NEWARK, NJ — A Newark hospital recently hosted a series of events in recognition of Black History Month, wrapping the month up with an annual celebration ceremony on Friday.
Throughout February, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center has hosted activities that include a Black Owned Business Fair, HBCU Divine Nine Day, African Attire Day, White Coats for Black Lives Medical Grand Rounds, and Black History Month Solidarity Day.
The hospital held its annual Black History Month Celebration Ceremony on Feb. 23. That event included keynote speeches from two of the “Three Doctors” – Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt – a trio of local physicians who are providing positive role models for aspiring doctors in Newark.
Jenkins and Davis – who completed his residency training at the hospital – were just a few of the community members on hand at the hospital’s 2024 gala.
Additional guests and participants included artists from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s ArtsXChange program, a collaboration between Clinton Hill Community Action and NJPAC that provides free arts programming in the South Ward.
The program included spoken word presentations delivered by poet and activist Makayla Rivera of West Orange High School, and Mia X of Clinton Hill Community Action. Also in attendance were Newark South Ward City Councilman Patrick Council, Newark Councilwoman-at-large Louise Scott-Rountree, and Ronice Bruce, the executive director at Newark Bergen-Lyons-Clinton Partnership, as well as students from Eagle Academy of Newark.
Rountree and Council presented Bonita Hickman – a longtime Newark Beth Israel Medical Center employee and dedicated community member – with the “Black History, Moving Forward with Love Humanitarian Award” from the City of Newark and a commendation for her more than 25 years of service to the hospital.
