THI welcomes new Community Ambassador WomenHeart Champion Sister Mama Sonya

Sister Mama Sonya at the 17th annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium

We are proud to announce the addition of Sister Mama Sonya to the THI Community Ambassador family. She is our ninth ambassador to become a WomenHeart Champion and joins more than 900 volunteers around the country that are dedicated to fighting heart disease in women.

THI is a founding member of WomenHeart National Hospital Alliance and invites women from the Houston community to become official THI Community Ambassadors and attend WomenHeart’s annual volunteer leadership training each year.

Sister Mama Sonya graduated from the 17th annual WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic. This one-of-a-kind conference for women living with heart disease provides important training for our community ambassadors.  The leadership symposium also includes enlightening workshops on lifestyle, food management, and meditative techniques to reduce stress.

“As WomenHeart Champions, our community ambassadors are aligned both locally and nationally to ensure they have the most current resources they need to educate our community and run support groups,” according to Dr. Stephanie Coulter, THI’s Women’s Center Director.

Sister Mama Sonya is an “edutainer” poet, playwright, actor, storyweaver, motivational speaker, author and minister of the gospel.  Her poetic expressions have been shared across the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda and Ghana, West Africa.

Through her work with 3sisters in the spirit Theatre Ministry, she is already enriching the lives of women & girls thru “edutainment” on issues such as spirituality, TAOD, re-entry, adoption, abstinence, abuse, self-esteem, HIV/AIDS, women’s health and herstory of the ansisters.

Her journey living with Type II diabetes led her to found, The Sisters CD (Controlling Diabetes), a diabetes support group network designed to empower and educate women of color living with diabetes and other health issues.

She is active in a multitude of community concerns and as a  native Third Wardian, she proudly flaunts the crimson & gold of Jack Yates Senior High School.  She received a BA in Political Science from the University of Houston & Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas. Married for 33 years to her soul mate, Craig L. Roberts, they are proud parents.

“Sister Mama Sonya brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to our growing team of community ambassadors. Our WomenHeart Champions are the important “boots on the ground” in the fight against heart disease and their stories empower women to take charge of their heart health, “ said Keri Sprung, Center for Women’s Heart & Vascular Health Program Manager.

 

Photo Credit | WomenHeart