Inspired by liberty

By July 17, 2024 Uncategorized No Comments

A post to commemorate Liberia’s Independence Day, celebrated every year on July 26

By Ben Louie, PMP

As a long-time non-profit employee, I’ve built my career around helping non-profits operationally and the inspiration I get from the various organizations I’ve worked with has kept me going. I’m proud to serve on the board for Nursing for All and it’s no exception.

I was introduced to Nursing for All when I worked at START Treatment & Recovery Centers; a free-standing medical organization that has served New York City’s Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs since 1969 with primary care, substance abuse and behavioral health services. As their Chief of Staff, I’d touched on the entire spectrum of the business – billing, levels of care, hierarchy within the field, research, medical journal impact factors and medical best practices. I facilitated research protocols, implemented an electronic health record, and participated in the agency’s Continuous Quality Improvement Committee. While I was not and still am not a healthcare professional, I am a proud part of “allied health.”

During this time my colleague who also worked at START, Laura Ridge, introduced me to Nursing for All and shared that she and a few colleagues started it in mid-2010s. When learning about the country and its needs, I was amazed to learn how little I know about Liberia and its origins.  The capital city is named after James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States. The name Liberia was derived from the word “liberty.” With this education, I was hooked.

In the intervening years, we went from fundraisers at Laura’s residence to actual spaces meant for grouping together (donated as we are very conscientious about administrative costs). Laura and then Love Jones going to Liberia whenever possible. The numerous programs that impacted so many lives both indirectly and directly. Some programs that were already in existence when I joined the board are still running and our expansion out of the Montserrado/Monrovia area to Ganta seems like yesterday.

Nursing for All has been making a difference for over a decade and I’ve been involved with the board and serving as an officer for 9 of those years, and I can honestly say I’m still excited and proud the be part of the organization. The projects and programs throughout the years, along with how the organization was able to assist our partners with Ebola and COVID, are a point of pride for me. Our Ebola response was unique for an organization of our size – and we are very proud of the impact that made.

Nursing for All is a US non-profit that supports global health by empowering local nurses in Liberia to design and run relevant community-based healthcare initiatives. Their unique model provides funding and guidance for family planning, diabetes, and HIV education; supporting Liberian nurses to lead and improve public health. I am proud to be a part of an organization striving to create a healthier future for all, starting with the communities in Liberia.If you made it this far through my rambling narrative, I hope you can join us in our journey with a gift, however generous through our donation page found here.

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