COVID-19 has forced the world into living a new way of life. This “new normal” has taught us that wearing a mask is an act of love, the “smize” is the newest form of human expression, and work meetings and school are done on Zoom. Additionally, the pandemic has exposed the harsh realities of healthcare disparities, access to healthcare and the impact of chronic illness. It’s been a challenging year for sure and one that has shown our organization that there is an opportunity to do more for our community.

Haitian American Nurses Association (HANA) of Hudson Valley, New York. is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit nursing organization. HANA of Hudson Valley, New York, was founded in 2008 by Registered Nurse, Berthilde Dufrene, following a disastrous flood that took place in the northwestern region of Haiti. The need to create a nursing organization was necessary not only to reach out to the global community, but to also address the health and socioeconomic concerns in the immediate Rockland community. Since then, our members have participated in several missions around the world.