About the Northern New Jersey Black Nurses Association

Founders: Pearl Anderson, Jean Clark, Carmen McCloud, Marie Meadows, Carletta Mitchell, and Bobbie Purdue.

Charter Members: Wanda Alderman, Diane Brinkley, Theresa Brown, Evelyn Crews, Robbie George, Vernell Ball-Gibbs, Donna Henderson, Jean Jones, Theresa Kitchen, Patricia Taylor-Hill, Cynthia Degazon, Marique Foster, Diane Marshburn, Marlene Miles, Gail Morris, Veronica Clark-Tasker, Cheryl Underwood, Deborah Walker-McCall, Alberta Wright, and Valerie Shaw.

How it began

On April 19, 1988, a group of Black Nurses met at the home of Jean Clark in Hillside, New Jersey, and adopted the constitution and bylaws of a new organization, Northern New Jersey Black Nurses Association. Long before this historic occasion, six nurses had convened three meetings to discuss ways to use collective efforts to narrow gaps between black clients and their white counterparts. Despite their diverse backgrounds in terms of education, clinical experience, and work environments, these nurses had a compelling vision that the health of Black New Jerseyans would change if sufficient advocacy, education, and resources were directed towards reducing the disparities in care. As a result, the nurses agreed to use their creativity to develop an association that would nourish activism, respect their individual contributions to the change process, and support the philosophy of self-help.

Support for the association grew and on May 19, 1989, the association was granted National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) status. The objectives of the Northern New Jersey Black Nurses are as follows:

1.To maintain Chapter status with the NBNA and implement the goals and objectives set forth by the National body at the local level.

2.To provide a forum for Black Nurses to network, support, and mentor one another.

3.To initiate and implement research projects which address the quality of life for Black Americans.

4.To counsel and teach Black consumers within a culturally inclusive framework.

5.To screen and educate Blacks about health conditions prevalent in their communities and to refer them, if needed, to the proper provider and/or facility.

6.To provide continuing education to Black Nurses on a consistent basis.

7.To collaborate with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization in developing substitute parenting roles, and acting as mentors as a means of strengthening the Black family.

8.To work with elementary schools to prepare inner city students for a career in nursing through future nurse clubs.

9.To encourage and stimulate youth to enter nursing and to counsel as well as tutor those already enrolled in colleges/schools of nursing.

10.To identify institutional barriers that Black Nurses encounter in the workplace, and develop strategies to help them confront them in a way that is empowering.

11.To promote economic growth and security by encouraging higher ducation/career planning for jobs that promote job mobility, like nursing.

12.To serve as a special interest group, influencing heath legislation and policies which affect Black people as a whole.

13.To discuss clinical issues which impact upon the Black Nurses’ ability to render nursing care that is professional and/or independent.

14.To maintain viability as an organization through an active recruitment program.

15.To collaborate with other black health groups to initiate, implement, monitor, and evaluate health policy for the Black community.

We are proud of our accomplishments over the past 18 years, but recognize there is still much more to be done. Please consider joining us today, to help us meet our goals as we continue our mission to educate, mentor, support, and develop new leaders in nursing.