(Columbia, SC) – The Midlands of South Carolina Black Nurses Association has been awarded $10,000 from the RWJ Alumni Network Activation Fund. 49 applications were received and their project is one of seven that was funded. The initiative will be led by Lisa Davis, MBA, MPH, BS, RN, President, Midlands of South Carolina Black Nurses Association, Inc. Ms. Davis will be collaborating with RWJF alumnae Jeanette Andrews, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Robin Dail, PhD, RN, FAAN on this project. Ms. Davis and Dean Andrews are alumni of the RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows Program, 2007 cohort and founding members of the Midlands of South Carolina Black Nurses Association, Inc. Dr. Dail is an alumna of the 2010 RWJF Nurse Faculty Scholars Program and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor at the University of South Carolina (UofSC), College of Nursing (CON). The UofSC CON, will be a partner organization.
The project will use photovoice, a qualitative method used for community-based participatory research to document and portray reality- in this case, the experiences that African Americans face in the context of COVID-19. Photovoice is an empowering and flexible process that combines photography with grassroots social action and is often used in public health and education. COVID-19 is a public health crisis, and photovoice will be a powerful educational platform now and in the future. Photovoice and narratives will allow us never to forget this time while also serving as a call to action that these alarming inequities should never happen again.
Individuals benefiting from the COVID-19 leadership project include the African American community, health care providers, legislators, educators, the public health sector, and spiritual communities. The beneficiaries will have the ability to learn about the African American community’s experience with COVID-19 and develop ways to engage this population in addressing inequities amplified by COVID-19.
The RWJF Alumni Network builds connections among the graduates of multiple RWJF Leadership Programs around common interests, experiments with new approaches, peer learning and collaborative action to address the systemic inequities that create barriers to every person leading the healthiest life possible.For more information about the Midlands Chapter email us at midscbna@gmail.com
