The San Diego Chapters of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.in collaboration with VIP Mentors (Kristen Lese pictured) and the employees of Cobham Sensor Systems (Purchasing Dept’s Carmen Merced pictured) combined to volunteer and raise $675.for the March of Dimes “Walk for Babies” effort which took place at Balboa Park on Saturday April 28th, 2012 as part of our partnership with the March of Dimes.

Through this partnership, the two organizations work together to prevent premature births and build strong fathers and male role modes in the African American community through sponsoring Strong Father Seminars, and Stepping to Save Babies through the March for Babies Chapters and members are committed to take the following actions:

·         Sigma’s volunteering for local March of Dimes chapters, committees, and boards.

·         Chapters co-sponsoring with March of Dimes in presenting Building Strong Fathers Seminars in our communities.

·         Sigma Stepping To Save Babies Initiative: Our Goal is to raise $100,000 with each chapter contributing a minimum of $250 for March for Babies.

A collaborative project of “Sigma Wellness”, the March of Dimes and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. provides the tools to make smart choices about a healthy lifestyle, that will help lead to responsible fatherhood. 

Program Highlights

Provides an opportunity to highlight the responsibilities of fatherhood to teenagers or men who may become fathers before they are ready through conferences, seminars, workshops, discussion sessions and community-based forums.

Participants talk and learn about leading a healthy lifestyle, responsible fatherhood, building strong academic skills, work-related skills and leadership skills, training teens to be peer-to-peer helpers.

Sigma Wellness Program Leader’s Guide

The Sigma Wellness Program Leader’s Guide focuses on seven key topics:

·         Peer Pressure

·         Self-esteem

·         Sexuality and self respect

·         “Straight Talk” about alcohol, drugs, STDs and AIDs, school dropouts and teenage pregnancy

·         Responsible Fatherhood

·         Healthy Lifestyles

·         The Making of a “Peer-to-Peer helper”

Who is the target audience for the program?

Sigma Wellness materials are designed to help teenagers and men make informed decisions about their lifestyles and prepare them for eventual fatherhood through conferences, seminars, workshops, discussion sessions, and community-based forums.

What are the goals of Sigma Wellness?

Whether you’re single or married, teen-aged or middle-aged, Sigma Wellness Program gives you the tools you need to make smart choices about a healthy lifestyle that will help lead to responsible fatherhood. In discussion groups led by Sigma Wellness mentors, males of all ethnic backgrounds and races talk about the impact these issues have on their lives. Sigma Wellness offers valuable information about leading healthy lifestyle, avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, preventing teen-age pregnancy, and responsible fatherhood.

No Comments »

Saturday, March 31, 2012 – From 7am to 12pm at the Jackie Robinson YMCA. We had the opportunity to serve our community by volunteering with the ROCK CHURCH to set up tents, landscape and show how we love our community.  We aided to the love our city event by painting and landscaping, as The Rock and The Jackie Robinson YMCA reached out to the community with an Easter Egg Hunt for children Pre-K to 3rd grade.

There's no better feeling than when you served your community… when you've left your mark on that community, there's a sense of joy that only comes through selfless volunteerism. Volunteering benefits citizens, families and communities and this is why Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. continues to develop and strengthen our partnerships with community based organization, especially those that reach out to the inner city. Hence the motto "Culture for Service, Service for Humanity"

No Comments »

Saturday Jan. 15th, 2012 -Phi Beta Sigma in conjunction with C-Core and VIP Mentors had the opportunity to beautify our community as well as continue to build our relationship and bonds with each other.  Arriving at Radio Park a  canyon in the underdeveloped area of San Diego we arrived with our mentees on a mission to plant trees that would not only plant a seed of growth in our community but also continue to build the bond of trust in the mentor/mentee relationship..

We believe that only by giving young people the opportunity to contribute to their communities can the begin to see the value of community. This small gesture of work and selfless volunteering does wonders by instilling pride in all of our hearts. Imagine how amazing it will be to come back to that same canyon and desolate space to see a forest of trees that together you planted. Even more importantly imagine when you come back together and the young man that you spent this day with has not only graduated from high school and college but has a mentee of his own. Just imagine that ..

. Phi Beta Sigma and HBI C-CORE have formed a unique partnership locally and we are thrilled about the opportunity to work with them and VIP mentors in the coming years. Home Builders Institute Construction Coaching Opportunities to Reach Employment is an industry-sponsored mentoring program for youth that is funded by the US Department of Justice.  Phi Beta Sigma and C-Core are actively recruiting mentors and mentees to participate in the career-focused mentoring program. The C-Core model will serve 100 youth in the San Diego community by teaching them about careers and leading them to higher education. HBI is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and training programs in residential construction.

No Comments »

Home Builders Institute C-Core Mentoring Initiative in conjunction with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. with VIP Mentors provided foster youth of San Diego with sneakers at the 5^th Annual Blue and White Christmas Holiday Party. The event took place at the House of Blues San Diego (1055 5^th Avenue San Diego, Ca) on Monday, December 19^th 2011 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm.

40 deserving foster youths from San Diego County Adoptions V-E Daughters and C-Core mentoring programs were chosen to receive Adidas sneakers in coordination with Lady-Baller Athletics. The keynote speaker was the Chief of the San Diego Probation Department, Mack Jenkins who delivered a very stirring speech on the importance of mentoring and how it can impact a young person’s life. Following a Step demonstration from the Lambda Iota Chapter, Community Activist of the Year awards was presented to Miss Kimberely Moore (HIV/AID’s Awareness) and Mohamed Ahmed (C.U.R.E. Africa

The entire event was wonderfully coordinated by Miss Kendall Stewart and Beyond Basic Event Designs a company of creative ideas and unique presentations. She was passionate about creating an exciting experience for our event with the highest quality possible. Luckily, Kendall specializes in creating unique community service events and celebrations. It was a pleasure to have her working on the Blue and White Christmas and Miss Stewart stated “It allowed us to make a positive impact in our community and have fun at the same time.” The House of Blues also provided catering and top notch service to each young person and all were made to feel special on this day.

We thank the entire community for supporting the event and special thanks go out to the ladies of the Beta Nu Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. We want to thank Brandon Miller and Lakeisha Nacoste for hosting the event and keeping the crowd especially the youth engaged in the festivities. We also want to thank Miss April Ray of ALR Marketing Systems for designing a beautiful logo and providing everyone with event T-Shirts. Lastly, we have to thank Miss Deme’ Hill (HBI) and Mr. Anthony Winston III (Phi Beta Sigma) without their vision, guidance and hard work none of this would have been possible.

Finally, We have to honor and give thanks to all the organizations and volunteers that brought the event together from Home Builders Institute C-Core, VIP Mentors, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta. This collaboration of people feel it there duty to make an impact in young people’s lives

Phi Beta Sigma and HBI C-CORE have formed a unique partnership locally and we are thrilled about the opportunity to work with them and VIP mentors in the coming years. Home Builders Institute Construction Coaching Opportunities to Reach Employment is an industry-sponsored mentoring program for youth that is funded by the US Department of Justice.      Phi Beta Sigma and C   -Core are actively recruiting mentors and mentees to participate in the career-focused mentoring program. The C-Core model will serve 100 youth in the San Diego community by teaching them about careers and leading them to higher education. HBI is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education and training programs in residential construction. For more than 35 years, HBI has trained people of all ages and helped the home building industry address its need for qualified workers.

No Comments »

Dec. 19th, 2011 -  Each year, word gets around that on the Saturday before Christmas, the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in Southeast San Diego has a big holiday party – and gives a free present to each child. Yesterday, eager parents began lining up in the rain before 6 a.m. and by 8:30 a.m., a line stretched down the block and curled around the corner to Imperial Avenue. This year we had the opportunity to serve in multiple roles ranging from playing Santa and Picture taking and distributiion to crowd control.

In addition to each child being handed an age-appropriate gift by volunteers, each parent got a small present, too. Families could also make their way to the gymnasium for games, arts and crafts, and a chance to get a picture taken with Santa Claus. The event draws people from all over the community and relies on more than 200 volunteers to pass out gifts, serve snacks and help with activities in the gym,

Toys come from across the county through toy drives conducted by businesses and other YMCAs. Several companies also contribute money or toys, including the Sycuan Indian band, Target and Hewlett-Packard. Wherever yesterday’s gifts came from, they were a hit with the young recipients. But the children were not the only ones getting something out of the day, seeing the excited kids and their families were also a gift truly moved the hearts of the men of Sigma. 

No Comments »

On Sunday Nov. 13th, 2011 the Brothers of the Omicron Iota Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and volunteers took the time to serve our community by feeding the homeless at the St. Vincent DePauls shelter. By serving our community we have the opportunity to aid those that are less fortunate than us and at the same time realize that by serving our communities we encourage change. Arriving well before dawn at 5:30AM we got a chance to serve breakfast to the residents of Father Joes in addition to those that needed a meal off the streets.

Everyone had the chance to contribute, the duties included serving breakfast in the main kitchen for long-term residents and families, making 100’s sandwiches for lunches, dishwashing, and cleaning the dining facilities before we left. Though this but a small thing to contribute, we feel that by taking the time for our fellow man, we not only serve them but we serve ourselves. 

No Comments »

September 17th, 2011 Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc attended San Diego’s Praisefest In an effort to raise the awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on the African-American male population, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, through our Sigma Wellness signature initiative has developed a new project, the Conversations Among Brothers Series. This initiative is targeted at African American men on college campuses and is designed to encourage ongoing peer-to-peer discussions about topics and issues that adversely impact African-American men, particularly HIV/AIDS.

With the alarming number of African-American men between the ages 17-24 that are infected with the disease and though African Americans make up a mere 13-14% of the U.S. population but account for almost half (49%) of all HIV diagnoses. It is imperative for organizations whose membership encompasses such demographics to take a proactive position in helping to address this matter of urgency. To that end, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, primarily through its collegiate chapters, seeks to facilitate ongoing dialogue among Brothers on college campuses. In addition, the Fraternity seeks to encourage African-American men to not only become aware of the impact of the disease on our communities but to get tested and become advocates for HIV/AIDS testing. 

No Comments »

4S RANCH — The defense of the Del Norte High football team shut down visiting Horizon Christian 29-0 on Friday night. The game was shaping up as a defensive battle until Del Norte's Patrick Zeller ended an 83-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 7 minutes, 6 seconds left in the second quarter. If there were ever any doubts that the Del Norte High football program was not headed in the right direction, the first three weeks of the season quickly put those to rest. First-year coach Leigh Cole’s Nighthawks have proven to be an exciting bunch, and they certainly put on a show for the home crowd Friday night in a 29-0 victory over Horizon Christian.

Sophomore running back Patrick Zeller had 161 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Alex Dion tossed two TD passes to tight end Chadbourne Wetzel and Del Norte (2-1) now has its first winning record in school history. “It’s great,” Zeller said. “The school and crowd are out here supporting us, and it’s just a beautiful thing.” It was also the first shutout in school history for the Nighthawks. The offense has been averaging just over 31 points per game, but the defense has been equally as good, allowing only seven points in the last two games. At this point last year, the Nighthawks were 1-2 and were allowing 24 points per game and only scoring an average of 13 points. It’s been quite a turnaround for Del Norte in just its second year of existence and first season with a varsity class.

“It’s terrific for the kids,” Cole said. “They have worked hard in the weight room during the spring and the summer. They have put in the time and the effort and have come a long ways in a short amount of time.

Source Pomerado Times 

No Comments »

When dawn broke Friday, Del Norte High School football coach Leigh Cole did not know if his team would play its scheduled game at Del Norte High School. By the end of the night, the Nighthawks played "Light's Out" winning 36-7.

Thursday’s power outage that left 1.4 million SDG&E customers without electricity had led the San Diego County Office of Education to cancel classes Friday throughout the county and to call off all scheduled athletic events. But by mid-morning, the power was on and football under the lights was possible.

No Comments »

August 28th, 2011 – In an effort to raise the awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on the African-American male population per our national program "Conversation among Brothers", we coordinated with MANDATE records to hold an informational Booth at the Gospelfest Series in Southeast San Diego at Market Creek plaza.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, through it Sigma Wellness signature initiative has developed a new project, the Conversations Among Brothers Series. This initiative is targeted at African American men on college campuses and is designed to encourage ongoing peer-to-peer discussions about topics and issues that adversely impact African-American men, particularly HIV/AIDS.

HIV is colorblind and sees past all socio-economic status, geographical locations and religions. Currently, African Americans make up a mere 13-14% of the U.S. population but account for almost half (49%) of all HIV diagnoses, while this statistic is unsettling, we have the power to change it if we take control of our health. In order to protect ourselves and others we must first TALK about HIV, talk about our sexual health (and health in general), promote abstinence when possible, get tested and use condoms! When it comes to the African American community, at times, it is our own silence that kills us. If we don’t talk or ask questions, we will never get the answers. Be proactive, get the knowledge, get tested and tell a friend!

For more information on HIV Testing contact Kim Moore (619) 251-8345 for more information on Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s "Conversation among Brothers" series contact Tracy Morris at (619) 549-2202

No Comments »