2022 Bridges Over Awardees

Dr. Anitra Williams

Bridges Over Health

Dr. Anitra Williams, RN is a mother of two and married to her high school sweetheart of 30 years.  She began her nursing career at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in 1999 where she worked as a staff nurse, charge nurse, and then in various leadership roles, until finally assuming the role as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. 

Through her leadership, Dr. Anitra Williams has implemented and developed numerous and life changing programs with impacts reaching beyond the walls of her organization. She established a framework for a new nurse graduate program, volunteers her time every semester to local nursing schools mentoring nursing students–helping them prepare for behavioral interviews, and she speaks at local high schools sharing her story and encouraging careers in healthcare. Dr. Anitra also identified educational gaps centered around Sepsis and in her own free time, educated over 200 nurses within the skilled nursing community in the Central Valley on the signs and symptoms of Sepsis in an effort to improve patient care outcomes.   Her passion to educate and lead are also apparent in her work and efforts around Human Trafficking and the co-founding and naming of a nursing pathway called The HOPE Program.

One week after implementing a Human Trafficking Response protocol and educating hundreds of staff on the red flags, staff in the emergency department were able to identify a 14 year old being trafficked. Since the implementation of this protocol, numerous victims have been identified at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Dr. Williams continues the fight and her work through San Joaquin County’s Human Trafficking Task force where she worked to establish similar protocols in other healthcare facilities.  She has also collaborated with nurse leaders from San Joaquin Delta College and assisted with the development of a pathway that would allow healthcare workers, who are often in low income roles to elevate and become registered nurses.  This program she appropriately named HOPE or Helping our People Elevate.  Dr. Williams states that it is very hard for people who must work fulltime and go to school fulltime to achieve perfect grade point averages. So for her, the HOPE Program just made sense. She believes that people of color and/or those who are living in poverty are faced with competing priorities: working to care for their families and pursuing higher learning to elevate their future. Dr. Anitra remains committed to creating opportunities that allow the working class to get ahead through programs such as HOPE. 

To date, 48 individuals have become registered nurses who would have otherwise never been afforded this opportunity. One of her recent HOPE graduates, Brandy Ross, was quoted as saying “Dr. Williams, this program (HOPE) changed my life and the life of my family. Without the HOPE Program, I would have never had the opportunity to become a registered nurse because my grades were not perfect, but this program gave me the opportunity I needed and today I proudly serve as an intensive care unit nurse”!

Annette Roberts-Murray, M.Ed.

Bridges Over Education

Annette Roberts-Murray has a Masters of Ed. She also possesses a B.A. in Social Science and a credential in Educational Administration. She is a Elementary School Principal and author of three books, “Pandemonium”, “My Father’s Daughter”, and “Be Encouraged – A 52 Week Devotional” and a Co-Author of one book called “Unshakeable Faith.”

Annette has worked in the field of educations for over 23 years. She has spent her educational career advocating for students, working with parents and community members and working hard to support student learning. Annette has worked hard to support students by providing them with the resources they needed to succeed. 

Annette counts it a privilege to have offered more than 23 years of service as an educational leader, school principal and a student, parent and community advocate. She has worked with many different parent groups. Annette has also facilitated ministry conferences and delivered commencement keynotes speeches. She has launched food and coat drives and she has spearheaded dental clinics at her school sites. Annette considers it a privilege to have been given the opportunity to serve her community.

Annette is a longtime member of Victory in Praise Church in Stockton California. She is a passionate prayer leader, worship team leader and committed member of the church’s vibrant Women’s Ministry.

Annette is a beloved wife and mother of twin boys.