For the past one and a half years, the seven members of the ANA-NY Health Equity Task Force have worked to plan and offer programs that supported recommendations from the ANA Commission to Address Racism in Nursing for ANA-NY members. If you are not familiar with the Commission’s Report and work, you can use the link to access the report: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/racism-in-nursing/national-commission-to-address-racism-in-nursing/commissions-foundational-report-on-racism–in-nursing/.
The Task Force members spent the first few months of 2024 researching and sharing several resources, training, and other work to support our development of a mission, vision, goals, and outcomes to guide the program plans.
The Task Force was successful in getting an $8000 grant from ANA to fund this work. The programs and opportunities included:
- October 2024: Joint program with ANA-NY and Organizational Affiliate Genesee Valley Nurses Association in Rochester, NY with Dr. Kenya Beard speaking on Health Equity.
- December 2024: Virtual screening of Everybody’s Work followed by a panel discussion with national facilitators Dr. Ernest Grant, past ANA President and member of the ANA Commission, Dr. Kenya Beard, member of the ANA Commission and Dr. Debra Stamps, NYS leader for Health Equity training.
- February 2025: Sponsored a Task Force member to attend the ANA Equity in Nursing: A Summit for Change Conference in Washington DC.
- March 2025: Virtual discussion of Maria Smilios’ book The Black Angels telling the story of the Black nurses who staffed the TB hospital on Staten Island in the early 1900s. The author, Maria Smilios was our guest and led the discussion.
- Members participated in selected MAPIT 2.0 training sessions from Northwell Health and then collaborated with the trainers to offer a four-part monthly (May-August 2025) training on Strategies and Skills to Broaden Inclusive Communication in Healthcare for ANA-NY members.
- Two Task Force members are presenting the Task Force work at the November Sigma Theta Tau International Conference in November 2025.
I want to thank the members of the Task Force: Giselle Girardi, Cynthia LaRocca, Seon Lewis Holman, Teddi Levine, Kerlene Richards, and Kim Velez for their work throughout 2024-2025. Thanks also to Kennedee Blanchard, ANA-NY Member Engagement Associate for her organizational assistance.
The work of the Task Force will be mainstreamed into the ANA-NY Standing Committees to support integration of Health Equity education and skills in all ANA-NY programs.
