Brooklyn’s Trinbago Progressive Association honors ‘nursing excellence’

Angela Cooper, president of the Brooklyn-based Trinbago Progressive Association of the USA, Inc. (TPAUSA), says her organization last month hosted its highly anticipated Crown of Care Gala – Scholarship Fundraising Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the elegant El Caribe Country Club on Strickland Avenue in Brooklyn, honoring “nursing excellence.”

Held on Saturday, May 9 — during National Nurses Week and on the eve of Mother’s Day — Cooper, a native of Tobago, Trinidad’s sister isle, said TRAPUSA paid tribute to “an extraordinary group of Chief Nursing Officers whose leadership continues to transform healthcare delivery and improve the quality of patient care throughout New York City and beyond.”

She said the honorees included: Dr. Esteen Ladson Barnes, chief nursing officer, NYC H + H /Harlem; NYC Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the Haitian-born chair of the Committee on Hospitals and a registered nurse by profession; Devon A. Bennett — chief nursing officer, NYC H + H /Elmhurst; Althea Senior-Morris, chief nursing officer, NYC H + H / Woodhull; Ann Marie Whyte Akinyooye, chief nursing officer, NYC H + H /McKinney; Dr. Abbi-Gail Baboolal — chief nursing officer, NYC H + H /Queens; Mary Deady-Rooney, interim chief nursing officer, NYC H + H /Metropolitan; Naomi M. Henry, retired director of nursing; and Legacy Honoree
Opal Sinclair-Chung, chief nursing officer, NYC H + H /Kings County. 

Cooper said the distinguished honorees received Crystal Awards, Congressional Proclamations, Senatorial Proclamations and Assembly Citations in recognition of their “extraordinary service, leadership, and commitment to healthcare excellence.

“The evening brought together distinguished healthcare leaders, elected officials, community advocates, scholarship recipients and members of the Caribbean Diaspora for a powerful celebration of leadership, compassion, scholarship and service,” she said. 

Cooper said the evening also marked the formal launch of the TPAUSA Scholars Academy, spearheaded by Scholarship Committee Chair Noel Blackburn. 

She said the initiative was created to establish a “lasting pipeline of mentorship, scholarship, leadership, and community engagement for future generations of young leaders of Trinidad and Tobago heritage.” 

Cooper said scholarship recipients honored during the evening and inducted into the alumni were Michelle Peschier, Kalina Condell, Jadyn Persad, and Denisha West. 

Funds raised during the gala will support scholarships, educational initiatives, and TPAUSA’s upcoming international medical mission to Trinidad and Tobago, scheduled for July 2026, Cooper said.

She said the mission, themed “Healing Beyond Borders,” will bring healthcare professionals, volunteers, medical supplies, and educational outreach “directly into communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago, as part of TPAUSA’s continued commitment to healthcare access and humanitarian service.”

In her opening remarks, Cooper reminded patrons that the gala was “more than an event — it was a celebration of purpose, leadership, compassion, and legacy.” 

She emphasized that honoring nursing leadership represents “an investment in the future of healthcare and community wellness.” 

Cooper said a defining moment of the evening came during the keynote address, delivered by Dr. Patricia Ramsey, president of Medgar Evers College, “whose powerful words resonated deeply throughout the ballroom.”

Referring to the nursing profession, Dr. Ramsey said, “The Cap is the Crown,” reminding attendees that the nursing cap symbolizes “dignity, sacrifice, leadership, and humanity.” 

Cooper said the gala also featured distinguished remarks from several notable leaders and community advocates. 

She said Lisa Scott-McKenzie, commissioner of the New York City Department for Aging, spoke “passionately about the critical role nurses play in strengthening communities through compassion and service.”

Cooper said Scott-McKenzie applauded the honorees for their “unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence” and acknowledged the “profound impact nurses continue to have on families throughout New York City.” 

Remarks were also made by Mary Tang Yew, Acting Consul General of Trinidad & Tobago, who commended TPAUSA for its “continued commitment to celebrating nursing leadership while simultaneously investing in future generations through scholarships, mentorship, and educational advancement,” according to Cooper. 

She said Tang Yew praised the organization for serving as “a strong example of Diaspora leadership and community empowerment.” 

Cooper said additional remarks were delivered by Blackburn, who emphasized the importance of educational access and mentorship in shaping future leaders, noting that the scholarship initiative represents “more than financial support — it is an investment in the future of healthcare, leadership, and community service.”

He also shared his vision for the academy as “a lasting pipeline for mentorship, scholarship, and professional development for generations to come.”

Cooper said the evening climaxed on “an emotional and celebratory note with the surprise distribution of red roses to every woman in attendance in honor of Mother’s Day.”

She said guests were also captivated by an “inspiring dance tribute” performed by Kijana Lewis of the dance group Something Positive, “whose performance paid homage to the strength, grace, and resilience of women and caregivers everywhere.”

Cooper said she, Master of Ceremonies and Head of the Scholars Academy Samuel Clarke, and Scholarship Selection Committee Chair Akeilia Murphy-Bruce — all “proud Tobagonians” — delivered a spontaneous rendition of the classic anthem “Lean on Me.”

“The unforgettable moment brought the audience to its feet, as guests throughout the ballroom joined in chorus, creating a powerful atmosphere of unity, joy, and cultural pride,” Cooper said. 

“Blending elegance, inspiration, music, culture, and purpose, the Crown of Care Gala was described by many attendees as an Emmy-worthy Caribbean-styled production that celebrated not only healthcare excellence but also the enduring power of community, compassion, and service,” she added.

For TPAUSA, Cooper said the Crown of Care Gala was “not simply an awards ceremony — it was a declaration of service, cultural excellence, and an enduring commitment to the health and well-being of communities both throughout the Diaspora and across the Caribbean.” 

Led by Cooper, alongside Chairman and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Daniel L. Beckles of Trinidad, “the organization continues to bridge healthcare advocacy and community empowerment between New York and the Caribbean,” Cooper said. 

For more than three decades, she said TPAUSA has “remained committed to healthcare outreach, educational advancement, scholarships, humanitarian initiatives, and medical mission work throughout underserved communities.”