learn about our history
The genesis of the Greater New York City – Black Nurses Association, Inc (GNYC-BNA) was forged out of the need for a new chapter in New York City that was progressive and innovative. The first official formation meeting was held on October 11, 2017 on the Manhattan campus of the New York Institute of Technology. Present at this first meeting were the following individuals, Chijioke Okeke, Russell Preston, Dr. Julius Johnson, Edwin Torres, Sean White, Dr. Sheldon D. Fields, and Sabrina Newton.
The second organizational meeting was held one month later on November 8, 2017 again also on the Manhattan campus of New York Institute of Technology. It was at this meeting that it was decided that general body meetings going forward would be held on the 2nd Wednesday of every other month starting in January 2018, and that the meetings would move around the city, ideally also allowing members to join via conference call as well. This would establish six general body meetings a year in January, March, May (Annual Student Nurse Meeting), July, September, and November (Pot Luck Thanksgiving Meeting). With the need to put officers in place as a NBNA chapter in formation, those present agreed to the following executive leadership positions;
President: Dr. Sheldon D. Fields
1st Vice President: Dr. Julius Johnson
2nd Vice President – Social Media: Dr. Kamila Barnes
Treasurer: Dr. Sandy Cayo
Recording Secretary: Sean White
Corresponding Secretary: Monique Tarrant
The chapter established a yearly tradition of attending as a group a performance of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater during their annual residence at New York City Center Theater during the Christmas holiday season. The first outing was on December 15, 2017 and after the show the group walked over to view the tree at Rockefeller Center. December 7, 2018 is the date of the second outing. This annual outing serves as a means of socialization for chapter members and the chapters commitment to the support of Black artistry.
The chapter grew quickly and received its official national charter on August 2, 2018 during the 46th NBNA Institute and Conference held in St. Louis, MO. At the time the chapter had 56 members making it the largest new chapter among the 18 new chapters chartered in 2018. This was the largest number of new chapters ever chartered at once in NBNA history and the GNYC-BNA is absolutely honored to be among this new breed of chapters that will continue the NBNA legacy.
Dr. Lauranne Sams, NBNA Founding President
The chapter logo was chosen to be representative of the entire city of New York. It features a landscape of New York City that has replaced the iconic statue of liberty with the continent of Africa to represent and honor our ancestral ties to the African diaspora. It also features prominently the name of our chapter, the year of our founding and a pair of healing / supportive hands.
Our official chapter colors are Black, Red, and Grey as depicted in our logo.
The membership chose the following as its official chapter moto, “FOR THE GREATER GOOD” to highlight the fact that we strive through our various activities to have a positive impact on the communities where we live, work, and play.
On January 10, 2018 the meeting was held at NYIT, 26 W. 61st Street, Room 408 and during this meeting the membership unanimously approved the following motions:
1. Formal motion to form a chapter of the NBNA
2. Formal motion to approve the name of the chapter as the GNYC-BNA
3. Formal motion to approve the Bylaws of the GNYC-BNA
Membership — Sabrina Newton
Scholarship and Awards — Christopher Otto and Dr. Natalia Cineas
Programming — Dr. Selena Gilles
Health Policy — Dr. Sandy Cayo
Publicity and Public Relations — Dr. Kamila Barnes
In the 2018 NBNA national election Dr. Sheldon D. Fields the GNYC-BNA chapter president was elected to a three-year term on the national NBNA Board of Directors and Sabrina Newton the GNYC-BNA membership chair was elected to a three-year term as the National LPN representative on the National NBNA Board of Directors.
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