As a nonprofit leader, Brannan is the founder of Sister to Sister International (STSI) a nonprofit organization in Westchester County that educates, advocates and uplifts Black women and girls in Westchester County and beyond. Brannan led the effort for the creation of the first-ever research report entitled “Still I Rise: Status of Black Women and Girl’s in Westchester County (2019). She serves as the convener for STSI’s collective impact workgroups focused on their four pillars of research including health and wellness, Black maternal health; STEM & STEAM curriculum and career opportunities; Entrepreneurship and Pay equity; and Juvenile and Social Justice.
Brannan was a non-governmental delegate to the International Women’s Conference in 1985 (Nairobi, Kenya) and 1995 in (Beijing, China) and former keynote speaker for conferences in Africa, and the Caribbean. Brannan led the organization’s efforts to attain Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and leads their annual programming efforts with the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Brannan’s work with the UN led to the adoption of a Safe Birthing Initiative “Maama Kit Campaign” with the World Health Organization in support of women in Africa, over 20 years ago. This was STSI’s introduction to Black maternal health initiatives. Since then, STSI has partnered with various community stakeholders including government, hospitals, nonprofits, and health care practitioners using a collective impact framework to improve Black maternal health outcomes.
In 2020 Brannan led a collaboration between STSI & Community Partners with St. John’s Riverside Hospital – one of Westchester’s largest birthing hospitals for women of color. Collaborating with a team of STSI Consultants and Community Service Providers the goal is to assist the hospital with implementing various programs to support staff cultural competency and protocols. This collaborative will serve as a benchmark for other hospitals and medical institutions in Westchester and beyond, with the goal of improving Black maternal health outcomes. She is also the founder of the Westchester Black Maternal and Child Center of Excellence.
Brannan is a former Program Director for the Yonkers, Creating Healthy Schools and Communities initiative and Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) grants in the city of Yonkers with a strong focus on policies, systems and environmental change related to access to nutritious foods and physical activity. She currently leads the Living Your Fullest Everyday (LYFE) coalition in the city of Yonkers of over fifty community stakeholders striving to eliminate health disparities. Brannan encouraged the creation of the Yonkers Mayors Health Equity Task Force, and currently serves as an advisor.
A leader in business, she is President, Brannan Solutions Group – A multi-faceted consulting firm specializing in health equity, Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math education for girls of color, leadership development and strategic management. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, she was an executive with over 20 years of experience at Xerox Corporation in sales, marketing, and human resources. She was also the founder of the Xerox NYC Black Women’s Caucus Group – one of the first of its kind in corporate America. In academia Brannan is a former Adjunct Professor at the Mercy College School of Business, in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education & Business from SUNY at Cortland, studying Universal Health Care in London, England; Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Strategic Management, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science from Mercy University.
Brannan is the recipient of the Westchester County Women’s Hall of Fame recognition; NYS Senate Majority Leader Woman of Distinction Award; as well as Distinguished Recognition for Black Maternal Health programs ncluding creating the Westchester Black Maternal and Child Center of Excellence, by Senator Schumer, among other awards.