News & Updates

Empowering Young Men Through Mentoring!Monday, April 30, 2018

Published: April 2, 2018 - Jenabu C. Williams, MPA International Director of Sigma Beta Clubs for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Edited: April 29, 2018

All over the country, the Alumni Chapters of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated are taking their rightful place in the community as Leaders and Mentors to Young Men of Color through our Sigma Beta Clubs (SBC). As a Brotherhood of Conscious Men, we understand that it is our responsibility to help each and every young man in our community discover their greatness and their God-given purpose in life.

Our History:

The SBC was launched back in 1950 by the Honorable Brother Dr. Parlett L. Moore, who was the 20th International President, during tenure as the Fraternity’s National Director of Education. For the past 68 consecutive years, Sigma Men have impacted the lives of over 75,000 young men throughout the country. These young men have gone on to graduate high school, attend college/universities, trade schools, entrepreneurs, and join the armed forces. Today, hundreds of these young men have also become members of Sigma and they are paying it forward by mentoring our current SBC Members. These former SBC Members have joined the active members of Sigma who are Conscious Fathers, Husbands, Professionals, and Leaders in our respective community.

The SBC Club offer’s men of Sigma a unique opportunity to develop wholesome values, self-esteem, leadership skills, business training and development, and social and cultural awareness to male youths at a most critical stage in their personal development. Today, the Fraternity has over 400 professional Men of Color working with the 1,900 Sigma Beta Club Members in over 92 cities throughout the seven Regions of the Fraternity.

As the proud International Director of the Sigma Beta Club, I was appointed to this role in July of 2017 by our current International President, Brother Michael E. Cristal. Brother Cristal believes in the power of Mentoring so much that he has made the SBC the centerpiece of the Fraternities programmatic thrust. I am supported in my role by a passionate team of Servant Leaders who oversee the direct management and program implementation of the clubs in 92 cities in the following geographical Regions of the Fraternity:

– Eastern Region: Brother James Spence, M.Ed
– Great Lakes Region: Brother Larry Hemingway
– Gulf Coast Region: Brother Tim McDaniel
– Southeastern Region: Brother Mark Allmon
– Southern Region: Brother Walter Stephens
– Southwestern Region: Brother Dr. Mark Hewitt
– Western Region: Brother Ian Heisser

These dynamic Brothers donate countless hours of their time to support the advisors in their region as they work collaboratively to implement our comprehensive Male Mentoring program. It’s an honor to work with each of these high-powered professional Men of Valor.

The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation:

Not only is our team is supported by the Fraternity, but it is also supported by the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, which is under the direction of our Board President & former 31st International President of the Fraternity, the Honorable Brother Arthur R. Thomas, Esq. The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation was incorporated on June 1, 2005. It was organized for the purpose of developing policies and procedures for the operation of the Sigma Beta Clubs. The Foundation is responsible for approving the charters of Alumni Chapters within the seven regions of the Fraternity and for establishing/ promoting programs, projects, and activities within Sigma Beta Clubs. This also includes providing training of chapters and advisors, organizing and conducting seminars, forums for the certification of advisors, and conducting award and recognition programs. The Foundation is also responsible for raising funds, leveraging resources and relationships to impact the program.

What’s Next:

To continue improving the life outcomes of our SBC Members we are hosting the 2018 Sigma Beta Club NationalLeadership  Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana from July 16th-19th. We are hosting 100 SBC Members from around the country to New Orleans for 3-day conference event of intense training focusing on:

  • Recognizing and Overcoming Social & Emotional Trauma, 
  • Understanding the Criminal Justice System,
  • Preparing for College, 
  • Starting Your Own Business/Entrepreneurship
  • Capacity Building.

Our Conference theme is, “A Brotherhood of Conscious Men: Embracing, Educating & Empowering Young Men Through Mentoring!” Registration slots are quickly filling up so we encourage Brothers to get your club members registered ASAP to ensure your club is in attendance. Our conference keynote speaker is the International author and Sigma Brother, Dr. William “Flip” Clay.

If you would like more information on this conference or if you would like to become a sponsor, please feel free to contact me or log onto our National Sigma Beta Club Foundation website, www.sigmabetaclub.org/2018sbcnlc. This conference will support us in our efforts to inspire Hope and the Promise that Young Men of Color not created to be Ordinary, but they were in fact created to be Extraordinary.

As a Fraternity of Conscious Men, we take great pride in doing our part to ensure every young man in our Sigma Beta Club has the necessary tools to become the Next Generation of Leaders Who Accept Responsibility and Love the Challenge!

 

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Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. And The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation Sign A Historic Memorandum Of Understanding With The Boy Scouts Of AmericaWednesday, September 20, 2017

The partnership dictates Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation to work with the Boys Scouts of America in establishing relationships with its chapters in local communities to identify youth and young adult programs and projects consistent with the NSBCF’s curriculum, “Rise and Thunder”,  in an effort to benefit from the partnership and BSA programs to the highest extent possible.

News provided by:
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Sep 07, 2017, 17:13 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ – Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, Inc. (PBS-NSBCF) and the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three entities for the purpose of implementing educational collaborations and programs that empower and enhance the quality of life for youth and young adults.

 

Shown in photo (left to right) SEATED: Arthur R. Thomas, Esq., 31st International President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., 34th International President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Lee Shaw, Jr., Director of National Alliances, Boy Scouts of America;  STANDING (left to right): William B. Covington, Assistant Council Commissioner, Northeast Illinois Council Boy Scouts of America and Keith Walton, Associate National Director Boy Scouts of America (PRNewsfoto/Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.)

Shown in photo (left to right) SEATED: Arthur R. Thomas, Esq., NSBCF President and 31st International President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., 34th International President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Lee Shaw, Jr., Director of National Alliances, Boy Scouts of America; STANDING (left to right): William B. Covington, Assistant Council Commissioner, Northeast Illinois Council Boy Scouts of America and Keith Walton, Associate National Director Boy Scouts of America (PRNewsfoto/Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.)

 

The MOU dictates PBS-NSBCF to work with BSA in establishing relationships with its chapters in local communities to identify youth and young adult programs/projects consistent with the NSBCF’s curriculum, “Rise and Thunder” in an effort to  benefit from the partnership and BSA programs to the highest extent possible. It also predicates PBS-NSBCF will participate in BSA local communities’ unity awareness events and activities, which reflect the PBS-NSBCF mission and ideals of working aggressively in an effort to relieve the plight of America’s poor and disadvantaged youth.”The signing of this Memorandum Of Understanding with the Boy Scouts of America allows us to further execute a more progressive mentorship program through our Sigma Beta Clubs,” said Jonathan A. Mason, Sr., Immediate Past International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. “We are elated at the opportunity to develop programs designed to promote outdoor leadership experiences, educational pursuits, life skills development, stimulate the intellect and provide positive life experiences for the youth and young adult population,” Mason added.”It’s an honor for the Boy Scouts of America to partner with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. This is an awesome opportunity for true collaboration in order to address the unrelenting needs of the community,” remarked Lee Shaw, Director of the Boy Scouts of America National Alliances. “The partnership will focus on mentoring, workforce development, anti-bullying and community engagement. We are excited to join forces with the exceptional men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.,”  Shaw commented.”As we develop this partnership with the Boy Scouts of America, one of our goals is to plot a trajectory of young men believing they have limitless possibilities as they pursue college to become entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors or corporate executives and ultimately conscious men actively making a difference in their communities,” said Micheal Cristal, 35th and current International President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

In aligning some of its youth programming with the Boy Scouts of America, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. hopes to improve the quality of life for the young men in the communities it serves. The National Sigma Beta Club Foundation which provides management and oversight over the administrative, organizational and the programs and activities of Sigma Beta Clubs — the youth affiliate entities of PBS Alumni Chapters, will be leading the campaign to mentor and impact the young men.

 

SOURCE Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

 

 

 

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Recap: 2015 Illinois Sigma Beta Club Leadership ConferenceThursday, October 1, 2015

On Saturday September 12, 2015 approximately 53 Sigma Beta Club members, along with Club Coordinators and Advisors from the six Illinois chapters sponsoring Sigma Beta Club’s, assembled at Illinois State University for the 2015 Illinois Sigma Beta Club Leadership Conference. Epsilon Chi chapter of Illinois State University and the Kappa Mu Sigma chapter of Bloomington, Illinois served as exceptional host, making the conference experience phenomenal. (more…)

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