Sister to Sister International to Host Its 3rd Annual Day of Action Conference A Thought-Provoking Day of Recognition, Education, and Action with Asha Castleberry-Hernandez and Dr. Uché Blackstock Contact Information: Sister to Sister International Media Contact: Gloria Cunningham Phone: 914.830.8584 Email: coachgloria@theambitioiussoul.com Yonkers, NY - On Saturday, April 20, 2024, Sister to Sister International (STSI) will host its third Annual Day of Action, where the importance of STEM education and careers will be showcased, and how health disparities have a profound effect on Black and Brown women and girls will be front and center on the agenda. This yearly event is carefully curated to highlight topics that inform and empower—and this year’s theme of Recognition, Education, and Action will not disappoint! Participants will have the opportunity to review evidence-based data that support health inequities while engaged in spirited discussions and breakout sessions as potential solutions are shared and explored for STSI’s 4 pillars. “Since its formation in 1994, the mission, vision, and efforts of STSI have been rooted in a solution-focused trajectory. Our successes are attributed to a dedicated Board of Directors, staff, consultants, volunteers, and the unwavering support of our community partners,” stated Cheryl Brannan, Founder of STSI and the Westchester Black Maternal Child Center for Excellence (WBMCCE). Joining STSI to infuse the room with the empowering essence of Black and Brown women and girl magic will be Dr. Uché Blackstock and  Asha Castleberry-Hernandez. Dr. Uché Blackstock, a physician and New York Times bestselling author will engage participants in a intriguing Fireside Chat. Dr. Blackstock is renowned for her advocacy against the structural biases and racism prevalent in healthcare and is the founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, a frequent guest on MSNBC and NBC News, and a former associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, as well as the former faculty director for recruitment, retention, and inclusion in the Office of Diversity Affairs at NYU School of Medicine. As an added bonus, each event ticket purchase will include a signed copy of Dr. Uché Blackstock's book, LEGACY. Asha Castleberry-Hernandez National Security Expert will deliver a highly anticipated morning Keynote Address. Her distinguished career includes serving as a senior advisor at the U.S. State Department and holding the rank of Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. Notably, she has fulfilled roles such as a Kuwait desk officer at U.S. Army Central, focusing on security cooperation with the Office of Military Cooperation and the Kuwait Ministry of Defense. Castleberry-Hernandez has also been a senior key leadership engagement officer for the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Kuwait. During the Obama administration, she contributed to peacekeeping operations in the African continent at the U.S. Mission at the United Nations. Pillar updates and break-out sessions, will include Health and wellness; STEM & STEAM careers; Entrepreneurship, pay equity and economic prosperity; and Juvenile and social justice. The 2024 Day of Action Conference will also spotlight STEM students majoring in health and medicine and recognize various community partners for their support with our collective impact efforts. Event Information: Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Location:  Grinton L. Will Public Library |1500 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710 | Free On-site Parking For Ticket Purchase and Sponsorship Opportunities: https://www.s2si.org/event-details/day-of-recognition-education-action-2024 Sister to Sister International, Inc. (STSI) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization dedicated to uniting women, girls, and families of African descent worldwide by facilitating access to resources that empower, support, and enhance their lives. This mission is achieved through advocacy, education, and the celebration of African culture.

New Rochelle, NY, 11/04/2023: The Jean-Claude Lovinsky Memorial Scholarship Committee was pleased to sponsor their 12th Annual Scholarship Fundraising Dinner at Iona University on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The late Mr. Lovinsky was a long-time employee at Iona University and his life’s mission was to serve others here in the US and in his native Haiti. He was an active member at Church of the Holy Family, in New Rochelle and an advocate for social justice. After his sudden passing in 2007, his family partnered with Iona University to create the Jean-Claude Memorial Scholarship Committee that awards scholarships to students of Caribbean heritage that demonstrate true humanitarian character. This year’s recipients were Sonia Aweh and Ashley Nunez. The Pillar of the Community Award recipient was awarded to Cheryl Brannan, and presented by Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, an Iona alumnus. Mrs. Lovinsky, the wife of the late Jean Claude, stated that his life’s mission was to serve his community, and Ms. Brannan’s work and commitment beautifully reflects his spirit and example. She is being recognized as the Founder & Executive Director of Sister to Sister International, Inc., who has been a pillar and trailblazer in the community for over three decades. She has continuously dedicated herself to uplifting Black women, girls and families throughout Westchester County and beyond. The last recipient of this award was the late Hon. Pearl C. Quarles, prior to the pandemic in 2019. Cheryl Brannan, accepted the award and expressed her gratitude for her over forty guests, including her immediate family, STSI members, community partners and elected officials Hon. Shawyn Patterson Howard, Hon. Terry Clements and Supreme Court Judge Janet Malone, along various candidates, and friends. She thanked the Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins for his commitment to service and friendship over the years, along with Tsahai Amazan, a dedicated scholarship committee member for the nomination. Cheryl stated that the award was very special to her in that the previous recipient was the late great Hon. Pearl C. Quarles, her dear friend and role model. She also lifted up the theme “I am, because we are” during her acceptance speech. A beautiful awe-inspiring praise dance was performed by New Rochelle resident and pillar, Vera Cheek, also an STSI Board member. She dedicated the dance to Cheryl Brannan and her founding family members, mother Jeanette Ray and aunt Rose Taylor. Also, awarded was Rick Palladino ’76, ’89, Director of Libraries at Iona University, a dedicated 40 Year Employee who also worked alongside the late John Claude Lovinsky. Scholarship committee members included Louzane Amazan, Tashai Amazan, Ann Marie Johnson, Eydie Jordan, Shirley LeBlanc, Lelienne Lovinsky, Nathalie Lovinsky, Genevieve Thompson, Edna Viez and Kathryn Wiegand. ############### Click below to view pictures from the event:

New York State Report This report summarizes the activities of the New York State Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council, as well as details the Council’s key recommendations to prevent maternal mortality, morbidity, and related disparities. These recommendations are designed to improve the experience of care and outcomes for birthing people across New York State. A specific emphasis is placed on recommendations that address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. It is important to note that in the Findings Section of the report, the term ‘women’ is used, whereas in other sections of the report, the term ‘birthing people’ is used. The findings were based on review of pregnancy-associated deaths in 2018, and this cohort was restricted to individuals identified as female on the death certificate and/or hospital discharge records. The Department is committed to gender-inclusivity, and therefore, the term ‘birthing people’ is used throughout the rest of the report, where appropriate.

New York State Report The New York State Department of Health (Department) would like to acknowledge the 386 New York women who died in the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 within one year of being pregnant, forever affecting their families, friends, and communities. The Department would also like to acknowledge that pregnant people express many different gender identities. The Department is dedicated to learning from their stories and applying the lessons learned to help prevent future deaths for all pregnant people. PURPOSE OF REPORT Maternal deaths are devastating events with profound and prolonged effects on families and other survivors, as well as a public health issue of critical importance. The United States is one of the only countries in the world that has seen a rise in the maternal mortality ratio since 2000. Black women in the United States die at more than double the rate of White women.1 The number of maternal deaths in New York State and the persistent disparities in the maternal mortality ratio between Black and White women are urgent concerns. In response to this public health issue, the New York State Department of Health (the Department) created the Maternal Mortality Review Initiative in 2010 to perform a comprehensive review of maternal deaths. When the Maternal Mortality Review Initiative was created, New York ranked 46th out of 50 U.S. states for its maternal mortality ratio, a standard measure from the World Health Organization that is based on obstetric death codes indicating a pregnancy within 42 days prior to death. New York State improved to 15th out of 50 states in the most recent ranking.2 According to New York State vital statistics, the 2018-2020 maternal mortality ratio of 19.3 deaths per 100,000 live births was an improvement over the ratio of 24.4 for 2008-2010; the 2018-2020 maternal mortality ratio for Black women was over four times that of White women.3 Public Health Law Section 2509, enacted in 2019, established a Maternal Mortality Review Board, in the Department, to review each pregnancy-associated death.4 Public Health Law also allows the city of New York to establish their own board. The reviews covered by this report were performed by two boards (also known as committees): the New York State Maternal Mortality Review Board reviewed cases of pregnancy-associated deaths that occurred outside of New York City, and the New York City Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee reviewed cases of pregnancy-associated deaths that occurred within New York City. Section 2509 also established the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council, which is comprised of multidisciplinary experts and lay persons knowledgeable in the fields of maternal mortality, women's health, and public health. Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council members serve and are representative of the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the women and mothers of the state. The Advisory Council may review findings of the boards and develop their own recommendations on policies, best practices, and strategies to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity. The committees’ case review efforts are consistent with the objectives of the Prevention Agenda 2019-2024: New York’s State Health Improvement Plan. The Plan aims to implement public health approaches and cross-sector partnerships to reduce, and eventually eliminate, maternal mortality and the associated racial and ethnic disparities in the state.

& What do they have to offer? VBACFacts - Confidently provide women and birthing people with evidence-based VBAC information so they can make truly informed decisions Membership is offered to professionals who supports mothers and people who have had a cesarean? Do you want to provide them with accurate, balanced, and unbiased information about vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC?) If you have had a cesarean and want to learn more about the VBAC evidence, I want you to know that we now offer payment plans for our course "The Truth About VBAC™ for Families." You can choose the length and it can be up to 12 payments! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 27th at 1pm PST/ 4pm EST when I will present the next chunk of "The Truth About VBAC™ for Professionals" including how to support VBAC in low resource settings. It's being done right now, so: what is the evidence and how do facilities make it as safe as possible while honoring patient autonomy? We will get into it!

February 5 - March 4, 2024 - Webinar Series - ZOOM Sexual Health Series by Mama Glow is back! Get access to the sexual health education that you never received in school. In this five-part, weekly webinar series, you will be provided with a comprehensive overview of the most essential topics related to sexual health. Our goal is to equip you with this knowledge so that you are able to make more informed decisions about your bodies and your relationships. We further encourage you to “share the wealth” and educate your peers and members of your community with the information you have learned from this informative series.

New Rochelle, NY On Sunday, December 17, 2023 STSI Hosted It's Annual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration. STSI & Community Partners celebrated the 2023 Pre-Kwanzaa observation of the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa with dinner, dancing & vendor shopping. This year's event displayed attended by black own business and over 120 attendees including the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Yonkers City Court Judge Verris Shako, the Honorable Ben Boykin, Former Chairman of the Board of Legislators, and City of Mt. Vernon Mayor; Shawyn Patterson-Howard to name a few. Sister to Sister International, is a Yonkers-based nonprofit which is dedicated to the empowerment of Black women and girls in Westchester and beyond. Please watch Chanel 12 News Westchester Coverage Below Kwanzaa is steeped in tradition. Kwanzaa is a celebration that incorporates elements from various African traditions and languages. The main symbols of Kwanzaa are the seven candles, representing the seven principles, and other items such as the candle holder, unity cup, placemat, crops, corn, and gifts. These items are displayed on a placemat called Mkeka, which serves as a reminder of African heritage and traditions. The Kwanzaa candle colors are black, red, and green. During Kwanzaa, a key custom is to light the Kinara daily. The first day, the black unity candle is lit. On the second day, the red candle to the right of the unity candle is lit, and on the third day, the green candle to the left of the unity candle is lit. This pattern continues until the seventh day. Each day of Kwanzaa highlights a specific principle. The first day of Kwanzaa honors Umoja or unity. Kujichagulia or self-determination marks day two. Next comes Ujima, which reveres collective work and responsibility for the development and preservation of Black communities. Long before STSI created the directory of Black-owned businesses, Ujamaa or cooperative economics, urged Black communities to invest in themselves financially on the fourth day of Kwanzaa by operating or supporting Black establishments and creating ways to earn profits together. Nia means purpose and is the focus of day five. The sixth day’s theme is Kuumba, which represents creativity and Finally, Kwanzaa is closed out with Imani: Faith. Tamshi la Tambiko (Libation Statement) It is tradition to pour libation in remembrance of the ancestors on all special occasions. Kwanzaa, is such an occasion, as it provides. us an opportunity to reflect on our African past and American present. Water is suggested as it. holds the essence of life and should be placed. STSI Kwanzaa Shopping Bazar Our guests enjoyed meting and shopping our Kwanzaa Shopping Bazar where small black owned creative businesses displayed their creative products and services. Drumming and Dancing Together, we danced to African Drums and great music.

On July 27, 2023 STSI will again support Black Women’s Equal Pay. Join STSI on Thursday 7/27/23 , as we participate in a tweet/social media storm using the hashtag #BlackWomenEqualPayDay from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to raise awareness. Click here to download samples Black Women's Equal Pay Day Twitter/Social Media Storm posts. Sister to Sister International, a Yonkers-based nonprofit which is dedicated to the empowerment of Black women and girls in Westchester and Rockland counties. Community partners including the Westchester Women's Agenda, Jack and Jill of America Inc's Rockland Orange Chapter, PowerHer NY, American Association of University Women, Westchester County Youth Bureau, Westchester County Office for Women and Westchester Children's Association will be participating in the effort, said Cheryl Brannan, founder of the nonprofit. “It's very, very fundamental and it's tremendously impactful on the life of a Black woman. It influences what kind of disposable income she has, where she may be able to live, her access to education and educational opportunities perhaps for her children,” said Brannan. “It clearly impacts the quality of life for Black women.” Black women in the United States who work full time, year-round are typically paid just .67 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men — and that number has not budged in over a quarter century. . For women overall, the wage gap stands at .83 cents for every dollar paid to men. July 27, 2023 is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the year Black women working full time need to work to earn what their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts earned last year. This year the number has widened to include all women including part time workers. This wage gap costs Black women $22,692 a year, according to a new analysis by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). Over a 40-year-career, the wage gap translates to nearly $1M. Further research by the NWLC indicate that Black women face a wage gap in each of the ten occupations where they are most likely to work, many of which are low paid. Despite Black women’s educational gains, continued structural barriers to degree attainment, coupled with sexism, racism, and lack of support for caregiving responsibilities lead to some Black women experiencing occupational segregation, often in low-paid jobs. Black women accounted for 6.0% of the workforce yet 8.9% of the low-paid workforce in the U.S. in 2021. Nearly two in five Black women (39.8%) are employed in one of ten occupations; in all ten of the occupations, Black women working full time, year-round are paid less than white, non-Hispanic men working full time, year round. “We can’t wait to close the wage gap for Black women” Racism, sexism, and structural inequalities rob Black women of tens of thousands of dollars a year. We need public investments and public policies that allow Black women to succeed and thrive. It’s time to ensure Black women are paid what they are owed, said Jasmine Tucker, director of research for NWLC. An area of focus for Sister to Sister International has been to encourage Black girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM), which have the least wage disparities. The nonprofit organizes annual summer STEM camps for Black and girls of color. “When they pursue those fields, that they're more likely to have less of a pay disparity,” said Brannan. “And you get paid almost twice as much in STEM fields than you do in a non-STEM field.” The non-profit has conducted a series of salary negotiation trainings and has an online chat group to discuss salary negotiations and other work-related issues. “We want to make sure women are comfortable negotiating their salaries. When you go into the workforce, you need to understand that these pay inequities exist,” she said. “This is what you're up against, and you need to learn strategies to help promote yourself, to look for mentors, to hold your place of work accountable.”

Sister to Sister International, Inc. promotes STEAM Camp Efforts at this year's cultural celebration Valhalla, NY, 6/25/2023: Sister to Sister International participated and served as a co-sponsor of the 37th Annual African American Heritage Day Celebration at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla June 25, 2023. We were blessed with great weather; several thousand people were in attendance. The event included live entertainment, food, crafts, clothing, and free health screenings offered by various health related organizations. A special thank you to our Board Members, Parents, Students and Consultants who pitched in during the day at the STSI tent!

Sister to Sister International, Inc. provides sholarships for graduating seniors from area high schools for over 10 years New Rochelle, NY, 5/7/2023 – On May 7, 2023 Sister to Sister International Hosted the annual Pre-Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch and Hat Parade to benefit our Reach for the Stars Scholarship Fund. Special Guest MC for the occasion, Supreme Court Judge Janet Malone. Congressman Jamaal Bowman presented special recognition to the Hon. Pearl C. Quarles, the first African-American woman to serve as Westchester County Legislator. The event was well attended by various elected officials from Westchester County including NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Hon. Pearl C. Quarles, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Deputy County Executive Kenneth Jenkins, Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Westchester County Executive Director of Human Rights Commission Delores Scott Brathwaite; Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Yonkers Judges Verris B. Shako and Karen T. Beltran. Legislators Christopher A. Johnson, Terry Downes Clements, and Yadira Ramos-Herbert. Previous scholarship awardees; Sayidana Brannan Douglas, Khadyja Sarr, and Jordanne Lewis provided testimonies explaining their journey being part of the STSI STEAM program and how it has greatly benefited their career trajectory as adults. All attended the Inaugural STEM Camp in 2010 and have since secured Master Degrees. Also featured was a new college student and our current STEAM Program Consultant, both of whom have benefitted from the STSI experience Jhinelle Walker and Leah Townsend Brown. The annual “Reach for the Stars” College Scholarship has provided graduating seniors in Westchester County college scholarships for the last 20 years. Black women and girls are breaking down barriers and reaching their full potential in Westchester County where there is a thirst for equity and inclusion while confronting systemic racism. We must continue to create educational opportunities for our young people in order to create wealth and improve our financial trajectory, now and for the future. Sister to Sister is now accepting Scholarships and encourage black females in Westchester to apply. See qualifications and instructions to apply here. Click Here View photos of the event. Click Here

STSI Hosts a 4 day only fundraising effort to support STEM/STEAM efforts for young girls of color in Westchester. Fundraising Drive Starts Sunday, February 26 at 12noon and ends on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 12noon Double Good is fundraising company that offers a platform for organizations to sell popcorn and keep 50% of all profits. Double Good offers different flavors of single bag popcorn including, Butter Believe It, Carmel-DIEM, In Queso Fire, White Cheddar Go Getter and more! Check out the Double Good Website Click Here to Participate by selling popcorn or making a donation! STSI's long standing success in Westchester is mainly due to it's supporters, sponsors, members, and community partners. If you would like to participate you may help sell popcorn or make a donation during these 4 days. As always, thank you for supporting STSI once again! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sister to Sister International, Inc. (STSI) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that links women, girls and families of African descent globally, to the resources that connect, advance and strengthen them. We do this through advocacy, education and the promotion of African culture.

Once again, STSI is at the forefront of excellent work in Westchester that benefits women of color. Three groups working to improve health outcomes for Black expectant mothers and their babies will receive a total of almost $1 million from Westchester County, officials announced Wednesday. Through a new program called The Black Maternal Child Health Initiative, the county health department will give $365,000 to the Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network, $330,000 to St. John's Riverside Hospital and $300,000 to Birth from the Earth. Read More