Disciplines
African American Studies
Abstract
Abstract
Interviewer: Mark Naison, Stephanie Robinson-Ramirez, Steven Payne
Interviewee: Naomi Pemberton
Naomi Pemberton, a healthcare executive and community leader in the Bronx, shares her experiences surrounding advocacy for her community and for its perpetual progression. For Pemberton, service work is a part of her identity, especially in regards to her incessant battle for her community. She plans to always remain in the Bronx with her family, signifying her love and determination to fight for the quality of life in her community, as well as the cultivation of its children. Pemberton stresses how we must use our voices to fight and promote change. Her multicultural background, being both Jamaican and Dominican, has influenced the way in which she interacts with her cultures, specifically in regards to food and music. She highlights the diverse cultural influences, particularly Hip-Hop and Caribbean music had on her upbringing. The way in which she shares the influence her cultures had on her shows how they symbiotically mesh, similarly to the community where she resides, where every other person shares her cultural heritage.
Naomi also shares her career path in healthcare, her community service efforts, and her involvement in local politics. Her involvement in the community started with her education at Truman High School and SUNY Binghamton. Her involvement in community organizations began at Truman, where she organized an event to ensure that her fellow students remained in school. At the time, the drop-out rates were detrimentally high. After graduation, Naomi pursued a Health Administration Master's degree and worked at Lenox Hill Hospital, learning about quality healthcare. She later worked at New York Medical Group and Montefiore, gaining experience in healthcare administration. Through this work, she emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the need for better educational and social programs in the Bronx.
Pemberton has watched her neighborhood change over the years. From her perspective, the quality of life has changed, but with every issue, she has sparked some form of outreach. With that, her voice has become more prominent and distinguished, promoting initiatives that fight for the people of her community, but most importantly, its continuous reach for progress. She stresses the importance of committee meetings, but especially, how they are open for all of the public, encouraging us all to utilize our voices to stress our needs. Her major focus now in political and community activities revolve around children, the future of the community, as well as the quality of living. Through her work with the organization Grassroots in relation to food insecurity, as well as her not-for-profit, Pelham Gardens Neighborhood Association, Naomi Pemberton is a prime example of the powerful effect of community organizing. Most importantly, her work has maintained and fought for the quality of life of those in the Bronx. Just as she vows to remain with her family, her tenacity to improve the community in all aspects of life is truly influential.
Recommended Citation
Naison, Mark, "Naomi Pemberton" (2025). Oral Histories. 375.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/baahp_oralhist/375
