Washington, DC- The National Dental Association will celebrate its 100th Anniversary at this year's convention, to be held July 26-30, 2013 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, MD, minutes away from Downtown Washington, DC.
The organization was officially organized in 1913 to address the needs and issues of African American dentists, who because of segregated practices and racial discrimination were not allowed to join the white organizations.
The organization held annual conventions in private homes, churches, and schools, because the "Negro" dentists were not allowed to patronize hotels and restaurants until the passage of the Civil Rights legislation and integration.
Today, the organization is the premier organization for underrepresented minorities and the voice for the underserved. It is committed to strengthening the organization, and securing the success and impact of future generations of African American dentists and other underrepresented communities. In 2012, the NDA convened the historic; first joint Oral Health Summit of the three major ethnic dental organizations in America, the NDA, the Hispanic Dental Association, and the Society of American Indian Dentists.
The $1 million Centennial Campaign focuses on an endowed student scholarship fund, community outreach support for local NDA chapters, and NDA-HEALTH NOW, a grassroots, community-based mobile health project.
