The National Council of Negro Women, Staten Island Section, honors beloved founder

New York’s Staten Island. On Thursday, December 5, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., the Staten Island Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) conducted their annual Founder’s Day.

The highly anticipated event featured a poignant candlelight vigil to honor the memory of Mary McLeod Bethune, the organization’s pioneering founder.

As a renowned educator, philanthropist, and advisor to five U.S. presidents, Bethune is highly respected. Her legacy continues to inspire and influence the work of the NCNW today as a steadfast champion for Black women’s empowerment and the betterment of their communities.

The Young Diamonds, Staten Island’s NCNW chapter’s youth division, were also welcomed to the event. Their participation demonstrates the organization’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

Under the direction of Beth Coleman-Oliver, the current president of the Staten Island chapter, the youth group, led by Third Vice President Tylah Davies, added enthusiasm and motivation to the occasion.

“The legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune reminds us that the strength of our community lies in the empowerment of its youth,” Davies said in reference to the significance of the occasion. “Invest in the human soul,” she once stated. It could turn out to be a diamond in the rough.

Young people are tomorrow’s jewels, eager to shine and change the world. We will work together to carry out her purpose of inspiring, uplifting, and bringing about long-lasting change for everyone.

The officers of the NCNW’s Staten Island Section. (BETH Coleman-Oliver, courtesy)Being polite Beth Coleman-Oliver

NCNW Officers’ Station Island Section

Beth Coleman-Oliver, President; Marcia Allen, First Vice President; Aurora Evans, Second Vice President; Tylah Davies-Doe, Third Vice President; Nitrisha Zhang, Treasurer; Germaine Buchanan, Recording Secretary; and Tanish Smith-Franks, Assistant Recording Secretary, are the officers of the NCNW’s Staten Island Section.

Theodora Cross, Chaplain; Barbara Maxwell, Historian; Courteny Oliver, Parliamentarian; Brittany Waddy, Sergeant at Arms; Dr. Grace Feyijnmi, Corresponding Secretary; and Tawanna Muniz, Financial Secretary.

The NCNW, a coalition of 33 national women’s organizations, was established in 1935 with the goals of promoting social justice, healthcare, economic security, education, and entrepreneurship. Its Staten Island chapter still upholds this goal by encouraging harmony and advancement via neighborhood-based projects and celebrations such as Founder’s Day.

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