Black Nurses Rock! Holds Awards Gala

Shakeya Lovett (Far Left), President And Shauniece Lee (Far Right) Vice President, Are Shown With Honorees, Tiffany Larkins, Dr. Washington Hill, Clara Rock, Dr. Carla Mcgill, Jone Williams, Tennille Moore And Coach Robert Powell. Back Row: Eddie Hundley And Fred Spence. Not Shown Is Rachel SpeightHudson.

Black Nurses Rock – Bradenton/Sarasota Chapter held its Presidential Service Awards Gala at the Carlisle Inn in Sarasota on Saturday, December 1st. The gala was a scholarship fundraiser for the community-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower and inspire leaders to impact our communities. This year’s honorees, recognized for their work and service to the community, were Dr. Washington Hill, Lifetime Achievement;’ Jone S. Williams, Mentor of the Year; Robert “Coach” Powell, Tiffany Larkins, Community Collaboration; Fred Spence and Eddie Hundley, Education Awards of Excellence, Tennille Moore, Citizen of the Year; Clara Rock, Nurse of the Year, Rachel Speight-Hudson, Community Collaboration Award and Dr. Carla McGill, Presidential Award. Xtavia Bailey served as mistress of ceremonies. Dr. Hill is the past Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and recently completed two years in Rwanda with the Clinton Foundation teaching African medical students, residents, and faculty “Safe Motherhood”.

He is the senior physician in Women’s Health at the Sarasota County Health Department and Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Ms. Williams is the Educational Outreach Director for the Sarasota Family YMCA. As such, she is responsible for the HIPPY Program (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) in Sarasota, Desoto and Hardee Counties and for the Y-Achievers, Operation Graduation and Y-Reads Programs. Coach Powell had been working with our youth in some capacity for the last 25 years and currently works for the A.M.I. Kids in Manatee. Ms. Larkins is the founder of the “Queens Don’t Swing” Women Empowerment Network. She is also the President and Co-Founder of the D.I.V.A.S. (Determined Individuals Visualizing Academic Success) of Sarasota Inc., a mentoring and leadership program for youth. Mr. Spence is the founder of the Team Success: School of Excellence, transforming it from a failing school into what it is today. It has been named a High Performing School by the State of Florida for its consecutive “A”s in 2017 and 2018. Mr. Hundley is principal of Lincoln Memorial Academy in Palmetto, a total life prep free public charter school. He became principal of Lincoln Middle School in 2014 which converted to a charter school in 2017. Ms. Moore is currently the Senior Legislative Aide to Senator Darryl Rouson, member of the Florida Senate, District 19. She is also coordinator for the Youth Empowerment Leadership Development Academy and founder of Diamondz in the Ruff Girls Mentor Program. Ms. Rock has spent the last 43 years of her life serving patients and families at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She is currently a Charge Nurse of Labor and Delivery at Sarasota Memorial. Ms. Speight-Hudson is the CEO of Pursue, Overtake, and Recover which offers credit repair and real estate services. She has impacted families and individuals within our communities by educating them on improving their credit scores, supporting with the home buying process. Dr. McGill is a Health Educator Consultant with the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County and her current projects include promoting healthy weight with community members, including healthy food access and breastfeeding support, and projects to reduce infant mortality and disparities in social determinants of health. Black Nurses Rock has become the largest online community where professional Black nurses share, network and develop together. Its focus is on providing support and mentorship to nurses in an effort to elevate the profession and improve communities. The Bradenton/ Sarasota Chapter was organized nearly three years ago by 11 ambitious African American nurses and now has a membership of 15. Shakeya Lovett is the organization’s president.