Leslie has been a registered nurse for 22 years. A mother of 2 sons, she received her BSN from San Francisco State University in 1990. Since then, she has worked as a bedside nurse in medical-surgical, chemical dependency, and oncology. She has lobbied patient rights and nurse to patient ratios. As a chief nurse representative, she supported her colleagues, sitting in on disciplinary meetings and grievances.
Ms. Silket discovered that African American nurses needed a platform that united, supported, educated and empowered them. On February 10, 2011, Leslie independently organized and founded Black Nurses Connected. While preparing for the 2012 event, she received an email that changed her life. A friend and fellow nurse, with 3 young children, was stricken with cancer and was dying. Leslie found her calling, to establish a foundation which gives future hope to the daughters and sons of deceased nurses.