Ujima Award Celebrates Culture and Community
Rumay Alexander joins BWH nurses Annie Lewis-O’Connor and Nadia Raymond during the ceremony.
Almost every member of the audience rose from their chairs to clap along to the rich sounds of the Ujima choir, a group of singers from throughout BWH, as they sang the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “I Need You to Survive.”
The moving, spirited performance, as well as folklore dancing, awards and words of inspiration, were part of the annual Ujima Celebration, which honors the contributions of black nurses and staff. This year’s celebration in April incorporated the contributions of BWHers to relief efforts in Haiti and celebrated employees of Haitian descent.
“I am proud to think about how nurses not only care for their patients here, but also donated their time, talent and expertise to the country of Haiti,” Mairead Hickey, PhD, RN, senior vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer, said to staff who packed the Cabot Atrium. “We know that in order to ensure the best patient outcomes, we need a workforce that understands and represents the patients we serve.”
Guest speaker Rumay Alexander, EdD, RN, of the University of Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, spoke about diversity and working to better understand each other. “Think of diversity as holding multiple perspectives without judgment,” said the clinical professor and director of Multicultural Affairs. “Be careful of labels you put on individuals, and be mindful of the words you choose.”
The audience was treated to a special folklore dance by nurses Stephanie Victoria, RN, Nirva Berthold, RN, and Sergeline Lucien, RN, with singer Jehol Jeanniton. Victoria, Lucien, Berthold, and Margaret Marcelin, a patient care assistant, presented Haitian paintings to senior leadership “in appreciation of all the help we received during the events that happened in Haiti,” said Lucien. The artwork will be on display near the Shop on the Pike.
The ceremony also highlighted this year’s recipients of the Ujima Award: Nadia Raymond, RN, of the ICU Float Pool; Kerrie-Ann Jack, administrative assistant for Biomedical Engineering; and Michele Plaisimond, medical interpreter, of Interpreter Services.
According to her nominators, Raymond’s entire life has been about giving to others. She brings compassion and expert nursing care to the patients she serves throughout BWH. Recently, she twice returned to her native Haiti to care for earthquake survivors. “I am truly honored and humbled,” she said. “This award represents culture, community and family—everything I needed to grow here.”
Plaisimond, a native of Haiti who earned her medical degree and practiced as a physician there before coming to the U.S., is known for her compassion for patients. She also recently returned to Haiti with a BWH and Partners In Health team to care for earthquake survivors. Her commitment to culture and bridging language barriers permeates all she does. “We can never assume that expectations are the same across cultures,” she said. “We must accommodate all, across all intellectual levels.”
Jack, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, is well-known for her work ethic and collaborating with staff to perform both routine and complex tasks in Biomedical Engineering. She is involved in the Association of Multicultural Members of Partners and coordinates the department’s participation in Take Your Child to Work Day, as well as their annual potluck dinner, where staff bring food from their native countries. “My parents and family are in Trinidad,” said Jack. “They taught me the importance of hard work and community and doing my best.”