SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC. INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS “A Non-governmental Organization Associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information”

1000 Southhill Drive, Suite 200

Cary, NC 27513

Phone: 919-678-9720

www.sgrho1922.org

To: All Graduate Chapters

From: Bonita M. Herring, International Grand Basileus &

National Programs Committee

Date: November 18, 2014

Subject: 18th Annual Youth Symposium

On March 14, 2015, the 2nd

Saturday of March, which is commemoratively set within Sigma Week, Sigma

Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., alumnae chapters will once again unite to simultaneously host annual youth

symposiums across the nation. The symposium is just one initiative of our national signature program, Project

Reassurance, which has incorporated the theme of “H3: It’s all About Me – Healthy Choices, Healthy Living,

Healthy Generations.”

During your activities, please take time to honor the late Past Grand Basileus, Dr. LaRona J. Morris, who was

the originator of this nation-wide symposium. Dr. Morris started this program under her administration during the

years of 1996-2000. We are honored to continue her thrust to uplift youth in our communities.

This year the theme for the Youth Symposium will be “Building Partnerships to Support Our Youth.” The

goal is to develop a Saturday program by using our collective resources and partnerships to show that when we

work together we create a strong “community village” positioned to support our youth.

A listing and information about sorority partners is available on the ”Sorors Only” portion of the website or

chapters can reach out to our official partners such as March of Dimes, St. Jude, USA Swimming, etc. to

determine if there are local representatives who can serve on panels or help in presentations. In addition, we will

continue our work with Girl Scouts USA in support of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

focus for young women in areas where we can work with the troops. We have been advised that in some areas the

Girl Scouts have different membership requirements and they may request adult membership from our chapters.

This is not a national Girl Scouts requirement and Sigma Gamma Rho does not promote this membership.

However, if chapters choose this option for collaboration in these areas, the adult membership can be completed

at the sorority chapter’s discretion.

If you have questions about any of our partnership relationships, please contact your regional programs

coordinator for information. Chapters can also incorporate local community partners on the program or use local,

state or federal resources such as the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA). NHSA information can

be found on their website. Note that the website address is listed on the last page of this document.

In addition to including our external partners, make sure that you identify sorority representatives in your area (or

secure information for display) from our grant teams of A34Life-Act Against AIDS Campaign and The

National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Also during planning be sure to incorporate

the ideas and resources from your undergraduate chapters and Philo Affiliates. Both can be a big help in assisting

to implement this program.

2015 Youth Symposium

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This year we want to focus on collecting information from all participating chapters and quantifying what we are

doing. To compile that data, we need all to complete a report to provide the numbers served at the symposium.

Also, please be advised that because the Youth Symposiums includes children, we must receive a completed

parental clearance before including any under age children in workshops with topics about HIV/AIDS, unplanned

pregnancy, etc. Forms are available on the website for your convenience.

Chapters should choose at least one topic from each of the theme areas below – Healthy Choices, Healthy Living

and Healthy Generations to include for workshop presentations/discussions:

Healthy Choices

Choosing Me: Teen pregnancy prevention and self esteem

Resource -Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

Choosing Wisely: Distracted Driving Prevention; Resource-National Highway Traffic Safety

Choosing My Future: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; Resource-Girl Scouts, USA

Healthy Living

Exercise For Life: Fight Obesity in Youth; Eat Healthy; First Lady Obama’s “Let’s Move Campaign”

Saving a Life: Resource-Sigma A34Life-Act Against AIDS Campaign (HIV/AIDS)

Healthy Generations

My Baby’s Future: Teen Pregnancy; Resource-March of Dimes-Project Cradle Care

My Future Career: Education and Literacy; Resource- Mwanamugimu, Operation BigBookBag

We also recommend that some part of the 2015 symposium feature a panel that may include partner organizations

and local resource representatives. You may even wish to include a local youth panel or at least one panelist who

can give a peer perspective on one of the H3 topics. The goal of the panel will be to have presentations on how

the partners can support our youth. In addition, students should have an opportunity to ask questions and make

comments during the program. We want to provide an atmosphere of information and awareness for all ages of

our community.

The Youth Symposium topics of discussion will raise various issues so in response, we should include various

solutions and recommendations for the future. Our goal is to look at how our resources can be used in the

community in support of our young people who must cope with challenges daily. At the conclusion of the

program, participants are asked to recite the H3 Pledge in affirmation of the symposium objectives. Further, as we

continue our work to uplift and highlight our youth, chapters may include a youth performance on the program.

Participants can perform positive rap, spoken word, dance, step or any other type of artistic expression that is in

keeping with the “Healthy Choices, Healthy Living, Healthy Generations” theme. This is a way to highlight and

lift up the talent of our youth and end the program by releasing positive energy.

Also enclosed for your information are the following:

A general checklist for Youth Symposium Planning;

The nationwide agenda for the Youth Symposium;

A sample proclamation to be completed and provided for your Mayor to proclaim March 14, 2015 to be

Sigma Gamma Rho Youth Day in your respective city

A marketing guideline to keep you on track (How to , When to, Where to)

The Chapter Report Form for completion and submission following your event

2015 Youth Symposium

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A Project Reassurance Resource list to provide you with ideas for securing both local speakers and materials

for distribution;

When planning your Youth Symposium think of the following:

Location - Select a popular location with easy access e.g., civic/youth center, church hall, school, etc.

Partnership - When possible, invite local representatives from our national partners to host an informational

table at the event to promote their youth related activities and services. If they are not able to attend, consider

providing brochures or contact information to attendees for the following groups in support of their initiatives:

Girl Scouts, USA – Amaze Engineering Project and Imagine Engineering Booklets

March of Dimes

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Sigma Project- A34Life-Act Against AIDS

National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

Include Other Resources Such As -

Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Campaign”

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-Distracted Driving Campaign

Marketing - Be sure to invite and include the participation of your undergraduates, Rhoers, and Philos as well as

that of your fellow Greeks. Use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to promote the event. Also,

contact your local schools, churches, and other organizations well in advance to invite the participation of their

youth groups. Sorors, Philos, family members, and friends who work in the schools or with youth groups can

assist in encouraging the participation of young people.

Branding - To expose the sorority even further, set up a display that will highlight some of the chapter’s

community involvement. Include pictures and brochures. Try to focus the display on those programs, projects,

and activities that involve our youth, e.g., the Rhoer Club; Project Reassurance; Project Mwanamugimu; Project

Wee Savers; OPERATION BigBookBag; and of course, our local, regional, and national scholarship programs.

This also serves as a great way to recruit in the community. Some other organization attendees or teachers may

not be Greek. “Let the Sigma Light of Service and Progress Shine!”

Sponsorship - To obtain potential funding for your refreshments and to secure possible attendance prizes,

remember to seek support from local community entities, e.g., bank, utility companies, newspapers, major

corporations, governmental agencies, civic organizations, social service agencies, department stores, chain

restaurants, etc. Let them know that you will acknowledge their support during the symposium and through your

culminating news coverage.

Evaluation - It is important that we collect data on how we are serving the community. So don’t forget to make

copies of the pre- and post-Symposium surveys available on the Sorority’s website in the “Sorors Only” section.

Make sure that you have copies for all youth attendees to complete. The data secured via the surveys is necessary

to complete your chapter’s Youth Symposium Report Form. A copy of the Youth Symposium Report is attached.

2015 Youth Symposium

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We thank you for your continued support of our national Youth Symposium and look forward to receiving your

report on the details of your event. Submit your report via email to the regional programs coordinator (please see

the list below) no more than 10 days after the completion of your event. Contact your regional programs

coordinator if you have questions.

REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATORS

mslouie2u@aol.com, Central - Juanita Shaw

cguillen1922@earthlink.net, Northeastern –Christina Guillen, MD

petrice1972@comcast.net, Southeastern - Angela Spears

shantanar@yahoo.com, Southwestern - Shantana Robinson

ajohnson@uw.edu, Western - Arizona Proctor

Cc: Deborah Catchings-Smith, International First Grand Anti-Basileus

Sandre Mitchell, National Programs Coordinator

Rachel Morris, Executive Director

Enclosures: Marketing Guide Timeline

Planning Checklist

Sample Proclamation

Nationwide Agenda

Chapter Report Form

Project Reassurance Resource List

SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY INC.

2015 YOUTH SYMPOSIUM - MARKETING GUIDELINES

Public service announcements and press releases about the Youth Symposium will be released in the coming

months. To ensure that the event is presented and branded in a consistent manner, a general or “donut” press

release will be sent to local chapters. The local and regional epistolei are encouraged to use the national

template, and simply add their local contact and event information.

Press releases will be available 6-8 weeks prior to the Youth Symposium date. Use the Project Reassurance

PSA to promote the symposium and to encourage youth during the program.

General Planning Checklist

This document outlines the high-level actions to be taken. Form committees to outline the more detailed steps.

_____ Confirm Youth Symposium location

_____ Secure sponsors (financial and/or in-kind services) for refreshments, publicity, etc.

_____ Confirm partners to be highlighted

_____ Confirm the Youth Symposium speakers and other participants.

_____ Promote the Youth Symposium and cultural performances using all marketing mediums available.

_____ Order co-branded materials from the international Headquarters for March of Dimes, CDC, etc-

_____ Contact and send flyers to schools and all community service organizations that work with teens

______ Send PSAs and announcements to local newspapers, television and radio stations

_____ Arrange for refreshments (through sponsorship or in-kind services) for the Youth Symposium,

awards for contest participants and gifts for program participants

_____ Complete as appropriate and send Proclamation to your local mayor’s office. Use personal

contact where available and be sure to follow up.

____ Arrange for professional photography for the Youth Symposium

_____ Conduct Youth Symposium

_____ Survey youth attendees as they arrive and at the conclusion of the program. The survey forms

are available on the Sorority’s website.

_____ Send letters of thanks to all sponsors and partners

_____ Create and submit press release and photos to local newspapers and The AURORA. Be sure to

include the names of all sponsors/partners

_____ Complete and submit the Youth Symposium Report Form to our international headquarters office

_____ Send copies of all publicity (newspaper articles, The AURORA) to your sponsors/partners

PROCLAMATION

“SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY YOUTH DAY”

March 14, 2015

WHEREAS: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., is a 90,000-member nonprofit collegiate sorority

dedicated to the encouragement and promotion of high scholastic attainment, community service, and

improvement in the quality of life through its chapters, members, and affiliates located throughout the United

States, Korea, Bermuda, Africa, Bahamas, Germany, Canada and the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., through its mission seeks to address programs,

projects, and concerns that impact society educationally, socially, politically, and economically; and

WHEREAS: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is sponsoring its Eighteenth Annual Adolescent

Youth Symposium simultaneously in local communities across the nation on Saturday, March 14, 2015; and

WHEREAS: the local members of ____________________________ Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho

Sorority, Inc., will hold their symposium on March 14, 2015 at _____________________________(location); and

WHEREAS: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., through this year’s nationwide symposium agenda, will

seek to help youths come to grips with peer-pressuring challenges that may deal with making healthy choices,

healthy living, healthy generation; and

WHEREAS: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., has called upon the participation of a panel of

community authorities to share facts regarding some of the consequences that may be faced by young people

who have self esteem and peer pressure issues; and

WHEREAS: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., is requesting all area junior/senior high schools,

sororities/fraternities, social/civic organizations, and youth services agencies to support the intent of this

symposium by promoting the attendance and participation of their students and youth groups:

NOW, THEREFORE, I _______________________________________, Mayor of the City of

_______________, do hereby proclaim SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015 to be SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY

YOUTH DAY Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., in the City of ______________________________.

BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED that our residents join with me in congratulating and recognizing the members of

_________________________________________ Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., for their efforts

to encourage and guide our youths. As such, we wish for the chapter and the sorority much success in all of their

future endeavors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE SET AND CAUSED TO BE AFFIXED THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF

__________________________, STATE OF ________________, DONE THIS _________DAY OF

__________________, 2015, A.D.

_________________________MAYOR

NATIONWIDE AGENDA

“Building Partnerships to Support Our Youth”

A SYMPOSIUM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Held Nationwide by Graduate Chapters of

SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015

9:00 AM – 2:30 PM

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM Pledge of Allegiance

Prayer for Our Youth

Welcome / Purpose

Reading of Proclamation

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Overview of the Partners for Progress Assembled

Mission/ Goals/ Community Work

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM Healthy Choices-Workshop

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Healthy Living

12:00 PM – 12:40 PM REFRESHMENTS and Youth ENTERTAINMENT

12:45 PM – 1:15 PM Healthy Generations

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Panel Discussion

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM H3 Pledge, Certificates, Drawings, Surveys

This symposium came from

OPERATION BIGBOOKBAG - An International Service Project Sponsored By

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

SIGMA GAMMA RHO YOUTH SYMPOSIUM CHAPTER REPORT 2015

Chapter Region

Location Reporter

Event Location & Address

Number of Attendees

Total Male Ages 11-13 Ages 14 -15 Ages 16-18 Ages 19+

Total Female Ages 11-13 Ages 14 -15 Ages 16-18 Ages 19+

Partnerships

Organization # Participants Type of Participation

Did your chapter incorporate any other National Program(s) into the

symposium?

Wee Savers Buckle Up Africare Donor Program

RV Perry Birthright BigBookBag Hattie McDaniel Health Initiative

Did your chapter receive donations for this event?

Monetary Value In Kind Items

Cash or In Kind

List the Symposium Panelists and Speakers

Name Occupation Agency Topic/Workshop

Survey Results

(Surveys are available on the National Website Soror Only Section)

# Pre Event Surveys Completed # Post Event Surveys Completed

# Pre Event Surveys Completed # Post Event Surveys Completed

Using the survey results, please note the number of youth participants who demonstrated or communicated at

the conclusion of the Symposium an increased knowledge, understanding, judgment and ability to identify

resources based on the following Youth Symposium program objectives:

How to prevent teen pregnancy

$

How to make healthy choices for themselves and future generations

How to prevent or report abuse

Available resources for themselves or others

Please answer the following questions. Use additional sheets if necessary

How did your symposium specifically address each of the objectives listed above?

What was successful about your symposium?

What opportunities exist for improvement

Do you feel the National Youth Symposium is an effective communication and educational tool for youth? If yes, why? If not, what can we do to enhance the program?

If your chapter hosted a contest, who was the outcome and the name of the winner? Describe details.

Was the theme clearly communicated in the participant’s submission?

Program Chair ______________________________ Date ___________________

Chapter Basileus ______________________________ Date ___________________

Please submit this report via e-mail to your Regional Programs Coordinator. Submit the report no more than 10 days after the completion of the event.

H3

- It’s All About ME Healthy Choices, Healthy Living, Healthy Generations

The H3

Pledge

I commit to being conscious that my life choices

determine my future. I will learn and grow to make

healthy choices in my life.

I vow to be more socially and civically aware of my

health, both mentally and physically, and of my ability

to grow in these areas.

I commit to be the Master Motivator to inspire my

generation, to be a perpetual learner that uses

knowledge and wisdom to inspire those in my present

and future

I pledge that my choices will reflect my living and

influence the generations to come.

Revised 2012

PROJECT REASSURANCE RESOURCE LIST

The March of Dimes www.marchofdimes.com

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (contact your

region representative for update on our current initiative and grant focus)

http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/

The Centers for Disease Control- Act Against AIDS

website: http://www.cdc.gov/actagainstaids/index.html

(Contact your region representative for update on our current initiative and grant focus)

Girl Scouts

https://www.girlscouts.org/research/publications/

Office of Adolescent Health from the US DHHS

http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/

Adolescent Decision Making: Implications for Prevention Programs

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9468&page=1

Free Spirit - Company that provides educational material for youth

http://www.freespirit.com/foreign_rights/foreign_rights.cfm

Excerpts from the Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Curriculum by our own Soror Emily Diane

Gunter

http://www.ritesofpassageonline.org

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-Distracted Driving Campaign

http://www.distraction.gov

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gni_home

Dove

http://www.dove.us/Our-Mission/Girls-Self-Esteem/default.aspx

STEM Education Coalition

http://www.stemedcoalition.org/