Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. – Social Action
Background: In 1934, Bro. Elmo M. Anderson called for the reconstruction of the social order while fighting against anti-lynching practices. Today, Social Action is the heartbeat of our beloved fraternity and we should continue to honor our dear Bro. Anderson through meaningful and measurable activities. Our communities need strong leadership with a clear BOLD vision and message from our great fraternity. We need to continue to be the voice for the voiceless and work in the communities we serve to drive the most impact. We also need to ensure that we have a lens of equity when it comes to the partnerships that we have established. Our Social Action program is segmented into four focus areas: Brotherhood for Justice Reform, Healthy Communities, Safe Communities, and Voting Empowerment.
Three Days of Good Trouble: Honors and pays tribute to Honorable Brother John R. Lewis, civil rights activist who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 to 2020. The program shall occur the first weekend in March, commemorating “Bloody Sunday,” when in 1965, hundreds of people marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama to fight for voting and civil rights of African Americans, only to be attacked and met with unjust violence.
The purpose is to positively impact his country’s voting culture by increasing participation in elections amongst people of color and marginalized communities with an emphasis on African American males.
Blue & White Legislative Days: Each year Phi Beta Sigma Chapters are encouraged to convene at their respective state capitols to engage their elected government officials and representatives to discuss issues and legislation that affect the communities we serve.
Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The purpose is to raise money for Autism research, increase knowledge for Autism, screening and treatment considerations.
Human Trafficking Awareness: The purpose is to bring awareness, educating communities of color on what human trafficking is, why it matters, who it affects and how it operates.
Sigma Justice Alliance: Building Stronger Community-Police Relations is necessary to bridge the existing divide between communities and law enforcement by fostering open dialogue and mutual understanding, it aims to build stronger, more trusting relationships that are crucial for effective community policing and public safety.
Sigma Impact 365: Blue Boots on the Ground: Our objective is to strategically immerse ourselves in the core of local, state and international issues as we build social and political awareness, socio-political leadership capacity, and socio-political action across all Phi Beta Sigma geographic regions.
Voter Registration, Education & Mobilization: The purpose of this initiative is to change the voting culture by increasing participation in each election by helping to close the race and age gap within our prospective communities and insure that more males are participating in the voting process.
Expungement & Sealing of Criminal Records Summit: This initiative assists returning citizens facing significant barriers to society reintegration and expunge or seal criminal records, affording a fresh start in society.
Sigma Community Food Giveaway: The program is necessary due to low-income communities not getting the necessary resources of food on a regular basis. A bi-monthly grocery give away will supplement these families to cut food cost to devote funds to other essential resources in their household.
Establishing the Faith: Build a Bridge Between Law Enforcement and Communities of Color – The purpose of this initiative is to encourage and provide a platform for communities of color and law enforcement officers to work together.
National Night Out – The purpose is to provide resources to the community and facilitate events and dialog between communities of color and law enforcement agencies and officers.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August (Texas and select areas celebrate on the first Tuesday in October). Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much, much more.
Sigma Self Defense Series – The initiative’s purpose if to bring awareness to gun violence, safety and training in the community.
Let’s Talk Politics – Candidate’s Town Hall – The initiative’s purpose is to educate voters on the candidates, the processes to create a more informed electorate by facilitating forums for local and state candidates to voice their platforms on political issues and direction for our communities of color.
Mental Health Awareness – The program’s purpose is to create varying levels of engagement opportunities increasing the awareness of various mental health initiatives or causes resulting in a sustainable mental health eco-system within Phi Beta Sigma.
Prostate Health & Sexual Recovery – The program’s purpose is to advocate for and persuade social determinants of health to drive the need for early detention of prostate cancer in communities of color.
Prostate 5K Run/Walk – The purpose is to increase knowledge of prostate cancer, raise money for research, screening and treatment considerations.
American Red Cross Chapter Blood Drive – In support of the American Red Cross, the purpose is to donate blood, sponsor blood drives and increase advocacy and awareness of the need for African Americans to donate blood.
Sigma Wellness – Fitness Challenges: Chapters are encouraged to develop plans and programs for participants that help “challenge” and modify behavior that engages healthy fitness practices and. combat and bring awareness to the racial disparities in health in the U.S.
Walk with the Stars Run/Walk or Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Program – The purpose is to increase knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease, screening and treatment and access to treatments that improve quality of life of people with blood donation, bone marrow donation registry and financial support for partners.
Partners:
NAACP – We envision an inclusive community rooted in liberation where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination. Our mission is to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.
American Cancer Society – We are a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. We are improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
Micah’s Voice – With the core belief that each child has unique abilities and gifts to share with the world, Micah’s Voice provides hope and inspiration to families dealing with a diagnosis of autism. Through programs that provide education, awareness, support, and financial assistance for those in greatest need, Micah’s Voice empowers families and gives a voice to these special children, so that they can enjoy the best quality of life possible.
St. Jude Children’s Hospital – The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
Center for Policing Equity – The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) advances racial justice through science by transforming how public safety is understood, measured, and delivered. Through our JusticeNerds programs, we partner with communities, law enforcement, and elected leaders to co-create data-driven solutions that reduce harm, address racial disparities, and build systems grounded in evidence and equity. CPE is home to scientists, advocates, policy experts, and former law enforcement leaders dedicated to building public safety systems that work better for everyone.
Sickle Cell Disease Associate of America, Inc. – The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.(SCDAA) is a nonprofit organization with the sole purpose of supporting research, education and funding of individuals, families those who are impacted by sickle cell disease.
