Mennonite College of Nursing receives federal diversity grant

Posted on June 25, 2017
Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing will receive $500,000 in each of the next four years to recruit and retain underrepresented groups in nursing. (Photo Facebook/Mennonite College of Nursing)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – The Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University is receiving a $2 million federal grant to help promote diversity in the nursing workforce.

The four-year grant is distributed through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The college will receive $5000,000 each year to be used to recruit and retain groups that are not heavily represented in the nursing profession.

“This grant will support students with the training and development needed to become outstanding nursing leaders,” said Dean of the Mennonite College of the Nursing Judy Neubrander in a release. “In these challenging economic times, this grant will help MCN continue its mission of developing exceptionally well prepared nurses. This was a highly competitive grant where only 25 were awarded in the nation. This recognizes MCN’s ongoing excellence.”

The Nursing Workforce Diversity grants are designed to increase opportunities for individuals from disadavantaged backgrounds and racial and ethnic minorities.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…