The Council of Black Nurses recently held an annual event in Los Angeles in honor of The National Week against Violence, as part of their long time and ongoing efforts to serve the community, they said. They are a group, members said, who is steadfast in its commitment to the elimination of health disparities and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among African Americans. Most importantly, they want the community to know that they are accessible and here for them.
“We had our annual event at 51st and Vermont at the Boys & Girls Club on October 17, 2018,” members said.
“We spoke to the children in the community about gang violence and bullying. We had as a guest speaker Ms. Amber Pope who is a MSW and who is a Founder & CEO of S.T.A.R.S. Striving Together & Reveling Strength. We had a turn out of over 50 kids whom were all very receptive…”
Events like the one at Boys and Girls Club are only a small portion of what the organization does, their philanthropic calendar pretty much full year round.
“CBN-LA is committed to improving the quality of health among the underrepresented population through its membership and professional development,” members explained in a statement released to the Sentinel.
“Throughout our history CBN-LA has focused primarily on health issues related to African Americans and the medically underserved populations.
“The Council of Black Nurses, Los Angeles(CBN-LA)is the oldest chapter in the national organization representing African American nurses in the Los Angeles area. CBN-LA is a 501(c)(3)organization and local chapter of the National Black Nurses Association representing the interests of more than 2,500 African American nurses.”
Members said that Dr. Betty Smith Williams and Barbara Johnson started the organization in 1968. Considered trailblazers of their time, both saw the need for it.
“There are approximately 3.2 million nurses in the US. African American nurses are less than 10 percent of the entire population. NBNA represents approximately 2,800 nurses nationally,” members explained.
Their next event, the Target World AIDS Awareness Month; National Safe Toy and Gifts is in December