Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Page 83

Left: A panel of retired and current nurses discuss the obstacles they have faced as African-Americans in nursing careers at Yes 2
Kollege’s inaugural nursing conference last year. Above: Conference participants hear from nurses and health care professionals
about what their career path could look like.
the salaries and what motivates some-
one to do nursing,” she says. “They
hear testimonies they can relate to,
that build confidence, and take that
home.”
In 2015, the California State Senate
designated August as African-Amer-
ican Women’s Health Legacy month,
Chandler says, which is why she de-
cided to hold the annual conference
during that time. This year’s con-
ference, held on Aug. 26, included
discussions on nursing technology, a
panel on the need for African-Ameri-
can nurses, free healthcare screenings
and a job fair. There will also be an-
other round of scholarship application
assistance and mentorship pairings,
Chandler says.
The nonprofit also offers a men-
torship program to middle and high
school students, as well as a job shad-
owing program each July. To date,
Chandler says, they’ve helped find
mentors for nearly 300 students in the
Sacramento area, or about 70 students
annually.
“We want to help people wherever
they are in their career and show them
a path to whatever level they want to
get to,” Chandler says. n
Robin Epley is the former associate editor
for Comstock’s. On Twitter @robin_epley.
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