Empowering Young Men Through Mentoring!Monday, April 30, 2018
Published: April 2, 2018 -Â Jenabu C. Williams, MPA – Â 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,Â
- Understanding the Criminal Justice System,
- Preparing for College,Â
- 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!
