High-energy Houston native Chloe Burke inspires Texans to share their stories, drive meaningful policy change

High-energy American Heart Association Heart Spark event equips Texans to ‘spark’ change for heart health

On a spring Thursday in Houston, the room was alive with energy—but the real spark wasn’t in the lights or the microphones. It was the stories.

At the heart of the gathering stood Chloe Burke, a survivor, advocate and reminder of what’s possible when one life saved becomes a lifetime of purpose.

Years ago, Chloe’s life changed in an instant. A former University of Houston cheerleader, she collapsed during a football game, experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Her heart stopped—but it didn’t stay that way. Thanks to the immediate use of CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED), Chloe survived. That moment didn’t just save her life – it reshaped it.

Recovery gave Chloe more than a second chance. It gave her a mission.

Today, she is a passionate American Heart Association Heart Powered advocate, using her voice to help ensure others have the same chance she did – to live, to heal and to thrive. That mission came to life in Houston at Heart Spark, a new ideas forum designed to inspire the next generation of grassroots advocates across Texas.

From one voice to many

Held at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Heart Spark blended personal storytelling with issue education, empowering Texans to speak confidently about something deeply personal: accessible, affordable, adequate health care.

Students, community leaders and advocates filled the room—representing multiple generations but united by a shared belief that health should never depend on zip code, income or circumstance.

Heart Spark was about more than learning facts or statistics. It was about confidence. It was about community. And it was about reminding people that meaningful change doesn’t begin in distant halls of power—it begins when everyday people decide their stories matter.

“Getting involved isn’t about being an expert – it’s about showing up and speaking out,” Chloe told the audience. “When we share our stories and stand together, we remind Texans that change doesn’t start at the capitol – it starts with us, right here.”

Why access to care matters

For too many Texans, health insurance remains out of reach. Throughout the event, attendees shared deeply personal experiences – supporting patients through long, emotionally exhausting, and financially devastating medical journeys. These stories underscored a hard truth: when health care isn’t accessible, lives are put at risk.

Through the American Heart Association’s Heart Powered grassroots movement, advocates across Texas are working to change that reality. Ensuring meaningful access to health care strengthens preventive care, reduces disparities in treatment and supports a health care workforce equipped to deliver high-quality care in both rural and urban communities.

Simply put: Access to health care saves lives.

A spark that becomes a movement

Heart Spark didn’t end when the final speaker stepped off the stage. Participants left with new skills, new connections and a renewed sense of possibility – ready to speak with lawmakers, share their stories and stand up for healthier futures in their communities.

“Too many Texans remain uninsured,” Chloe reminded the crowd. “But together, we can spark change.”

And that is the heart of the American Heart Association’s mission: turning survival into advocacy, stories into action and moments like these into movements that save lives.

Ready to be part of the change?
Join the Heart Powered movement by texting HEALTH to 46839 or visiting heartpowered.org/join.

 

Photos courtesy the American Heart Association 

At Heart Spark Houston, keynote speaker Chloe Burke shared her story of cardiac arrest and survival and inspired a new generation of American Heart Association Heart Powered advocates. 

Heart Spark Houston attendees learned how to speak up and speak out with lawmakers to make real policy change for health care access for everyone, everywhere. Chloe Burke, speaker, (front right wearing the Miss Space City sash), hosted the event, encouraging Texans to make their voices heard.  

Additional Resources: 

• The American Heart Association’s progress toward expanding access to care
• Presidential Advisory as it appeared in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association