Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated is the first sorority organized on a predominately white college campus by and for African American women who were educators . Over its 94 years, the sorority has expanded to become an organization of diverse ethnicities, career fields, and backgrounds.
Service
Sigma Gamma Rho's commitment to service is expressed in its slogan, "Greater Service, Greater Progress." The sorority has a proud history of offering service wherever chapters exist, including OPERATION BigBookBag, a program designed to address the needs, challenges and issues that face school-aged children who are educationally at-risk in local homeless shelters and extended care hospitals. The objective is for chapters to provide their local homeless shelters and children hospitals with educational materials, equipment and supplies. Other national projects include Wee Savers, Project Reassurance and Habitat for Humanity, Sigma Gamma Rho built seven homes across the United States in Florida, District of Columbia, Wisconsin, California, and Texas.
The service of Sigma Gamma Rho from a global perspective includes Project Africa and Project Mwanamugimu. Through active participation in programs and through networking with other organizations such as the National Council of Negro Women, Urban League and the NAACP, Sigma's legacy of service to improve the quality of life for all mankind continues.
The service of Sigma Gamma Rho from a global perspective includes Project Africa and Project Mwanamugimu. Through active participation in programs and through networking with other organizations such as the National Council of Negro Women, Urban League and the NAACP, Sigma's legacy of service to improve the quality of life for all mankind continues.
Project Reassurance: One Major Program Umbrella - Eight Essential Programs
The care and protection of children is, first and foremost, a family concern. But when teenagers have babies, the consequences are throughout society. Children born to teenage parents are more likely to be of low birth weight and to suffer from inadequate health care, more likely to leave High School without graduating and more likely to be poor, thus perpetuating a cycle of unrealized potential. As the signature international program for Sigma Gamma Rho, Project Reassurance was originally developed to provide health education, support and nurturing for expectant teen mothers and teens who are parents. The project has now evolved to focus more on Healthy Choices, Healthy Living and Healthy Generations (H3) to help reduce teen pregnancy through a comprehensive year round program addressing the factors that lead to teen pregnancy - low self-esteem, diet and economic issues - while also providing support and guidance when it does occur.
The care and protection of children is, first and foremost, a family concern. But when teenagers have babies, the consequences are throughout society. Children born to teenage parents are more likely to be of low birth weight and to suffer from inadequate health care, more likely to leave High School without graduating and more likely to be poor, thus perpetuating a cycle of unrealized potential. As the signature international program for Sigma Gamma Rho, Project Reassurance was originally developed to provide health education, support and nurturing for expectant teen mothers and teens who are parents. The project has now evolved to focus more on Healthy Choices, Healthy Living and Healthy Generations (H3) to help reduce teen pregnancy through a comprehensive year round program addressing the factors that lead to teen pregnancy - low self-esteem, diet and economic issues - while also providing support and guidance when it does occur.
Healthy ChoicesExplores the importance of self-love, a positive self-image and self-respect. The program educates participants on ways to make the best decisions for their physical and mental well-being, how to determine the health and well-being best practices for their home and community and how to protect the future for themselves and/or their children.
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Healthy LivingEmphasizes a healthy lifestyle by exploring ways to develop and maintain optimal positive physical and mental health and how to help develop healthy communities.
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Healthy GenerationsAddresses the needs of pregnant teens and young mothers by providing information about prenatal care, parenting skills, healthy baby care and material support in the form of basic necessities for newborns.
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Other Programs and Partnerships Under Project Reassurance
Healthy Generations: Project CRADLE Care
Project CRADLE Care, A Project Reassurance Healthy Generations Program seeks to improve pregnancy outcomes in the community among women of childbearing age through assisting with prenatal education; Increase awareness and understanding among women of childbearing age regarding infant care and child development; and Collaborate with hospitals, managed care organizations, community-based prenatal care providers, churches, and other organizations.
Project CRADLE Care, A Project Reassurance Healthy Generations Program seeks to improve pregnancy outcomes in the community among women of childbearing age through assisting with prenatal education; Increase awareness and understanding among women of childbearing age regarding infant care and child development; and Collaborate with hospitals, managed care organizations, community-based prenatal care providers, churches, and other organizations.
Operation BigBookBag
Sorority members make available, to selected facilities across the nation, bookbags, notebooks, writing and drawing paper, pencils and pens, dictionaries, thesauri, rulers, glue, construction paper, textbooks, encyclopedia, typewriters, computers and many other needed school items. Made available also through the efforts of both memberships is a nation-wide tutoring and mentoring program designed for the benefit of the children housed at said facilities.
The effective and overall implementation of OPERATION BigBookBag serves as an invaluable resource to the children by: (1) Affording children with quick and easy access to reference materials and other studying aids and tools that will help them in their educational endeavors; (2)Providing the children with the means of completing their homework assignments in order that they may remain current and up -to -date on course projects and requirements and (3) Assisting the shelters, centers, schools and hospitals in their efforts to meet some of the educational needs of the children and young adults housed at the facilities.
Sorority members make available, to selected facilities across the nation, bookbags, notebooks, writing and drawing paper, pencils and pens, dictionaries, thesauri, rulers, glue, construction paper, textbooks, encyclopedia, typewriters, computers and many other needed school items. Made available also through the efforts of both memberships is a nation-wide tutoring and mentoring program designed for the benefit of the children housed at said facilities.
The effective and overall implementation of OPERATION BigBookBag serves as an invaluable resource to the children by: (1) Affording children with quick and easy access to reference materials and other studying aids and tools that will help them in their educational endeavors; (2)Providing the children with the means of completing their homework assignments in order that they may remain current and up -to -date on course projects and requirements and (3) Assisting the shelters, centers, schools and hospitals in their efforts to meet some of the educational needs of the children and young adults housed at the facilities.
A34Life – Act Against AIDS
A National Initiative of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, A34Life is the vehicle through which the sorority disseminates Act Against AIDS campaign materials and provides HIV prevention services. The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) is a $16 million, six-year CDC partnership that harnesses the collective strength of some of the nation’s leading organizations to fight HIV in populations hardest hit. The effort brings together a wide range of organizations, including civic, social, civil rights and professional organizations, as well as those in government, education and media. AAALI is a key component of Act Against AIDS (AAA) – CDC’s five-year, $45 million campaign to re-engage every American in the fight against HIV by combating complacency, increasing testing, and raising awareness among communities at risk.
ASK
· For more information about the causes, risks, prevention and treatment for HIV/AIDS
· For the sexual history of your partner(s)
ACCEPT
· Responsibility for knowing your HIV status and reducing your risk
ACT
· Responsibly and in the best interest of yourself, your partner(s) and the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS
A National Initiative of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, A34Life is the vehicle through which the sorority disseminates Act Against AIDS campaign materials and provides HIV prevention services. The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) is a $16 million, six-year CDC partnership that harnesses the collective strength of some of the nation’s leading organizations to fight HIV in populations hardest hit. The effort brings together a wide range of organizations, including civic, social, civil rights and professional organizations, as well as those in government, education and media. AAALI is a key component of Act Against AIDS (AAA) – CDC’s five-year, $45 million campaign to re-engage every American in the fight against HIV by combating complacency, increasing testing, and raising awareness among communities at risk.
ASK
· For more information about the causes, risks, prevention and treatment for HIV/AIDS
· For the sexual history of your partner(s)
ACCEPT
· Responsibility for knowing your HIV status and reducing your risk
ACT
· Responsibly and in the best interest of yourself, your partner(s) and the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS
Hattie McDaniel Cancer Awareness
Soror Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award, was honored as Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With The Wind (1939). In 1952, the world and Sigma Gamma Rho lost Soror McDaniel to breast cancer at the age of 57. In honor of her memory and contributions to society, the over 90,000 members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority are committed to providing education on and active support of early detection as well research for the prevention and cure of breast, prostate, ovarian, colon and other types of cancers.
Soror Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award, was honored as Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With The Wind (1939). In 1952, the world and Sigma Gamma Rho lost Soror McDaniel to breast cancer at the age of 57. In honor of her memory and contributions to society, the over 90,000 members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority are committed to providing education on and active support of early detection as well research for the prevention and cure of breast, prostate, ovarian, colon and other types of cancers.
Sigma Youth Symposium
Sponsored in conjunction with and in commemoration of Sigma Week, the Sigma Youth Symposium focuses on some of the prevalent concerns that negatively impact our youth: drugs, teen violence, abuse, low self-esteem, suicide, teen pregnancy, etc. Held on the second Saturday of March by each Alumnae Chapter, simultaneous Sigma Youth Symposiums address issues that affect teens today.
Sponsored in conjunction with and in commemoration of Sigma Week, the Sigma Youth Symposium focuses on some of the prevalent concerns that negatively impact our youth: drugs, teen violence, abuse, low self-esteem, suicide, teen pregnancy, etc. Held on the second Saturday of March by each Alumnae Chapter, simultaneous Sigma Youth Symposiums address issues that affect teens today.
Mwanamugimu Essay Contest
The Mwanamugimu Essay contest was started under past grand basileus Dr. LaRona Morris with its focus on providing an opportunity for students to increase their knowledge of the historical and contemporary development of Africa. Since its beginning, the contest has been expanded to include pertinent global and current community issues. Its prime objective includes improving writing and research skills. The project title, Mwanamugimu, is a proverb from the Republic of Uganda that means "from small acorns come mighty oaks." Chapters sponsor local essay contests that usually include awards programs. Regional and national contests are also held with winning essays announced at each respective level.
The Mwanamugimu Essay contest was started under past grand basileus Dr. LaRona Morris with its focus on providing an opportunity for students to increase their knowledge of the historical and contemporary development of Africa. Since its beginning, the contest has been expanded to include pertinent global and current community issues. Its prime objective includes improving writing and research skills. The project title, Mwanamugimu, is a proverb from the Republic of Uganda that means "from small acorns come mighty oaks." Chapters sponsor local essay contests that usually include awards programs. Regional and national contests are also held with winning essays announced at each respective level.