Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite is a past-president of RNAO, a member of RNAO’s Equity in Focus Consortium, and co-chair of the association’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force. She is an adjunct professor and associate graduate faculty member for Ontario Technology University in Oshawa. Angela has a PhD in nursing from the University of Toronto. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and has been appointed to the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. Angela has national and international experience in nursing, teaching and humanitarian work. In 2019, Angela encouraged all nurses to ask federal politicians about their commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Report recommendations to fund resources to address social, economic and health challenges for Indigenous Peoples. She is vocal at home and abroad that racism is a key social determinant of health. Angela’s research focus is on preventing Type 2 diabetes, culturally tailored interventions, and systemic racism in nursing. She has published more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Nadia Prendergast, an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, completed her nursing in England and worked as a public health nurse when she came to Canada. She completed her master’s degree and PhD at the University of Toronto, where she focused her research on the experiences of internationally educated nurses within Canada. Passionate about intergenerational work, she uses arts-based and arts-informed approaches to promote equity, diversity and inclusion within nursing. Her research promotes anti-Black racism resistance that advocates for the convergence of collective responsibility within an intergenerational integrative approach. She currently serves as an advisor to several committees and organizations, providing insight into anti-Black racism and promoting Black flourishing. As the founder of the BRAVE project (Building Relationships Across Villages through Engagement), she takes a scholarly and pragmatic approach to dismantling the intersecting barriers. She is committed to expressing the Ubuntu philosophy of compassion, peace and humanity throughout her work.
Robyn Hodgson is an RN who currently holds the role of program coordinator and case manager for the Trans and Non-Binary Care Program at London InterCommunity Health Centre. Her early career was diversified, with 20 years focused on rural health, emergency and critical care. In 2017, she refocused and started working towards educating herself about transgender care, initially for her own benefit, but then recognizing the barriers to access, the paltry availability of education, and the lack of representation of individuals in health care with both professional and lived experience. Having started first in a position with Rainbow Health Ontario, she returned to her childhood home of London, where she has found healing and purpose in providing access to the kind and quality of care she could not find in her youth. She continues to advocate provincially and federally for safe, competent and timely access to what is seldom acknowledged but well-documented as lifesaving care.
This award is given to an RNAO member (RN/NP) who identifies themselves from one of three groups/communities: Indigenous, Black or 2SLGBTQI+ and who advocates for one of these groups/communities. Three (3) awards, one for each of the three (3) groups/communities: Indigenous, Black and 2SLGBTQI+. This individual:
- acts as a change agent, mentors and supports members of their community to achieve their goals and mission
- upholds and champions social justice, equitable treatment and fairness for equity seeking groups
- engages in policy advocacy to address inequity, discrimination and racism against Black, Indigenous, and/or 2SLGBTQI+ persons or communities
- actively collaborates with decision makers, MPPs/MPs, and other members of the health team and the public to address prejudices, stereotypes, racism, inequity and discrimination
- promotes and advocates for inclusion, diversity, decolonization and respect of all individuals from equity seeking groups
