death.
Even, though I’m still experiencing the side effects of my stroke. About two years ago, I did a
photoshoot. When I saw the samples, I thought, why is my face twisted? Everyone else was
asking what I was talking about because they didn’t notice. I immediately went to the emergency
room, and they sent me straight to triage because they thought that I was having another stroke.
They returned to me and asked if I had ever heard of Bells Palsy. I hadn’t and found that it is one
of the symptoms after having had my stroke. They told me it was a partial paralysis in the face
that would go away on its own timing. So, it was there for about a month and a half and is still
there to this very day, and every once in a while when I smile, you can see a little crookedness. So needless to say this is now apart of me that I have to embrace.
Have you ever had to pivot?
With me having my nonprofit, I love one part, but it is a struggle. And it really is hard having a nonprofit when you try to get people to support your vision or support you in general. I guess because my mission is so close to the American Heart Association mission, people just don’t get it. I am helping people right here at home, right here in the city. I help people in Montgomery, Wetumpka, and the Prattville areas. Our most recent show allowed us the opportunity to be able to assist five people. It takes fifteen hundred dollars a year
just for their medication alone. Now, last year, I really put my foot in my mouth by adding
diabetes along with heart disease, and I had no idea the diabetic medications were so expensive!
With that being said, the fifteen hundred dollars that we paid for the recipients was depleted
within three to five months because you’re adding diabetic medications with the blood pressure
medication. We were then told that this is why they thanked God for 1 Heart because if you do
not have insurance, you’re not able to get the medication because you have to go to the doctor
for the prescriptions. So, through our shows, and what we do that this is possible. But going forward as much as I don’t want to , we will have to stick to just Blood pressure meds until we can get more assistance with grants.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lduncan1920
- Facebook: @1heartofhearts
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/latonya-duncan-2329a252
Image Credits
Photos by Michael Moore Styled by Myself LaTonya Duncan Makeup by myself LaTonya Duncan