Archive for March, 2009

HIV/AIDS Prevention Education in South Africa

today’s post comes from bro. rodney a. brown, alpha alpha beta sigma chapter, detroit metropolitan alumni chapter.

Greetings Blue and White Family:

As many know, my gifts as an artist and passion for education are what push me forward in my field. These gifts and passion are why I write you today— I stand at the door of two remarkable opportunities.

I have again been invited to work and teach HIV/AIDS prevention education as a part of the Pedagogy Of Action (POA) team in the Black South African townships of Cato Crest and Kwa Zulu-Natal, and on December 17, 2008 my name was announced, as one of two choreographers in the country to participate in the ProDanza Choreographers Workshop in Castiglioncello, Italy. It is with your support and well-wishes that these opportunities become reality. I am writing to solicit funds for these career-advancing and socially relevant projects.

Read more…

New Detroit Alumni Neophyte Brothers

Please join our chapter as we welcome the newest members of Phi Beta Sigma International Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Alpha Beta Sigma Detroit Alumni Chapter. These brothers crossed on Saturday, March 7, 2009 as the “New Blue RenaiSSance” line:
Ace- Bro. Rodney A. Brown: 2 S.O.B – [2 Shades of Blue]
2- Bro. Edward Cowan: Blue2 AKA The Joker
3- Bro. Karriem Muhammad Line: Code Blue
4- Bro. Brandon Davis Line: Blue Note
5 – Bro. Brandon Rice – Optimus Blue

Sigma Beta Petition

this email was making it’s way around several sigma groups and mailing lists last week. please take a quick moment to sign the petition.

The Rockford Sigma Beta Club, NFP exists as an effort to address the very challenging issues many of our young men face through both prevention and intervention. In 1950, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. saw a need for its membership to mentor and forge relationships with their younger male counter parts. Thus, the Sigma Beta Club was born and has established chapters throughout the country including Rockford, Illinois. Rockford’s Sigma Beta Club now seeks to intensify its efforts and has founded the Sigma Beta Leadership Charter School. The Sigma Beta Leadership Charter School will be open to young men grades 6-12 and will expand the mentoring efforts of the Sigma Beta Club.  It will provide an educational environment in which males of all races and backgrounds can be mentored, receive a rigorous college preparatory education, experience high expectations and learn to place a high value and priority on education. We need your support and here’s how you can help! Please go to www.rockfordcharterschools.com and sign our petition (right panel) asking the Rockford Public School District to approve the Sigma Beta Leadership Charter School’s application to operate a charter school in Rockford. Your support and voice is very important to us and this process.  Thank you so much and we all look forward to the establishment of the Sigma Beta Leadership Charter School..

Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Hardy
Chief Executive Officer
Sigma Beta Leadership Charter School  

Southeastern Winter 2009 Newsletter

Brothers, I would like to introduce myself, my name is Mike Sawyer. I am the newly appointed Director of Publicity for the Southeastern Region. It will be my pleasure to work for the region and assist in making our good works known.

Attached to this email is the Winter edition of the Southeastern News. The newsletter publication is in an electronic format, (PDF format). Please forward this e-mail to your distribution lists. We request that each chapter accept the responsibility for printing the newsletter for those brothers who do not have access to e-mail. Please contact me directly if there are any problems with the receiving or printing of the newsletter.

Fraternally,
Brother Mike Sawyer

Demetrius Newton

Demetrius Newton was born and educated in Fairfield, Alabama. He received his undergraduate education at Wilberforce University. Bro. Newton obtained his legal education at Boston University, where he became the first African-American member of Phi Delta Phi International Law Fraternity. His legal career has spanned well over 50 years and his experience varies from civil to criminal law. Bro. Newton was President ( #24) of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity from 1981-1984.

During his career as a legislator, Newton filed the first action lawsuit in the Country under the Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also challenged segregated waiting areas for train passengers. He became the African-American in the Alabama House to chair the Judiciary Committee, and was the first African-American elected Speaker Pro Tempore. He has been awarded the Alabama Lawyers Association Award for Outstanding Lawyer and Pioneer; the American Cancer Society’s Outstanding Legislator Award; and Wilberforce Universities Honorary Doctor of Letters. He is also a member of the Distinguished Service Chapter (#92). He has a daughter, Deirdre, who practices law in New York, and a son, Demetrius, Jr., who works in the video arts in Birmingham. Brother Newton’s interest’s include: golf, photography, reading, teaching Sunday School, and riding horses on his farm.