National Nurses United

That's a lesson Johnson wants to take back to her hospital: "I want people to understand that we are the union." Over the course of the convention, nurses were equipped with the education, resources, and empowerment to advance their cam- paigns and boost their own leadership skills. While the mornings were spent in "plenary sessions" hearing from panels of nurses on issues such as bargaining and organizing, the afternoons gave nurses the chance to take continuing education (CE) courses on a variety of topics affecting the nursing profession. Stephanie Moraes, an RN and bargaining team member at Adventist Health in Lodi, Calif., said of her first convention and the CE courses she attended: "Learning about the hospital industry's business models really opened my eyes. I'm a new nurse and a new union nurse, so I am learning just how much hospitals, including the ones who describe themselves as 'nonprofit' and 'for the people,' do everything simply to maximize their profits. It really lit a fire in me that we're not going to be taken advantage of." Away from the bustle of the convention's main activities, the Memorial Garden and the CNA/NNOC timeline exhibit emphasized the power of remembering our history and telling our stories. In a space created for reflection and quiet, CNA/NNOC nurses had the chance to sit among trees and a reflecting pool. The names of nurses who passed away from Covid-19 were hung up on the branches of the trees, while a screen projected additional names of those we lost. Nurses also had the chance to add their own names of those who died from Covid-19 and messages of love, gratitude, and grief. Johnson, who went to the Memorial Garden at least three times during the convention, experienced powerful emotions when she sat in the space: "Oh my god, I'm getting chills just thinking about it. I sat down on the benches, looked at all the names and faces, and real- ized I was crying. It was a beautiful tribute that gave you the time to reflect. I didn't realize so many nurses had died." Echoing the message of Castillo in her opening remarks for the convention, Johnson said, "We have to tell the truth about what hap- pened. We can't allow the lies to take over our loss." A short walk from the Memorial Garden, nurses had the chance to look at the timeline of our union's 120-year history. In addition to written descriptions of major events in the last 12 decades of our union's history, there were photos, protest placards, nursing uni- forms and t-shirts, pamphlets, and other souvenirs that brought to life the vibrant and rich legacy to which CNA/NNOC nurses belong. In between the quiet reflection and the learning, there was also space for catharsis, joy, and empowerment. "When people asked me about my convention experience, I told them that it was the full spectrum of feelings," Drummond shared. "We got to grieve our difficulties. We had space to learn from each other and help each other. We celebrated too! After three years of working really hard to find joy, getting to vibe out on the dance floor, make friends, and just so easily enjoy ourselves, it was amazing." Kittelson agreed: "It was really inspiring to learn about changes I can fight for in my facility, that I hadn't even imagined possible. The world really is our oyster." "I left feeling more courageous after hearing other people's stories of collective action," reflected Moraes. "The next week, we did a march on the boss and delivered a box of ADOs. That courage came from attending convention." Michelle Morris is a communications specialist at National Nurses United. The art exhibit, "120 years of Advocacy," was on view at the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) 2023 convention, and highlighted the work of more than 35 artists from around the country. The show of colorful paintings and dynamic prints, as well as poignant sculpture, striking photography, and mixed media, was very meaningful to the nurses attending the convention. The artwork tack- led topics such as the experiences of Black, Indigenous people of color (BIPOC), and environmental, immigrant, reproductive, and workers' rights as well as advocacy for nurses. "The art we witness together is not only meant to inspire us in our work," said NNU Executive Director Bonnie Castillo, RN, in the exhibition catalog. "It's also meant to reflect our own creativity, as union nurses." "What I like about the exhibit is that it's a wonderfully woven tapestry of different art forms, which is really powerful," said Kimberly Anderson, RN at UCLA Medical Center. "You can see how this is tied into health care. Even though we're different, there's a commonality that binds us all together. Everyone just wants to be seen and valued and appreciated." Bodily Autonomy (2023) by Fernando Martí "It's a really beautiful way of bringing the activism that comes with this field," said Betty Lou Starnes, RN at University Medical Center in New Orleans and former art history teacher. "I especially love the pieces that are about there being enough for all of us. Bodily autonomy, how bodily autonomy extends into autonomy of your health is such an important conversation to be having right now." The artists said they were honored to be part of the exhibit and to celebrate 120 years with the nurses. Here is what two artists said about their work in the show. Sun Raid II (2021) by Ester Hernandez Ester Hernandez, an internationally renowned artist, was born and raised in a farm-working family in California. In her print Sun Raid II, she revisits her famous work, Sun Mad, to bring attention to the Indigenous people from Mexico, mostly from Oaxaca, who are toiling in the San Joaquin Valley today. "The farm workers are invisible. They are being abused by all kinds of people. I felt that it was really important to acknowledge and make visible their presence and to acknowledge that they are essential workers." Faces Not Forgotten, St. Louis Quilt #2 (2016) "In the last few years gun violence is now the No. 1 cause of death for American children, and that really involves nurses," said Christine Ilewsky, who founded Faces Not Forgotten, an organization that paints portraits of children who died due to gun violence and donates the painting to the families. "I'm sure that nurses are having their own trauma of caring for families, caring for patients, and caring for children that they lost and the children that are wounded and handi- capped by gun violence. I respect nurses for what they have to deal with. I know that they would understand." —Chuleenan Svetvilas Art and Advocacy 22 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . 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