Mission & History

1959 – Present

The National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC) is comprised of six districts and one division. The Mid-Atlantic, North Central, Northeast, South Central, Southeast, Western District and the International Division.

The Northeast District (NED) was organized in 1959 at the first regional meeting of the Southeast District. The NED is composed of the following states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Northern New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and the island of Bermuda. Since formation, the NED has grown to have the largest membership of the districts. The first regional meeting of the NED was held on December 12, 1959 in Philadelphia, PA. It was attended by representatives from 31 clubs. Those regional meetings are now called District Conferences.

Our district has been involved in different projects on both the district and national levels. Globally, we assisted in a national project in which we dug water wells in Cameroon; in March 1999, we opened a NED sponsored health care facility in the village of Apatrapa, in Ghana, West Africa. In February 2000, we contributed $1,000.00 to assist residents in Mozambique who were affected by devastating floods.

Nationally, in 1999 we contributed funds to assist in the payoff of the mortgage on our National Headquarters and purchased two VCR machines for the Nannie Jenkins Learning Center in Cuthbert, GA. During the tenure of Governor Yvonne Harris-Jones, an NED scholarship was initiated to present to a woman who is over 25 years of age returning to school to obtain a degree. In 2001, NED donated funds to help the victims and families affected by the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Additionally, under Governor Yvonne Harris-Jones’ administration the Northeast District developed and launched the Northeast District website. The theme of Governor Harris-Jones’ administration was “Leadership by Example.”

In 2004, for the first time, six NED Clubs collaborated on a successful Health Program. The theme was “Empowerment Through Health Literacy: Risks, Realities, & Remedies”. The participating clubs were Bronx, Brooklyn, Laurelton, New York, Riverside, and Williamsbridge. The officers and members were commended by Governor Joanne Braxton.

In 2005, the NED made a donation to the Woman’s Refugee and Child Survivor Africa Agency in Ghana, West Africa. This service offered a safe haven for women and children who are homeless and victims of domestic violence. The members of the NED responded to the disaster relief efforts in the wake of hurricane Katrina by presenting a donation of $3,000.00 to the South Central District of the NANBPWC, INC. to assist the victims in the Gulf region. 

Club year 2006-2007, was declared “The Year of Membership” by Governor Joanne E. Braxton.

.In 2008, Governor Annie R. Lucas spearheaded a partnership with the American Heart Association, which resulted in the NED receiving the American Heart Association Alliance Award from the Heart Association at the awards program held at the renowned Apollo Theater in New York City, New York. This initiative led to a national partnership for the NANBPWC, INC. It was during the 50th NED conference that Governor Annie R. Lucas introduced a community service project to benefit the residents in the locale of the conference as a part of our conference agenda and it was continued under the leadership of Governor Claretha L. Smith.

We continue to support the Vocal Arts by having an annual district competition. In 2009 during the 74th National Convention in Buffalo, New York, the NED Contestant was the first place winner. Also, the mortgage for the National Headquarters was burned at the 74th Convention. The NED was proud to purchase the beautiful ebony stone marker, identifying the National Headquarters at 1806 New Hampshire Avenue, Washington, DC in 2011.

In 2012 Governor Claretha L. Smith, implemented “the Nationwide “GO Green Program” NED went from using paper to communication with members electronically. Which included all reports, notification, communications, District Conference proceedings. We became a paperless District. Governor Smith appointed a computer team. The purpose was to provide computer training for all members. Computer classes and training implemented at the District’s Conference and meetings. During her first year Governor Smith implemented a fireside chat for all club presidents held before the district meetings. The fireside chats were received well.

During the 56th Conference, Governor Smith invited and met with financial institutes and other financial organizations to garner financial donations and support for the district scholarship program. Because of Governor Smith’s due diligence we were able to provide five adult scholarships to community recipients.

During the 56th conference in Elizabeth, NJ; Rev. Dr. Iris J. Bannister was elected to the position of the 16th NED Governor, and she served in this position from 2013-2017. Under her leadership, the Mighty NORTHEAST District flourished under her theme of NED Simply the B.E.S.T., (BOLD EMPOWERED SISTERS TOGETHER). The NED District supported the White Plains Diaper Initiative, developed a partnership with the National Black Theater of Harlem, Prudential Insurance Company and Investors Savings Bank.

During the expanded meeting held at the Harlem State Office Building in 2017, Ericka J. Davis was elected to the position of 17th NED Governor of the Northeast District, serving in the position from from 2017 – 2021. Under her leadership the Northeast District embraced her theme – Building on Our Legacy: – Engage, Empower and Expand NED. In 2018, the 58th NED Conference at the Crowne Plaza, in Englewood New Jersey, we were honored to have the late Sheila Oliver, first Black woman Lieutenant Governor for the state of New Jersey as our featured speaker for the Governor’s Luncheon.

In 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our lives and how the NED district was able to move forward. In August 2020, NED partnered with Monumental Women and were present for the dedication of a monument of Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument honoring Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the first statue of real women in NYC Central Park’s 167-year history Under her leadership, during the pandemic we had our first electronic voting, virtual – district updates; President’s and District meetings; NED District Conference and NED Expanded Meeting with our first virtual Vocal Arts Competition.

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Evelyn Streater-Frizzle was elected as the Northeast District’s 18th Governor. She led under the theme of “Moving Forward with a Purpose-Reaching New Heights-by creating Bold, Dynamic and Empowered leaders in the 21st Century”. Under her administration, the district continued to flourish with the use of a digital platform. The district held its 60th district conference via Zoom and provided computer training to all clubs as we transitioned into this new digital world. The Northeast District membership continued to grow, and under her leadership, a new club was chartered in Connecticut. (The Hamden Club). The Northeast District continued its scholarship program, providing three scholarships to young women who were returning to school, aged 35, with a focus on STEM. At the 61st District Conference, held in Trumbull, Connecticut, the Northeast District donated personal hygiene items to a Connecticut shelter.

We are also proud of our former leaders at the National level: First Vice President and National President Diane Toppin, Director of Membership, Hazel Briceno, Director of Education, Annie R. Lucas, and International Governor, Dr. Beryl Dorsett.

The NED can also boast of having four Past National Presidents:

9th National President-Florence Allen Holmes-1959-1963

14th National President-Mary Singletary-1979-1983

20th National President-Peola Smith-Smith-2003-2007

23rd National President-Diane Toppin-2015-2019