South Atlantic Region Chapter Programs

Gamma Theta Omega Chapter's "Take Steps for a Healthier You"

Numerous medical studies have shown that African Americans are at higher risk for diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Gamma Theta Omega, Inc., the nonprofit affiliate of Gamma Theta Omega Chapter ("GTO") embraced Platform V Health Resource Management and Economics to "Take Steps for a Healthier You." The organization partnered with the Florida Department of Health to address obesity and provide assistance in the prevention of associated risk factors, such as physical inactivity and poor nutrition.

Using evidence-based curricula to improve both health and physical fitness in the African American community, the Tampa-based Chapter developed a series of four classes: hypertension and diabetes prevention, physical fitness, nutrition and obesity and weight management. Classes targeted all age groups and were held in successive weeks to allow many opportunities for pre/post testing and measuring success.

Classes have provided 173 individual encounters with 50 individuals, and at least 32 participants have actually received "graduate" status for completing the four-class series. Classes were held at the Chapter's Alpha Kappa Alpha house in Tampa, the Highland Pines Missionary Baptist Church, and at New Mount Zion Baptist Church. Free screenings for hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol were also offered in conjunction with classes.

Funding was made possible for GTO's "Taking Steps for a Healthier You" by a $25,000 grant from the Florida Department of Health, Hillsborough County Health Department, under the department's Healthier Steps USA Grant Program. GTO is an ESP success—using the partnership and grant to provide community services that build on existing community information and knowledge of illnesses affecting the African American community.

Columbia, S.C. Chapter Teaches Students and Parents How to Save Money

Members of Gamma Nu Omega Chapter partnered with South Carolina Community Bank to establish an ESP Kids Saving Program for Students at Arden Elementary in Columbia, S.C. The initiative falls under ESP II, Economic Keys to Success.

The purpose of the program is to improve the living standards within the black community by teaching the students, as well as their parents and guardians, to save money.

More than 50 students participate in the program.

Founders Day at Arden Elementary School

The students opened their accounts with a minimum of $5 that was provided by the students or their parents/guardians. An on-site bank "branch'' is open at the school each Wednesday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., so students can make deposits. South Carolina Community Bank is the only minority-owned bank in the state.

To encourage the children to continue saving, the Chapter recognized 40 students for maintaining their savings accounts for 90 days. Each student received a $5 match from the chapter for their Excellent Saving Proficiencies.

DeKalb County, GA Chapter Made "CHOICES" to Serve

In keeping with the mandate of ESP Platform 5, Health Resource Management and Economics—to embrace issues and crises that face the Black community—Lambda Epsilon Omega Chapter in DeKalb County, GA has teamed with CHOICES (Center Helping Obesity In Children End Successfully) to fight the deadly epidemic of childhood obesity.

In the childhood obesity project, the Chapter and CHOICES staff identified 50 young ladies, aged 10 to 24 with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 26 or higher. A program was designed to teach the women lifestyle intervention techniques over a one-year period. In addition, the young ladies learned to embrace fitness as fun—and were encouraged to lose weight by participating in everyday activities such as bowling, swimming or dancing. The idea was to move them from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one where they can lose the weight. The overall goal is to work on the mind first, and then the body.

More than 25 Chapter members were matched individually with a young lady they would mentor, encourage and participate within recreational activities. The program is approved through the Institutional Review Board, which monitors and reviews biomedical research involving humans. All data collected will be used as a part of research to help end obesity in other children.

The Chapter also participates in one-week camps, during the summer, called Camp Diva for overweight girls and Camp Kick-Off for obese young men.

Chapter members recognize that, in this day of medical marvels, there is no cure for obesity. But people can make choices. The message in the program is one everyone must learn: Americans will have to choose nutrition over fast food (regardless of cost) and meal planning over instant gratification.

Building on its partnership and ESP Platform 5, in 2008, CHOICES and the Chapter sponsored a health fair for women. The fair included screenings and education to stress the importance of managing weight as part of the overall effort to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer.

Miami, FL Chapter Mentors Incarcerated Young Black Males

Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter, in Miami, FL, has an ongoing partnership with the Juvenile Justice Center to provide insight to incarcerated black males in grades 6 through 12.

This event is aligned with the Sorority’s ESP Platform Three, which focuses on devising strategies for assisting young men in overcoming challenges to their educational development and well-being.

[L – R] Jacquelle Sconiers; Erica Paschal; Lydia Ross; Polly Hamilton; Pastor Ramjohn; Principal Milligan; Chapter President Simmons; Constance Gilbert; Program chair Sandra Jackson; Gwen Coverson

The Chapter's initial workshop, coordinated by Gwen Coverson, focused on preventive measures for incarcerated students to avoid becoming adult prisoners. The featured guest speaker, Youth Pastor David D. Ramjohn of New Way Fellowship Praise and Worship Center, shared his lifelong experience as a youth growing up in Miami. In the presentation, he detailed the many challenges he faced as a teenager and how, through trial and error, he became the man he is today.

The workshop was well received by 50 incarcerated students, faculty and the administration of the Juvenile Justice Center. Afterward, Pastor Ramjohn mentored students one-on-one.

Principal Orlando Milligan and his staff thanked Gamma Zeta Omega for a job well done and said he looked forward to the next workshop.

ABC’s of Entrepreneurship: Minorities Doing It for Themselves Seminar

If you didn’t know that people of color can do it for themselves when it comes to entrepreneurship, a Georgia chapter of the Sorority is making sure that you do.

The Tau Pi Omega Chapter (Stone Mountain, GA), in collaboration with its foundation, the Council for Community Enrichment, Inc., hosted the "ABC’s of Entrepreneurship:Minorities Doing It for Themselves” on the Clarkston Campus of Georgia Perimeter College. Designed to answer the call of Platform I, which focuses on the development and strengthening of the nontraditional entrepreneur, this was no ordinary seminar.

When it comes to expanding a creative niche or developing an idea into a business, knowledge is power and critical to success. The seminar introduced aspiring and current entrepreneurs to local minority entrepreneurs. Guest business owners shared their keys to success, along with pertinent and relevant information on owning a business, with an audience of nearly 90 attendees.

Presenters included:

Gina A. Clements, Esq. (Managing Partner with The Clements Law Group, LLC);
Buffie Purselle (Owner of several Tax Express branches in Georgia);
Chapter member LeJeanne Capers (local account executive with Comcast Spotlight);
Chapter member Sherry Kinard (Relationship Manager with REGIONS Bank);
Chapter member Diane D. Reynolds (Owner of D&R Property Management); and
Chapter member Mechelle Reynolds (Manager/Owner of Quiznos Sub).

They covered such topics as business and the law, maintaining business records, identifying financing options, franchises vs. start-ups, and marketing and advertising essentials. In addition, Rod Wallace, Director of the DeKalb Microenterprise Institute, spoke of his organization’s business development and financial management training for current and aspiring business owners.

The Jacksonville, FL Chapter B.R.A.T.S.

Contrary to the entrenched myths that today’s young people care only about themselves, several Jacksonville, Fl. high school students are showing that some in the next generation are prepared to give back in their community.

The 9th through 12th grade students belong to the BRATS (Brilliant, Responsible, Alert, Talented Scholars), a youth mentee group sponsored by Gamma Rho Omega Chapter. The students also participate in the Earn Save Prosper Club.

The group, created by advisor Sandra Thompson, has gained the admiration of the city of Jacksonville. The Chapter’s Education Committee organizes a myriad of year-long service projects and activities for the BRATS that will provide academic, health and economic support to make their dreams viable, and support the growth of the Black family.

Recently, the BRATS planned a walk-a-thon to help Chapter members walk 1.908 miles for the Centennial Celebration and will participate in the ESP Global Walk. They have adopted a homeless shelter, where they organized two food and clothing drives, collected books to start a special library that allows children to select a book to carry with them when they leave the shelter, help underserved families, tutor elementary school age students, and were the first teen-age group to volunteer to help build a HabiJax House.

Inspired by volunteerism, Tyrone Cody Floyd entered the national Nestle Very Best Youth contest and was selected as one of the finalists. This award came with a five-day all-expenses-paid trip to Hollywood, CA., a $600 spending allowance, limousine rides to all events, 5-star hotel accommodations, dinner with stars and $1,000 that he donated to a local nonprofit that supports the BRATS. To encourage volunteerism, Cody urges other teens to apply for the contest.

In conjunction with the Chapter's Black Family Committee, the BRATS have taken special interest in one particular child, TJ. He has been in the state’s burgeoning foster system since age 3. Now he has finally found a loving home to call his own and is big brother to five adopted siblings. After receiving a bicycle for Christmas from the BRATS, TJ emotionally stated that no one had ever done anything “just for me.”

He was so touched, because he had never been around a group of teens like the BRATS. The members, equally touched, asked if the rules could be altered to allow TJ to become a pre-BRATS member. TJ and his family now have an extended family—the BRATS and Gamma Rho Omega members.