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About Us

CCNBNA | NBNA

Our Mission

NBNA’s mission is to provide a forum for collective action by nurses to investigate, define and advocate for the health care needs of African Americans and to implement strategies that ensure access to health care, equal to, or above health care standards of the larger society.


NBNA is committed to improving the quality of life of persons who share the African American heritage and other ethnic groups by:

  1. Building consumer knowledge and understanding of health care issues.
  2. Educating and mentoring registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses.
  3. Facilitating the professional development and career advancement of nurses in emerging healthcare systems.
  4. Promoting economic development of nurses through entrepreneurial and other business initiatives

Whatever adversely affects BLACK PEOPLE, wherever they may be, whoever they may be, affects us all.

Dr. Lauranne Sams, NBNA Founding President

CCNBNA

Up Where We Belong

The Chicago Chapter National Black Nurses’ Association evolved out of a desire by 6 Black nurses to establish an organization, to which Black nurses could, in an atmosphere of comradeship and sisterhood, implement strategies to effect change in the delivery of health care to minorities and provide a vehicle by which Black nurses could improve their competence.

On September 29, 1973, the first formal meeting of the Chicago Chapter National Black Nurses Association was called by the 6 founders, Christine Leak, Kim Lindsey, Francis Ballard, Mary Allen, Mary McCune and Mary Gathing. Nurses Unlimited, an already established organization of Black nurses recognizing the possibilities of a National Organization, eventually merged with the Chicago Chapter National Black Nurses’ Association.

CCNBNA’s mission is to provide a forum for collective action by nurses to investigate, define and advocate for the health care needs of African Americans and to implement strategies that ensure access to health care equal to, or above health care standards of the larger society.

CCNBNA

Our Philosophy Is This

Provision for the enjoyment of optimal health is the birthright of every American. Yet Black Americans, along with other minority groups in our society, are by design neglected and excluded from the means to achieve access to the health of mainstream of America. CCNBNA is committed to improving the quality of life of persons who share the African American heritage and other ethnic groups by:

  • Building consumer knowledge and understanding of health issues.
  • Educating and mentoring registered and licensed practical nurses, student nurses and retired nurses.
  • Facilitating the professional development and career advancement of nurses in emerging healthcare systems.
  • Serve as the national body to influence legislation and policies that affect Black People;
  • and work cooperatively and collectively with other health workers to this end.
  • Promoting economic development of nurses through entrepreneurial and other business initiatives.
  • Recruit, counsel and assist Black persons interested in nursing to insure a constant procession of Blacks into the field.
  • Conduct, analyze, and publish the body of knowledge about health needs of Blacks.
  • Collaborate with other Black organizations to compile archives relevant to historical, current and future activities of Black Nurses. (This clause was amended to the CCNBNA mission statement July, 2001)

CCNBNA’s mission is to ensure that optimal health is a right. Therefore, CCNBNA will identify, investigate, and educate society regarding emerging healthcare issues of the black community and other undeserved ethnic communities.

Meet Our Leadership Team

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