VIA Times – January 2015 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Ryan Tejero
Chicago Nightingales (CN) is one of the newest Filipino American organizations here in Chicagoland! It is a 501 (C)(3) organization. Launched in February 2013, its founders organized it as a voluntary, impartial, neutral and independent humanitarian organization with a mission to promote health and wellness in the community, and provide assistance to communities that are stricken with disasters or calamities locally, and in third world countries, primarily, the Philippines.
CN’s goals include: to sponsor educational programs in the community that promotes healthy lifestyle and prevention of illness; to provide free and convenient access to a health professional that helps address basic health questions and concerns, and to provide valuable aid, goods, and services to communities afflicted by calamities or disasters locally and in the Philippines.
Anybody in the healthcare field, including those who are not, but believes in the advocacy of the organization can sign up for CN membership. An active member of Chicago Nightingales enjoys a variety of perks and opportunities to volunteer their gift of time and resources. Here’s what you can get on being a CN member: Give Something Back to the Community – the desire to contribute to the society drives your commitment to volunteer work; Bring about Social Change– the satisfaction from knowing that you have contributed in your own little way to bring about positive changes; Personal Growth – personal growth that comes from discovering new skills and capabilities by working with people who are equally-driven and motivated; Achievement and Recognition – knowing that you have made a difference, gives a sense of achievement and self-fulfillment which bring about the best in you, and Friendship and Belongingness– being in the company of people who shares the same passion and makes volunteer work fun and rewarding and makes everyone feel a sense of “belong-ness.”
Although new to the Filipino American community, CN has proven its commitment to serve. Since its inception in 2013, CN has adopted three communities in the Philippines located in Iloilo, Cebu, and Antique. CN’s beneficiaries were victims of Typhoon Haiyan in these areas. For a short period of time, CN members has raised funds through their caroling activities during Christmas. A total of $800 was donated to each of the community, with additional of two balikbayan boxes containing non-perishable food items. Here in the Chicagoland, CN members have volunteered, as a group, to the Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit organization in Schaumburg and Aurora areas, and at the Chicago Food Depository.
Over the past two summers, CN has held its annual picnic, which is mostly organized to further strengthen its member engagement, and promotion of health and wellness, through health education and health assessments.
Just this past November, CN organized its first all-Filipino “Chicago Nightingale’s Got Talent” competition. It was held, with a luncheon at the beautiful Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. There were 16 acts for both Pre-Teen and Teen Divisions.
The winners in each division received $300 and a trophy: Davin Colombo from Bolingbrook, IL won the Pre-Teen, and Kayla Tejero from Montgomery, IL won the Teen Division. Via Times/CPRTV’s Celebrity Nick Vera Perez hosted the event. CN will keep this talent competition as an annual event to provide the younger generation of Filipino Americans a venue to showcase their talents.
Currently heading and directing the events of CN is its active, most energetic founding leader, Gemma Esmalla-Kosanam. CN is composed, not only by highly qualified professionals, but also by various dedicated and strong-willed community leaders, who fused together their talents and commitment to create a much more socially-responsible organization.
Gemma is connected with Presence Saint Mary and Saint Elizabeth Medical Center as the hospital’s Medical Stabilization Manager and Performance Improvement Coordinator.
As a registered nurse, Gemma is professionally trained and educated, both here in the US and the Philippines. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of San Agustin (Iloilo City), completed the academic requirements of Master of Arts in Nursing from Central Philippine University (Iloilo City), Master of Science in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis (Joliet, IL) in 2000, and Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix in 2012.
She has been actively involved in the Philippine Nurses Association Illinois, the Philippine Nurses Association in America and the National Association of Healthcare Quality. She was a recipient of the PNAA Leaders Scholarship Program, with her project proposal on “The Rice Project,” which was selected and presented at the PNAA National Convention held in Las Vegas, NV.
If you are interested to join the noble mission of Chicago Nightingales, please contact Gemma by sending her an email at gesmalla@ gmail.com.
Gemma, with husband Venu and daughter Shyla.
Kayla Tejero (right) with 2014 Via Times Hall of Famer in Nursing Mel Tolledo (left) as one of the judges of the Talent Competition.
Gemma with Chicago Nightingale’s Got Talent Teen Division winner, Kayla Tejero.
