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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 25
BY SENATOR JACKSON
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder & CEO of Sisters
Network, Inc. for her efforts in education and support for African American women
diagnosed with breast cancer.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder & CEO of Sisters Network, Inc., for her2
efforts in education and support of African American women diagnosed with breast3
cancer.4
WHEREAS, Sisters Network, Inc., (SNI) is hosting the 12th National African5
American Breast Cancer Conference, May 13-15 in Baton Rouge which will host focus6
group sessions and workshops specifically for young survivors; and 7
WHEREAS, younger African American women are being diagnosed with breast8
cancer and in an effort to address the needs of these women, SNI is launching Young Sisters9
Initiative, a program designed to reach women diagnosed with breast cancer at age forty-five10
and under; and11
WHEREAS, Karen Eubanks Jackson, is Founder & CEO of SNI, the nation's only12
African American breast cancer survivorship organization that addresses the needs particular13
to African American women; and14
WHEREAS, she is a sixteen year breast cancer survivor, who turned a personal15
challenge into an organization that provides standardized educational programs, support,16
empowerment, hope, and financial assistance to African American women diagnosed with17
breast cancer; and18 SR NO. 25
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WHEREAS, during her personal fight to survive breast cancer, she recognized a lack1
of "sisterhood" in traditional organizations, a staggering breast cancer mortality rate for2
African Americans, and limited culturally sensitive material; and3
WHEREAS, in 1994, Karen Eubanks Jackson founded SNI in order to ensure that4
African American women diagnosed with breast cancer receive comprehensive medical care5
and social support; and6
WHEREAS, her primary motivation was to break through the silence and shame of7
breast cancer that immobilizes African American women, restricts their ability to receive8
support services, interferes with early detection, and ultimately affects their survival rates;9
and10
WHEREAS, under Karen Eubanks Jackson's leadership, SNI has experienced11
phenomenal growth resulting in over 43 survivor-run affiliate chapters, serving more than12
3000 members and associate members nationwide; and13
WHEREAS, in addition, she has developed several national outreach initiatives,14
including The Gift for Life Block Walk, the Pink Ribbon Awareness Initiative; and15
WHEREAS, Karen Eubanks Jackson recognized the African American community's16
historical difficulty discussing cancer and other health concerns and created a national17
branding campaign: STOP THE SILENCE which was used on billboards and bumper18
stickers consisting of the slogan "STOP THE SILENCE- Changing the Face of Early Breast19
Health Intervention" and also provided educational outreach and awareness to African20
American women between the ages of 25 and 45, with the program being funded by the21
Department of Health & Human Services, office of minority health; and22
WHEREAS, she is a widely recognized minority breast health advocate, a highly23
sought after speaker and expert on the African American women's breast cancer experience,24
who has traveled nationally and internationally, bringing her message to the United States25
Army's Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center in Germany, the National Congressional Black26
Caucus and the Centers for Disease Control, as well as other organizations; and27
WHEREAS, Karen Eubanks Jackson has been featured in numerous national28
newspapers, magazines, television, radio programs, and Internet media outlets; and29
WHEREAS, she is a published co-author of several works; and 30 SR NO. 25
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WHEREAS, Karen Eubanks Jackson's achievements have been recognized as she1
has been the recipient of the TNT Dramatic Difference Award; Breast Cancer Hero by2
Lifetime TV, JC Penney "Champion of Change", The Jefferson Award-ABC and the Lance3
Armstrong "Voice of Survivorship" Award; and4
WHEREAS, she serves on numerous local and national committees, including the5
Center for Research on Minority Health, Cancer Support Community, Cancer Alliance of6
Texas; is a member of the American Society of Breast Disease; and formerly served on7
committees, such as the National Breast Cancer Coalition Board of Directors, the Susan G.8
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's African American National Advisory Committee and9
the American Cancer Society; and10
WHEREAS, she attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, pursuing11
a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and earned certifications in the area of Breast Health12
Education from several organizations; and13
WHEREAS, Karen Eubanks Jackson continues to make a difference and lives by the14
Sisters Network, Inc., national creed - "In Unity there is Strength, In Strength there is Power,15
In Power there is Change."16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana17
does hereby commend Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder & CEO of Sister Network, Inc., for18
her efforts in education and support for African American women diagnosed with breast19
cancer.20
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to21
Karen Eubanks Jackson.22
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Jackson SR No.
Commends Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder & CEO of Sister Network, Inc., for her efforts
in education and support for African American women diagnosed with breast cancer.