The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) was organized in 1971 with the primary goals to unite Black
nurses nationwide to influence health care services for Black people and to promote
the inclusion of Black people in nursing education and nursing leadership positions.
The Milwaukee chapter of the organization (MCNBNA) was established in 1980 by founding members Emma Smith (President),
Bunny Booker, Brenda Dockery, Eva Allen, Carol J. Calvin, Ruby Dancil, and Laura Mathews.
At the time of its founding, the chapter's major goal was to recruit more Black nurses into the profession,
support nursing students experiencing discrimination in nursing schools in Milwaukee, and to improve the
health status of Milwaukee's Black community.
