The Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester (BMW) Chapter of the Caribbean-American Nurses Association (CANA) on Saturday, Oct. 12, honored Barbadian-born Aston Greenidge with its Neighborhood Service Award and bestowed its shock BMW/CANA Award on African-American Lloyd Griffin throughout its twenty eighth Annual Vernese Weekes Scholarship Luncheon at Eastwood Manor on Eastchester Highway within the Bronx.
BMW/CANA Chapter additionally conveyed its Scholarship Award to Jamaican-born nursing pupil Kenya Simms.
As well as, the group offered a posthumous proclamation from New York State Meeting Speaker Carl Heastie to the late former president, Hopina Samuel, a Vincentian-born registered nurse, who died in June this 12 months. Samuel’s elder daughter, Dahniel Samuel, who has simply handed the New York State Board Examination to turn into a registered nurse, obtained the award on behalf of her late mom.
“I didn’t know folks have been watching what I do,” mentioned Greenidge, after receiving the award, to laughter.
“At St. Luke’s, it’s a house away from dwelling,“ added Greenidge, an energetic member of St. Luke Episcopal Church within the Bronx, the place he serves a number of committees, together with The Brother Hood of St. Andrew, The Stewardship Committee, The Males’s Month Committee, The Annual Dinner Dance Committee, The Usher Board, and the Pantry and Soup Kitchen.
“We thank the Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester Chapter of CANA for recognizing what we do,“ he continued. “We didn’t do it alone. We thank the great Lord for doing what we do. I thank God I’m fairly wholesome. I’m not on medicine but (laughter).”
He urged the BMW Chapter to conduct biannual well being conferences and worships within the Caribbean, stating that his spouse, Dr. Christine Greenidge, a former BMW president, treasurer, and director of nursing in Barbados, is “doing one of the best“ of their native nation.
BMW Chapter mentioned in its memento journal that Mr. Greenidge — who migrated to New York in September 1986 to hitch his bride, Christine, for one month — was employed by Verizon Communications for over 28 years, retiring in 2015.
“Often called a kind-hearted particular person, he radiates heat and compassion and makes the a whole bunch of shoppers really feel valued, no matter their circumstances,“ BMW Chapter mentioned. “His endurance, empathy, and listening abilities are amongst his virtues in how he interacts with the shoppers and the volunteers on the pantry.
“He strikes swiftly and effectively, serving meals, cleansing up, and doing no matter must be executed with out searching for recognition,“ it added. “Pantry work is bodily toiling, as many be part of to unload heavy bins of meals from quite a few pallets each Tuesday to make sure that shoppers get what they want. But, Mr. Greenidge motivates the volunteers to expedite this process with grace and understanding of its significance.
“At all times considerate, he ensures that each meal is served with care, usually going out of the best way to make somebody’s day just a little brighter,“ BMW Chapter continued. “His presence and laborious work on the pantry and soup kitchen at St. Luke Episcopal Church make each of those missions not only a place to obtain a meal and meals objects however an area of neighborhood and dignity.”
Griffin, the husband of BMW Chapter’s instant previous president, Registered Nurse Pamela Griffin, a Vincentian, was born in Glen Ridge, NJ.
He attended Utica Faculty of Syracuse College, the place he majored in engineering and minored in pc science.
Whereas in school, Griffin informed Caribbean Life that he joined the BSU (Black Pupil Union) and, “throughout that darkish time in American historical past,” he mentioned he “fasted to protest the slaying of kids in Georgia.”
After graduating from school, Griffin labored within the environmental service discipline for Service Grasp, United Well being Serve, and Arramark.
He additionally labored for Entry Communications, gaining over 29 years of expertise as a community assist and installer technician, together with communications and enterprise providers.
Griffin, a former member of St. Paul Baptist Church in Montclair, NJ, mentioned that since his relocation to the Bronx, he has turn into and nonetheless is a member of Grace Episcopal Church West Farms. There, he’s a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew’s and serves on each the Alter Guild and Alter. He additionally assists with the church’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry and Good Friday Fish Fry.
Griffin mentioned he was made an honorary member for his continued assist and dedication to the BMW/CANA Chapter.
Griffin mentioned he has traveled with the group on humanitarian journeys to St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana.
He has additionally traveled with the Caribbean Nursing Group (CNO) on biannual conferences in St. Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Griffin mentioned he has attended well being festivals and helped members of their mission, providing technical assist as wanted. He additionally “memorialized their actions“ since, like his father, one in every of his hobbies is taking photos of household, buddies, and locations the place he travels.
He mentioned he was “totally shocked“ – just because he had no prior information – however “pleasantly shocked“ when he was honored with the BMW/CANA Award on Saturday for his “tireless and invaluable assist to and for the group.”
Griffin expressed his “heartfelt appreciation“ and was “extraordinarily humbled to have been thought-about and chosen for such an honor.”
Simms — who obtained the Vernese Weekes Memorial Scholarship Award, named after the late Barbadian Registered Nurse and BMW Chapter basis member Vernese Weekes, who died in 1994—migrated to the USA from Jamaica together with her mother and father and was admitted to Bronx Neighborhood Faculty, the place she is a pupil within the Registered Nursing Program. She expects to graduate in June 2026.
Simms mentioned she determined to pursue a profession in nursing “as a result of it’s a career that aligns“ together with her values of “compassion and repair, to assist others and make a optimistic affect in folks’s lives.”
From an early age, Simms mentioned she was “drawn to serving to others and located deep satisfaction in being there for others throughout difficult occasions.”
She mentioned nursing is greater than only a profession; it’s a calling the place she “can present consolation, care, and assist to those that are most weak.“
Simms additionally selected nursing as “a possibility to have interaction with each the science and human aspect of healthcare.“ She is fascinated by “the complexities of the human physique and wanting to contribute to the medical discipline by making use of scientific information to affected person care.”
Moreover, Simms mentioned the ever-evolving nature of healthcare appeals to her want for steady progress and growth.
“Nursing provides a path the place I can problem myself to be taught new abilities, keep present with medical developments, and specialise in areas that align with my pursuits, equivalent to pediatric or important care,“ she mentioned, including that “job safety and adaptability are additionally vital components that influenced my choice.
“Nursing is a revered career, providing alternatives to work in varied settings, from hospitals to neighborhood clinics, and even internationally,“ Simms continued. “This stability gives reassurance that she will construct a long-term, fulfilling profession whereas making an actual distinction within the lives of sufferers and the neighborhood.”
BMW Chapter Jamaican-born President Dr. Virginia Bernard, RN, additionally congratulated Simms and the honorees and thanked BMW Chapter members, “who’ve labored tirelessly to make this luncheon potential.”
As well as, she lauded the “honored quests,” who “have performed an vital position on this group by giving us your un-wavered assist through the years.”
Because the BMW Chapter strives to recruit new members, Dr. Bernard mentioned the group was “saddened over the lack of three of our members inside a brief house of time“ however added that “it’s occasions like these which convey out one of the best in us, as we transfer ahead to do the work of the group in fulfilling our acknowledged targets.“
BMW Chapter paid tribute with a second’s silence and recognition within the memento journal to the late Winsome Rose Mullings-Robinson, RN, Hopina Samuel, RN, and her husband, Risley Samuel.
In the course of the five-hour-long ceremony, Dr. Suzanne Mullings, RN, Dean of Nursing at Japanese Worldwide Faculty in Jersey Metropolis and former BMW Chapter scholarship recipient, delivered the keynote deal with, and BMW members strutted their stuff within the “Freestyle Class“ trend present.
BMW Chapter mentioned it was “conceptualized“ on Might 23, 1994.
“Based mostly on the focus {of professional} nurses of Caribbean descent in these communities, it was decided that these people would profit from the distinctive alternative to develop the targets and targets of the nationwide affiliation, particularly to function a useful resource for Caribbean American nurses and people practising within the Caribbean Basin; to offer well being schooling to under-served communities; (and) to take part in well being care laws,“ it mentioned.
The Chapter mentioned it was “deeply honored“ to salute the next founding members: Vernese Weekes, Marjorie Rose, Hyacinth Seivright, Uline Jones, Claudia LaTouche, Catherine Benjamin-Bovell, Claudette Gordon, Maureen Moore, Marcia Thomas, Myrna Smith-Bell, Veronica Niles, Virginia James, Albertha Hibbert, Esther Hunte, Hyacinth Clarke, Shirley Salandy and Virginia Bernard.
Others are Brenda Youmans, Hazel Ramsey, Merlene Howell, Francina Neils, Hopina Samuel, Monica Armstrong, Beverley Cunningham, Mavis Clemison, Camile Moore, Bernice Hurley, Velma Miller, Joan Doig, Sonia Leid, Juliet Fidler, Malvin Groce, June Stewart, Jennifer Carmichael and Nancy Bowlin.
BMW Chapter mentioned the next honorary members are additionally “worthy of point out”: Patrick Holness, Burchfield Moore, Kenroy Rose, Levi James, Adrian Greenidge and Dahniel Samuel.
