Achieving Diversity in Nursing Celebration and Conference is April 25

More than 300 students from Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton and Amherst are scheduled to attend the first Achieving Diversity in Nursing Celebration and Conference to be held Thursday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Campus Center Auditorium.
 
The keynote speaker will be Judy Jones of Springfield, the daughter of the late Springfield City Councilor Morris Jones. Jones attended the School of Nursing where she received her baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees.
 
Professor Jean Swinney, principle investigator and director of the Achieving Diversity: A Comprehensive Approach to Nursing Workforce Diversity, said the school has been increasingly active in Springfield and Holyoke public schools, promoting and participating in “Nursing Clubs” and on-campus school activities to introduce and recruit students to the profession.
 
“This is an excellent event for the young men and women from our community interested in nursing,” says Swinney.
 
A $892,559 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Health Professions is allowing the program to help increase the number of ethnic minority and disadvantaged high school and college students who choose and successfully prepare for a career in nursing. The program also assists students to successfully complete bacca