STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The National Council of Negro Women’s Staten Island Section marked the beginning of its 2025–2026 program year with its annual homecoming celebration.
The event, held Sept. 27 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, welcomed members back from the summer recess and served as a rededication to the councils’s mission of service, sisterhood and community empowerment.
It opened with a general meeting where members reaffirmed the section’s priorities for the year. A central focus of this year’s agenda is the Youth Information Fair, designed for students in grades 6 through 12 and their families.
The fair will highlight academic, social, athletic and community-based programs available throughout Staten Island to help ensure every child and family has access to opportunities that promote academic success, social growth and overall well-being.
Members gathered for lunch, enjoying fellowship and networking that strengthened relationships within the organization. The section also welcomed five new members and two returning members into the sisterhood.
“Homecoming is more than just the first meeting of the year,” said Beth Coleman-Oliver, president of the Staten Island Section. “It is a moment to honor our legacy, recommit to our mission, and set bold goals for how we serve our community.
“This year, our focus on connecting youth to resources reflects our deep belief that every child deserves access to opportunities that will help them thrive.”
Following the meeting, members participated in a rededication ceremony, reflecting on the words of the council’s founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, taken from her Last Will and Testament. Her call to “leave a legacy of hope, education, racial dignity, and responsibility to our young people” remains a guiding principle for the section’s work.
The section expressed appreciation to Aurora Evans, second vice president and membership chair, for coordinating the Homecoming event.
Throughout the upcoming year, the Staten Island Section remains committed to National Council of Negro Women’s Staten Island Section’s national priorities. These include promoting education, particularly in underserved communities, and encouraging entrepreneurship and financial literacy to foster long-term economic success.
The National Council of Negro Women’s Staten Island Section also supports economic stability through targeted community initiatives and expands health awareness and access to healthcare. It further promotes civic engagement, public policy advocacy and social justice efforts at all levels.
The National Council of Negro Women Staten Island Section, is a community-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for women, their families and their communities.
Guided by the legacy of Bethune, the organization works to promote education, economic empowerment, health equity and social justice across Staten Island.