The American Heart Association announced that Coretta LaGarde is the new executive director in New Orleans. In this role, LaGarde is responsible for driving the strategy and execution of corporate revenue, communications, and health impact goals for the Greater New Orleans market advancing health equity.
Over the past year, LaGarde has led EmPOWERED to Serve by providing strategic program oversight, engagement, and collaboration leadership, and technical expertise to ensure the implementation of health equity solutions. EmPOWERED to Serve is a platform inspired by American Heart Association volunteers around the country who are passionate about driving change through health justice and empowerment in their communities. Under LaGarde’s leadership, through EmPOWERED to Serve, the American Heart Association has found opportunities to close disparity gaps in New Orleans and the country by growing the number of social entrepreneurs, strategic partners and community coalitions trained through the Business Accelerator; increasing investments in community-led solutions to address health inequities in under-resourced communities across the country; and prioritizing health literacy by working to inform, educate, and empower communities through health education and community advocacy. The direction of EmPOWERED To Serve has sparked interest from new partners and continued engagement with strategic alliances, ambassadors, and scholars through opportunities to share their stories.
With 18 years of experience in nonprofit and corporate engagement, 11 of which have been with the American Heart Association, Coretta's people-management journey, paired with performance leadership at the Regional and National levels. Her most recent accomplishments include: an American Heart Association national Pillar Award in 2019, the American Heart Association Southeast Region Community Impact Collaboration Award in 2020, and the Jefferson Chamber Chairman’s Award in 2021.
Coretta is the treasurer of the board of directors for the New Orleans Council on Aging, chair of the Health & Wellness Committee/Executive Board Member at the Jefferson Chamber, and active on several health-related commissions and coalitions throughout Louisiana.“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the New Orleans market’s work for the American Heart Association. While we’ve had many gains, the work is far from done. I’m looking forward to banning together with the volunteers, sponsors, staff and community to ensure equitable access to healthy living options for all and to ultimately make a positive impact on the health and well-being of our neighbors so that we have a healthy New Orleans,” said LaGarde.
She is a graduate of the University of New Orleans with a Master of Public Administration, and Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree.