I have always valued health care professionals. But it was the final moments of my mother’s life in early April 2021 that underscored for me that importance of what you do.
As my mother lay transitioning, it was the health care workers at St. Ann’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, who seamlessly cared for her as well as her children. I still marvel at the compassion and patience they showed. Without exaggeration, I am not sure how my siblings and I would have made it through that terrible period without their presence and witness to our suffering.
You Do the Impossible
They are you. You wake up every day and do the impossible. You are not always seen, your efforts are not always rewarded, and you may occasionally throw your hands up in temporary resignation. But you should know that there are many who see and value you. Our health system doesn’t work without you.
That is why I am honored to be the new editor of New York Nurse. The publication is designed to honor you and highlight your story, sacrifice and commitment. As your new editor, I will work hard to amplify your work, showcase your humanity and celebrate your contributions. The magazine will include stories on issues that matter to you, your patients and communities.
A New Chapter
As we embark on this new chapter, I invite and welcome your partnership. If you have story ideas, do not hesitate to contact me and share. If you would like to write for New York Nurse or any other NYSNA publication, please contact me and let me know. You can email me at jennifer.farmer@nysna.org, or your area director can help connect us.
In the interim, let me tell you about myself and my background. I am a first-generation American on my mother’s side. My mother was a naturalized citizen, originally born in Barbados, West Indies. When her family came to the United States, they settled in New York City. I attended college in upstate New York, at the University of Rochester. Separately, I am a single mother of two children and two dogs—a German shepherd named Samson and a Labrador Retriever named Sasha.
Professionally, I have authored two books, “First and Only: A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving at Work and in Life” (Broadleaf Books) and “Extraordinary PR, Ordinary Budget: A Strategy Guide” (Berrett-Koehler Publishers). In addition to my books, I write frequently on issues of race, gender, faith and leadership. My work has appeared in publications such as Thrive Global!, Blavity, Society for Nonprofits, Chronicle of Philanthropy, CNN, The Root, HuffPost, LifeHack, PR Daily, Red Letter Christians and more. I am also the host of United Methodist Women’s award-winning “Faith Talks” podcast, a program that offers spiritual growth content for women of faith.
Mission Matters
When I am not working with NYSNA, I run a boutique public relations firm, Spotlight PR LLC, and offer communications support for leaders and groups committed to social and racial justice. Through Spotlight PR, I have worked with some of the biggest names in social justice, including activist, rapper and businessman Michael Render, pka Killer Mike; former Ohio State Sen. and former candidate of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District Nina Turner; the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II; author Edgar Villanueva (“Decolonizing Wealth”); and many more.
What I’d like you to know most is that I believe in the power of mission-aligned work. I believe in the power of joining together to bargain collectively for that which improves our lives, our family’s lives and our community’s lives; and I believe in the importance of controlling our narrative and telling our stories.
The voices of nurses matter now more than ever. I am delighted to help amplify them.
Credit: Jehan Photography LLC
