PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Greetings!

Welcome to the official website of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Incorporated, Bergen/Passaic Chapter. I am privileged to serve as the 11th President of this esteemed chapter and continue the legacy of advocacy and empowerment of Black women and girls.

Our chapter was founded by the visionary Mary Ann Miller on September 21, 1986 along with 30 trailblazing members. Since then, we’ve grown into a powerful force for advocacy, equity, and transformation. From our early work with Englewood Partners for Public Education, voter registration drives, and historic preservation efforts, to receiving groundbreaking grants from NIH, amplifying recruitment for HBCUs and educating the community on health issues disproportionately affecting black women—our chapter has stood as a beacon of leadership and community advocacy for nearly 4 decades. This year is particularly special as we celebrate 40 years of advocacy in the Bergen and Passaic counties!

We remain anchored in our mission: to advocate for Black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in health, education, and economic empowerment. Our vision is bold — a world where socio-economic inequity no longer exists. And our values guide us: gender equity, inclusion, respect, racial and social justice, integrity, accountability, economic empowerment, and collaboration.

As President, my administration is anchored in the theme: Reigniting Our Sisterhood & Advocacy. Together, we will continue to further the mission of NCBW and more specifically execute initiatives and programs that

• Increase consideration among Black girls for HBCUs and careers in STEM/STEAM
• Advocate for Obesity, Prescription Coverage and Insurance Equity and other health issues disproportionately affecting Black women such as heart disease , maternal health, HIV/AIDS, cancer and more.
• Drive economic empowerment in the Black community with a focus on entrepreneurship and home ownership to close the racial wealth gap and promote generational wealth.
• Encourage Black women to enter public service in capacities that drive legislative change on issues impacting our communities.
• Level the digital playing field for more equitable access and healthy use in the Black community.
• Expand our impact in the Bergen and Passaic communities through strategic partnerships.
• Foster a pipeline of generational leaders of diverse backgrounds and expertise within NCBW Bergen/Passaic chapter to ensure continued and scalable impact of NCBW’s mission in the community.

As we excitedly approach our 40th year milestone this year, I invite you to explore our website to learn more about our organization including upcoming initiatives, events and how you can join us in making a difference in our communities.  Thank you for visiting and let’s continue the dialogue on our social media communities.

Love and Light,

President Nkem Michelle Okolo
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Bergen/Passaic Chapter