Rising Stars: Meet Latesha Higgs-Pittman of Henry County, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latesha Higgs-Pittman.

Hi Latesha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Latesha Higgs-Pittman: Legacy, Healing, and Purpose
A Baltimore, MD native, Latesha Higgs-Pittman is a passionate mental health speaker and advocate, author, mentor, and educator. Driven by a profound family legacy of service, Latesha’s life is dedicated to elevating and empowering others.

A Legacy of Service and Mental Health Advocacy
Latesha’s commitment to community is woven into her DNA, inspired by the tireless activism of her paternal grandfather, Dr. Rev. Nathaniel Higgs, and maternal grandmother, Gladys Gilliam—both honored with named streets in Baltimore.

Witnessing their love for humankind ignited a passion that led Latesha to begin her own journey of service. This path began with two distinct initiatives born from personal experience:

2009: She founded a school-based mentoring program for boys, created in memory of her brother who died by suicide at age 14.

2016: She launched the non-profit organization, The Diva Effect, Inc. This organization was birthed from Latesha’s experiences as a teen mother and driven by a desire to provide support and resources for women with young children who sought to effect positive change in their community and chart a better path for their child.

As a motivational and mental health speaker, Mrs. Higgs-Pittman has spoken across numerous platforms about her personal healing journey and the importance of balancing mental wellness with faith. She often quotes Psalm 82:3 as her mantra: “Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Her advocacy work led her to become a founding member of the Congregational Depression Awareness Program in Baltimore in 2019, under the leadership of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s Dr. Daniel Hale. For her service through The Diva Effect, Inc., Latesha has received multiple accolades, including awards from the Gamma Omicron Omega Chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

Planting Roots in Atlanta
After years of rewarding work, Latesha relocated to the Atlanta Metro area in 2020, continuing her advocacy and community service. In November 2025, she married her soulmate, Dr. Joshua T. Pittman, a prominent educator and Principal of Heritage High School in Rockdale County, as well as Pastor/Founder of Virtue Church–a newly launched non-denominational church located in Henry County.

As a Co-Founder of Virtue Church, Mrs. Higgs-Pittman is instrumental in developing key ministries:

VIBE Youth: The church’s student ministry, focused on empowering youth through connection, discipleship, and spiritual growth.

WIVES (Women of Integrity, Virtue, Excellence, and Strength): A ministry that equips women to thrive in marriage, fostering a safe and encouraging sisterhood for spiritual growth.

Professional and Community Leadership
Latesha’s influence extends through her professional and civic engagements. She is a proud member of organizations such Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and NAMI. Recently, she has successfully rebranded The Diva Effect, Inc. into a dynamic Women’s Ministry dedicated to educating, elevating, and empowering women and girls to live lives of healing and purpose.

In January 2026, The Diva Effect, Inc. Women’s Ministry will relaunch its key initiatives in Henry County:

DIVA Dolls: The popular girls’ mentoring program.

REFORM: A rebranded, specialized faith-based program for adult women. REFORM shifts the focus from external success to deep internal restoration, guiding participants through the inner work necessary to heal from past and childhood trauma and confidently step into their God-given purpose.

Furthermore, Latesha is the Founder and CEO of The Jade Chrysalis, LLC—a specialized educational services firm dedicated to elevating educator performance and designing high-impact learning experiences through tutoring, curriculum writing, and coaching.

When she’s not serving others, Latesha enjoys preparing home-cooked meals for her cherished husband, hiking, reading, dancing, and fellowshipping with close friends and like-minded couples.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Relocating my small non-profit to a new state and community where I was completely unknown has been one of my biggest challenges. I moved to Georgia alone, without any family in the area and knowing only two people. When you are the new person in a community, gaining trust requires relentless effort. People are often skeptical, forcing you to work incredibly hard to prove your abilities and establish credibility.

This period was both stressful and often discouraging. While I was fortunate to connect with a number of people who recognized my skills and abilities right away, I also encountered individuals who felt threatened by my offerings and actively placed obstacles in my path. Many of those experiences were personally painful, but they taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, human nature, and resilience. I now use those profound lessons to help and support others. Ultimately, the experience revealed the depth of my own resilience, my capacity for honest reflection, and my willingness to grow from adversity.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I thrive on wearing many hats, all unified by my core mission: empowerment through education, healing, and faith.

What I Do and Specialize In
As an Educator: My specialty lies in fostering growth and excellence. I deeply enjoy coaching and sharing my expertise with new teachers, and I take pride in providing enriching experiences for the students I serve in the Gifted Program. The unconditional love and appreciation I receive from the children I work with is absolutely rewarding.

As a Non-Profit Leader (The Diva Effect, Inc.): I specialize in creating transformative community experiences. I am known for meticulously planning meaningful events that provide necessary resources, helping women and girls heal and live a life of purpose. My greatest fulfillment comes from seeing women and girls leave our programs and events feeling genuinely heard, supported, and empowered.

As a Co-Founder of Virtue Church: While our key ministries, VIBE Youth and WIVES, have just launched, I am super-excited to see the overall work of God in the lives of the people my husband and I have been called to serve. We are already helping community members in tangible ways and seeing life-changing moments among the people we have engaged with through our prayer calls and other activities.

What Sets Me Apart
What truly sets me apart is my ability to seamlessly integrate the principles of faith, education, and mental wellness across all my platforms. My work is not just about professional development or community service; it is about holistic restoration, guiding women toward purpose by addressing the inner work required to heal from trauma and helping educators better support our children.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thedivaeffect.org
• Instagram: IG @thedivaeffect
• Facebook: FB @ Unlockthediva