The Community-Conscious & Action Oriented Issue
THE SIGMA PHI ZETA Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Sigma Phi Zeta Chapter Waukegan, IL
Volume 2: Issue 1 Summer/Fall 2013
Community-Conscious & Action-Oriented Powerful Women of the North Shore
By April Clincy, Sigma Phi Zeta Chapter President
Sigma Phi Zeta is comprised of an array of talented, thoughtful, and professional women ranging in age, interests and experiences. We are the current home of 27 engaging and exciting women! We are the advising chapter of the Nu Sigma Chapter on the campus of Northwestern University. We serve a broad community range in Lake County that includes Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, and beyond!
Well Lake County, a new year is upon us! And that means another year of giving, another year of sharing and another year of doing for the women of Zeta Phi Beta – Sigma Phi Zeta chapter! For as long as I’ve been a member of Zeta (27 years and counting), we have used the tagline “community conscious, action oriented”. Community-conscious means that we have a keen knowledge and awareness of the issues affecting our communities. Whether it’s local issues such as homelessness, women’s health, gun and domestic violence, and women’s empowerment or those on a national level such as health care reform; support of our military, prematurity and breast cancer awareness, Zetas stay informed on those matters that are or can have a negative impact on our communities. As our International President, Mary Breaux Wright, regularly reminds us, “A good Zeta is a well-informed Zeta!” So it is important that we are informed on the issues affecting us. Action-oriented means that we don’t just talk about the issues but we actually do something about them. Sigma Phi Zeta continues to be responsive to the needs of our neighbors on the North Shore – especially in the communities of Waukegan, Zion, and North Chicago. During the last sorority year, listed below is a sample of the service we provided and where action-oriented came to life:
Habitat for Humanity Stand Up for Something – DIVAS Giveback Program A Safe Place Domestic Violence Shelter PADS of Lake County, IL Bernie’s Book Bank Community Baby Shower for Prematurity Awareness March of Dimes Walk for Babies Holiday Giving Tree Project and Holiday Party with College of Lake County Bingo Night at Kukla Towers Senior Center with the Zeta Amicae of Waukegan Women’s Empowerment Seminar with the College of Lake County and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
There is still much work to do because the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. As we embark upon a new year in Zeta, we invite you to join us in being “community-conscious, action-oriented”. Membership not required! 1