Dr. Sharon Rogers, President
It gave me great pleasure to welcome everyone to the 41st Annual Scholarship & Awards Luncheon of the Miami Chapter Black Nurses Association (Miami BNA). This year’s theme was Nursing Resilience: Disruptions in Practice, Research, Education, Policy, and Entrepreneurship. This theme uniquely qualifies in this current environment as the nursing profession faces the critical challenges to navigate its way through a Pandemic of epic proportion. Covid-19 has revealed how fragile the global nursing workforce is and how it has affected Nurses on the frontlines with devastating consequences. Miami BNA’s goal has always been to provide high-quality healthcare to all, while decreasing health disparities in our underserved communities.
At the 41st Annual Scholarship and Awards Luncheon on May 14, 2022 at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay, Miami BNA awarded $10,500 in scholarships to deserving nursing students this year; we also awarded beautiful plaques of recognition and appreciation to our community partners and outstanding Miami-BNA members.
Among the honors Miami- BNA received were the Honorable House Representative, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s General Counsel presented a Proclamation on this day. The Honorable Mayor Rodney Harris and members of the City Council in the city of Miami Gardens provided a Commendation; a Video Ad by Councilwoman Shannon Campbell; the Honorable Florida State House of Representative, Felicia Robinson, and Honorable Congresswoman House Representative Debbie Wasserman Shultz each provided a letter of Congratulations for the years of service and work done in the South Florida Community.
Over the past two and a half years Miami BNA partnered with James Wilson Bridges M.D. Medical Society to Fight Covid-19; through the “Keeping the Faith Grant” received from the Health Foundation of S. Florida; to provide Covid-19 Testing and administering the Covid-19 Vaccine within the Miami Dade County area. Another health promotion initiative Miami BNA has supported annually over the past (10) ten years is the Vaccine Program provided by the Miami Rescue Mission Clinic (MRMC) for its sheltered residents. The clinic delivered services such as health screenings, health education and administering vaccines to the homeless population.
Among the many accomplishments Miami BNA has achieved are the Back to School Supplies Distribution at Myrtle Grove K-8 Center Myrtle Grove Presbyterian Church and community distribution at Charles Hadley Park; Health Fairs throughout the year within the community; supplies received from our national organization, National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) of Covid-19 Preventative Supplies & Equipment donated by McKesson Medical Supply was distributed to (10) ten Schools in Miami Dade County and the Miami Rescue Mission; Virtual Annual Day of Worship, Miami BNA Give Miami Day; Miami BNA Thanksgiving and Christmas Donations to Jessie Trice Community Health System; and the Miami BNA Christmas Food Give-Away Drive.
I am honored to serve as the newly elected President for the Miami Chapter of the Black Nurses Association. To our Sankofa members, I feel honored to know the caliber of work that each of you have contributed over the years in the field of nursing to pave the way while inspiring the current generation of nurses. We depend on the commitment and dedication of our members; we thank all those who support the Miami BNA.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sharon Rogers, MSN Ed, NEC, MSM, DM (h.c.)
President
Miami Chapter Black Nurses Association