LaborArts

Mary Albritton Douglas came to New York City from rural North Carolina in her teens. She always knew she wanted to teach, but each of her teachers thought she should specialize in their subject; the principal suggested she be an elementary school teacher, in order to teach a bit of everything. After an inspiring career as a beloved elementary school teacher in the Bronx, she retired. She used her months of deferred leave (she had never taken a day off!) to attend medical aide training. She has been working as a volunteer at St. Barnabas Hospital ever since, for more than thirty years a cherished and dependable presence for patients and staff alike. She has mentored hundreds of volunteers, and never stops learning. In 2011 she commuted to a training course for hospice volunteers in Long Island City, in order to expand on her work at St. Barnabas. She also volunteers at the elementary school where she used to teach, sings in her church choir, and is a Eucharistic minister at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church. Elizabeth City State University (where she got her teaching degree) named an auditorium in her honor in 2009, and just last year granted her an honorary doctorate degree of public service.

Interview

Video by Kuji Banks, interviewed by Rachel Bernstein

Awards ceremony

Video by Kuji Banks

Honorees

• Aisha al-Adawiya
• Ingrid Frank
• Lidia Correa
• Vinie Burrows
• Mary Albritton Douglas
• Lubow Wolynetz