|
Recap of Events
|
T-Roses Program Launch - (Teens - Reaching goals through Opportunities, Self confidence, Education and Service) - September 17, 2011
On September 17th, Chi Sigma Omega kicked off the 7th year of its signature program, T-Rose Teen mentoring group. The 2011 - 2012 T-Rose meet and greet orientation helped acclimate the returning members with new members. Monthly program topics and interactive activities will continue to address educational advancement, positive self-empowerment, financial literacy, and issues involving teens as it relates to their general health and welfare.
As part of orientation activities, T-Rose chair, Valarie Humphrey spoke to parents and participants about various topics that would be explored throughout the 2011-2012 program year including dating safety & healthy relationships, campus safety in schools and HIV/AIDS awareness. As a way to highlight the impact this program would have on the youth, and to bring the T-Rose program to life, teen mentees were able to apply what they learned by playing, the "Stand Game." The game allowed the participants to get a visual of the fact that you are not alone in your favorite things or in your struggles. This game led into the health related topic of HIV/AIDS crisis. This was an engaging and interactive workshop where the girls talked freely about topic, including steps to protect themselves from contracting the illness. Overall, teens and parents were able to engage with Chi Sigma Omega members and other participants to launch the new program year with a great start.
Emerging Young Leaders - September 17, 2011
Continuing its focus on the welfare and well-being of young girls and their accomplishments in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Chi Sigma Omega launched the Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) 2010 - 2014 signature program of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for middle school aged girls in 2011. Consisting of four AKAdemies, the EYL program is designed to extend the vision of the sorority by cultivating and encouraging high scholastic achievement through: 1) Leadership Development, 2) Educational Enrichment, 3) Civic Engagement, and 4) Character Building. The "Emerging Young Leaders" Program will develop skills and talents of middle school girls (grades 6,7 and 8) with potential for becoming leaders within their local communities, as well as in other venues.
On September 17th, Ms. Lavina Branch, Emerging Young Leaders Chairman presented an information session for parents and new, as well as returning, participants. Ms. Branch shared information regarding the middle school oriented program as well as the expectation for the membership during the 2011-2012 program season. The returning girls shared stories about the fun and exciting workshops and activities they participated in, while being in the program for the past few months. To help new participants feel comfortable, Ms. Branch led the girls in a "get to know you" type game by finding another girl in attendance with common interests. With the encouragement of the current EYL members, new participants were eager to complete the application packet and begin the EYL path to leadership.
Back to School Celebration for Kids of the Incarcerated - August 2011
As part of the AKA program thrust to promote Social Justice and Human Rights (SJHR) Initiatives, Chi Sigma Omega joined in a local celebration of education with children of incarcerated parents. Led by Wendy Swims, the SJHR committee joined Fox Valley Adult Transitional Center to encourage all the youth in attendance to see education as a way to move beyond circumstance. The overall thrust of Chi Sigma’s support of this program was to help the children avoid the pitfalls of their experience, to realize fulfillment in their personal lives through education. The committee presented book bags and school supplies for the children of incarcerated parents that attended.
Global Poverty Awareness - AKA Night at Culver’s June 23, 2011
Chi Sigma Omega chapter’s night of food, family and fun provided a friendly atmosphere to discuss the sorority’s global poverty initiative; intended to end hunger and malnutrition, preserve the environment, and empower women worldwide. Nearly one hundred community members turned out to AKA’s night at Culver’s in Bolingbrook. The spotlight on the global poverty crisis had the added benefit of bringing awareness about the work of Heifer International, a powerhouse in the fight against global hunger and ending global poverty. In hosting this event, Chi Sigma Omega hopes to bring awareness at the local level and encourage more people to become active in their community as global citizens.
Chi Sigma Omega Chapter donated all event proceeds to Heifer International. Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in 50 countries, including the U.S., to help families and communities become more self-reliant. For more information visit www.heifer.org.
Event Photos
Spirited Pearls Foundation Annual Golf Tournament - May 21, 2011
Chi Sigma Omega Chapter, through its philanthropic arm, Spirited Pearls Foundation, welcomed over 100 guests and sorority members to its 7th annual golf event at the challenging, but inviting, 18-hole Tamarack Golf Club in Naperville. New to the tournament this year, and inspired by the sorority’s international initiative 0 Global Leadership Through Timeless Service, Chi Sigma Omega chapter incorporated a health fair into the golf tournament.
Led by health committee chair, Verena Briley Hudson, all golf participants were offered health screenings during tournament registration. Many participants eagerly signed-up to have a personal blood-pressure/asthma screening and healthy - living consultation with Jeff Hengels, a respiratory therapist at Adventist Hospital, Bolingbrook. Golfers were able to learn that high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. Through awareness campaigns, such as Alpha Kappa Alpha’s health initiative, individuals will learn to control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits, such as playing golf, and seeking out advice from healthcare professionals on a regular basis.
Event Photos
Scholarship Winners Announced - May 2011
Spirited Pearls Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Chi Sigma Omega Chapter has announced its 2011 scholarship program award recipients. The 2011 award winners are LaSheron Bankhead (Naperville North High School), Wesley Brooks (Oswego East High School) and Morgan Gathe (Nequa Valley High School). Each winner received a one-thousand dollar monetary award to assist with educational expenses.
This annual scholarship program was established to support African American high school seniors in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago. Winners were selected based on their cumulative GPA, community service efforts, and written essay. Scholarship program applications are available each winter in the high school guidance office.
3rd Annual Teen Summit - March 5, 2011
Over 75 teens from across the Chicagoland area arrived at the Bolingbrook Community Center to participate in Chi Sigma Omega Chapter’s 3rd annual Teen Summit. The theme, "Mind, Body & Soul: You’re Amazing, Just the Way You Are" encompassed issues of self-esteem and self-awareness in an educational workshop format. This all day event, led by 1st vice president and program chair Romelda Jordan, targeted males and females in grades 8 through 12 for training in the areas of HIV/AIDS & STD awareness, personal fitness and nutrition, avoiding human trafficking, cyber etiquette and impacting the world through careers such as environmental science and engineering.
While the teens were learning and fellowshipping during the summit, adults were able to engage in workshops for their personal development. The Adult Coffee Chat, with 32 adults in attendance, offered a safety demonstration as well as instruction on how to improve communication with teens. Officer Hopkins, of the Bolingbrook Police Department, presented a Self Defense and Safety Tips workshop in which he demonstrated and provided information on how to stay safe and protect oneself in dangerous situations. The communication workshop, "Talking to Your Teens about HIV/AIDS & STDs" emphasized to the parents particularly about the importance of understanding today’s teens, and practical advice about how to talk to them, in approaching uncomfortable subjects such as preventing sexually transmitted diseases.
Event Photos
Chi Sigma Omega Works to "Knock Out" Heart Disease
Pink Goes Red Fitness Event - February 4, 2011
In support of the American Heart Association’s "Go Red" for women initiative, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Chi Sigma Omega Chapter hosted a fun and informative fitness event - "Pink Goes Red for a Day". To bring awareness about the impact of cardiovascular disease on women of color, Chi Sigma Omega chapter partnered with 2Extreme Fitness to educate the community about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle as a preventative measure, in an effort to reduce death and disability from heart disease and stroke. The fitness event, led by program chair Romelda Jordan, included nutritional instruction as well as a lively question & answer session with a panel of experts. After hearing the testimonials of heart disease survivors, participants were able to engage in a hip-hop cardio workout, fitness and weight-training session led by husband and wife physical trainers Kevin and Cassandra Govan. The Govan’s are the owners of 2Extreme Fitness Corporation, the only African-American owned fitness studio in the area, which started as a home-based business and has recently expanded to business offices and a workout studio in the Diamond Creek professional complex. Through this event partnership, over thirty community members and sorority members were able to jumpstart their fitness program and avoid the health problems associated with unhealthy lifestyle choices. To learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated partnerships visit the international website at www.aka1908.com.
Event Photos
7th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Clothing Drive - January 17, 2011
Chi Sigma Omega Chapter celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting our 7th Annual Day of Service clothing drive. Friends, family and T.R.O.S.E.S teen mentoring group volunteers joined members of Chi Sigma Omega at the Bolingbrook Community Center to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream by collecting clothing, shoes and household items for donation to community residents in need. The Day of Service clothing drive was a huge success resulting in the collection of over 1,500 items for donation. This year, Chi Sigma Omega also collected $106 to support the Heifer International. Heifer International is a global nonprofit with a proven solution to ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Heifer helps empower millions of families to lift them out of poverty and hunger to self-reliance through gifts of livestock, seeds and trees. Through the gift of resources, coupled with extensive training, Heifer is able to provide a multiplying source of food and income to those in need. To learn more about Heifer visit their website at http://www.heifer.org.
Event Photos
Everyone a "Winner" at Community Health & Wellness Fair - January 15, 2011
Chi Sigma Omega Chapter, along with the Bolingbrook Park District, co-sponsored a community health fair to get 2011 off with healthy start. Hundreds of community members gathered at Bolingbrook High School to visit with vendors and listen to the inspired speech of NBC’s Biggest Loser season nine winner, Michael Ventrella. Mike V., as he became known on the television show, dropped 264 lbs to win the popular weight loss competition. During his speech at the health fair, he encouraged all attendees to choose to be active and reminded us all that it is never too late for a healthy lifestyle change. Biggest Loser season seven contestants, Jerry and Estella Hayes, attended to answer questions and offer tips for maintaining a healthy weight.
All co-sponsors set-up booths to offer free information and resources to health fair attendees. Chi Sigma Omega, in support of the international Global Leadership through Timeless Service initiative of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, distributed information on heart disease, asthma testing and maintenance as well as information on public health and environmental justice. Community participants were also asked to donate blood at the booth hosted by Life Source.
Event Photos
Previous Events
|
 |