Cheryl Brannan, founder of Sister to Sister International and the Yonkers chapter of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus and a STEM advocate, was recently inducted into the Westchester Women’s Hall of Fame at an event at the Woman’s Club of White Plains.
At the induction ceremonies, Brannan was recognized for her trailblazing leadership in civic, political, corporate and international arenas over the past 30 years.
“Cheryl Brannan clearly embodies the criteria of the Westchester Women’s Hall of Fame,” said Maria Imperial, CEO of YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester.” She has spent her life giving back and creating opportunities for women and girls, especially black women and girls, in Westchester County. She is a fierce, bold woman warrior.”
Brannan has led Sister to Sister International for 25 years, linking women of African descent globally to resources that strengthen and advance them through advocacy, education and promotion of African culture. Particular emphasis is placed on healthy lifestyles and a STEM camp for black and girls of color she created 10 years ago. The camp has since evolved into a year-round STEM Academy, creating a pipeline to science, technology, engineering and math careers where black and girls of color, are significantly under-represented.
Brannan has been a strong advocate for health care reform and has supported local and national elected officials on this critical issue. A pivotal research study she spearheaded recently, titled “A Snapshot Report: State of Black Women and Girls in Westchester County,” documented major health disparities between black women and girls and their white counterparts.
She also consulted with former Westchester County Executive Andy Spano’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Health Disparities in the Black Community and was a member of the Westchester Medical Center Task Force on Community Health, the Westchester County African American Advisory Board, and the first person of African descent to serve on the Yonkers Planning Board, among other positions of service over the years.
Brannan is past county-wide president of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, which has been instrumental in supporting candidates for key positions within the county. In 2016, she also served as the chairwoman of the Hillary Clinton for President, Westchester Women of Color Committee.
Brannan is a lifelong resident of the City of Yonkers and has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. She led Sister to Sister International’s efforts to hold Special Consultative Status with the United Nations and is a former delegate to UN conferences in Nairobi, Kenya and Beijing, China.
As a toastmaster, she has been a well sought-after speaker, keynoting International Black Career Women conferences in Africa and various UN events globally. She is an NGO delegate to the UN Department of the Economic and Social Council and has worked on various conferences with the Department of Public Information, Division for the Advancement of Women, and the World Health Organization, and spearheaded events during the Commission on the Status of Women sessions, exposing hundreds of Westchester women and girls to the UN and global issues affecting women and families, for more than 15 years.
She is CEO of Brannan Solutions Group, a multifaceted consulting firm specializing in issues related to STEM for black and girls of color, equity and inclusion, health and wellness, management practices, women and children, and social responsibility.
As a former executive at Xerox Corporation for more than 20 years, she held senior management positions in sales, marketing and human resources. She started the Xerox Black Women’s Caucus Group, New York chapter. Brannan also hosted Ursula Burns, former president of Xerox Corporation, an engineer and the first Fortune 50 black female CEO, during a fire-side chat at Westchester Community College, inspiring area students to pursue STEM/STEAM and executive leadership careers.
Brannan holds a bachelor’s degree in education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Mercy College, where she is a former adjunct professor. She is pursuing a doctorate in leadership and learning at Aspen University and has received numerous awards for her commitment to excellence over the years.
