Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1399555
Our Roots, Our Growth On behalf of the elected RN-members of our Board of Directors, welcome to California Nurses Associ- ation (CNA). We are proud to be at the helm of our organization in a period marked by unparalleled growth and tremendous change for our profession and our patients. CNA has grown from 17,000 RNs in 1995, located primarily in Northern California, to more than 100,000 RNs in 206 facilities across California. Through the 2004 formation of the National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), CNA/NNOC also represents 37,000 RNs in hospitals located in 22 additional states across the country. These include 12,000 Veterans Health Administration (VA) RNs at 23 VA hospitals in 12 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. In 2009, CNA and NNOC played a lead role in bringing state nursing associations across the nation together into one national organization, National Nurses United (NNU). NNU stands today at 175,000 RNs from every state in the nation, and is now the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in United States history. At last, the nation's RNs have a voice. In fall of 2019, CNA/NNOC was honored to host the Global Nurses Solidarity Assembly in San Francisco, Calif., a three-day gathering of more than 1,500 nurses, labor leaders, and representatives from more than 25 countries. We shared our experiences in organizing for health justice in our respective nations and explored a range of topics, including racial and environmental justice, workplace democ- racy and workers' rights, and the fight for humane immigration policy. The establishment of NNU brought to life the dream of a powerful, national movement of direct-care RNs, and that movement is growing in the United States and globally! 3 Board of Directors Welcome from the 3