National
Newsletter
Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
This article was written by NCNW Greater Trinity Section
Black History Spotlight of the Week Mrs Charlotte Berry.
South Dallas Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. has named Charlotte Berry as Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding leadership, inspirational service, and significant contributions to the community. For years, Mrs Berry has demonstrated exemplary character, confidence, and presence across various arenas,making a lasting impact on those she served.
A dedicated community leader for 40 years, Mrs Berry is a proud member of the Greater Trinity Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Mrs Berry also serves as the 24th National President of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority,Inc., a role in which she continues to uplift and empower others.
Mrs Berry's community service extends across multiple organizations in the Dallas and DeSoto areas. She has played an active role in the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Women's Foundation, and contributes to the Texas State Senator Royce West's Conrad Intern Program, further demonstrating her commitment to mentorship and community service.
Mrs Berry has excelled in both the private and nonprofit sectors, serving in leadership roles as a manager and director. Most recently with the City of DeSoto as a Victim Advocate for Family and Victim Violence, supporting individuals in critical situations.
Through her unwavering dedication, advocacy, and leadership, Charlotte Berry continues to be a beacon of hope and progress in the Dallas Community!
INSIDE
NATIONAL NEWSLETTER
From the National Journalist Desk
Dear Sorors,
I hope this message finds you in great spirits!
March is here, and I’m beyond excited because it’s my birthday month! That’s right on March 21st, I’ll be celebrating another year of life, health, and strength And if you know me, you know I absolutely love receiving gift cards they are my thing!
But that’s not the only reason I’m excited this month! The Call to Convention book is officially out, and I can’t wait for you to take a look Click on the logo above or use this link to view it: 96th Anniversary National Call to Convention. Let me know if you’ll be attending I’d love to reconnect, catch up, and, of course, take some fabulous pictures together!
March also marks the start of Regional Conferences, and I can’t wait to experience the energy, sisterhood, and empowerment that these conferences always bring. If you’re attending a conference, be sure to share your highlights with me!
Looking forward to an exciting month ahead!
Sisterly, Michelle Greene National Journalist
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Wangari Maathai was the first Black African woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in environmental conservation In the 1970s, she founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on environmental conservation and women ’ s rights She was also an elected member of Parliament and served as assistant minister for Environment and Natural Resources between 2003 and 2005
In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.
Tarana Burke is best known for organizing the #MeToo movement in 2006 as a means for victims of sexual violence to share their experiences with others, forming an alliance among survivors Named Person of the Year by TIME magazine in 2017, Burke has spent her life empowering women to share their stories and fight against sexual assault with the slogan "empowerment through empathy."
A Texas native, Bessie Coleman dreamt of flying planes. However, as a Black woman in the 1920s, getting her pilot's license in the U S was nothing short of impossible That didn't stop the would-be aviator who, in the face of adversity, learned to speak French, then left to train in France, where Black people were permitted to become aviators Within seven months, Coleman officially became a pilot, making her the first Black woman to do so Tragically, Coleman died in an air accident in 1926 at the age of 34.
Wangari Maathi
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Tarana Burke
3 Bessie Coleman Iota
Soror Lisa Washington
SororLisaWashington Newsletter
For The
NationalNutritionMonth®WeeklyMessages
Week1:ConnectwithFood
Learncooking,foodpreparationandmealplanningskills
Explorewhereyourfoodcomesfrom
Learn about community resources such as SNAP, WIC and localfoodbanks
Week2:ConnectwithaNutritionExpert
Ask your doctor for a referral to an Registered Dietician Nutritionist.
FindanRDNwhospecializesinyouruniqueneeds.
Receive personalized nutrition information to meet your healthgoals.
Week3:ExploretheConnectionBetweenFoodandCulture.
Experiment with recipes using different ingredients or cooking techniques.
Includeyourfavoriteculturalfoodsandtraditionsortrynewglobal flavors.
Enjoyyourmealswithfamilyorfriends,whenpossible.
Week4:BuildtheConnectionAcrossAllStagesofLife. Learnhownutrientneedsmaychangewithage. Includehealthfulfoodsfromallfoodgroups. Focusonbalancedandsustainableeatinghabits.
National Nutrition Month
This year's theme is "Food Connects Us." Food is a connecting factor for many of us. Food connects us to our cultures, our families and our friends Sharing a meal is an opportunity to learn about its preparation, who made it and where the ingredients were sourced. Health, memories, traditions, seasons and access can all impact our relationship with food. While these factors influence the foods we eat, the foods we eat also affect our health
IOTA PHI LAMBDA GOOD HEALTH WINs YEAR 2 REPORT
This is a summary report of the two years that ΙΦΛ Sorority, Inc has been involved in the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) Good Health WINs grant, a project to promote good health in communities of color. Since June of 2023, ΙΦΛ Sorority has been the recipient of $60,000 in grant funds from NCNW to implement the Good Health WINs project. We were successful in carrying out that task via our regions and chapters.
Here are the 32 chapters that have had events and received grant awards over the two years of the grant:
Alpha Chapter
Alpha Chi Chapter
Alpha Lambda
Chapter
Beta Delta Chapter
Beta Pi Chapter
Delta Chapter
Epsilon Chi Chapter
Epsilon Tau Chapter
Gamma Alpha
Chapter
Gamma Tau Chapter
Mu Chapter
Psi Chapter
Zeta Mu Chapter
Zeta Pi Chapter
Zeta Tau Chapter
Zeta Upsilon Chapter
Alpha Beta Chapter
Alpha Kappa Chapter
Alpha Sigma Chapter
Beta Nu Chapter
Beta Zeta Chapter
Epsilon Chapter
Epsilon Phi Chapter
Gamma Chapter
Gamma Mu Chapter
Gamma Zeta Chapter
Nu Chapter
Zeta Beta Chapter
ZetaOmicron Chapter
Zeta Sigma Chapter
Zeta Theta Chapter
Zeta Xi Chapter
I want to thank and acknowledge the ΙΦΛ GHWs Leadership Team for their support and dedication over this two-year grant period and if we are awarded another GHWs grant, I look forward to carrying out the grant with their support and guidance:
National President Charlotte Berry
National Treasurer Nicole Ford
Soror Pamela Paige
Soror ARD Shenelle Jones Cardwell
Soror ARD Dr. Valencia Hall
Soror ARD Gina Blanks Berry
Respectfully & Sisterly Submitted,
WRQ Dorothy White
National Journalist Michelle Greene
Soror Robin Mack
Soror ARD Renee Hinton
Soror ARD Gloria Waddles-Perry
Soror Dr. Ann McClain Terrell, ΙΦΛ GHWs Project Manager
Soror Dana Parrish
Visionary Vault: A Startup Toolkit for Black Women in Business
Clarify Your Vision
Every successful business starts with a clear vision. Define your “why” and what impact you want to make.
Identify your niche by understanding who you serve and the problems your business will solve. Look to platforms like Blavity: AfroTech and Her Agenda for stories of successful Black women entrepreneurs who are making waves in various industries.
Plan Your Business
A solid business plan serves as the blueprint for your success. It outlines your goals, operations, marketing strategies, and financial forecasts. This step also includes choosing the right business structure (LLC, SCorp, or sole proprietorship) and legally registering your business.
Secure Your Funding
Access to capital can be a barrier, but there are funding opportunities specifically for Black women. Apply for grants like the SoGal Foundation Black Founder Startup Grant, Fearless Fund Women of Color Grant, and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund. Platforms like iFundWomen of Color and Black Girl Ventures also provide crowdfunding and pitch opportunities tailored to Black women founders.
Build Your Brand
Your brand is more than a logo—it’s your story, values, and promise to customers. Use tools like Canva for designing visual elements and platforms like Squarespace or Wix to build an online presence. Draw inspiration from entrepreneurs like Mahisha Dellinger, founder of CURLS, whose brand resonates deeply with cultural pride and authenticity.
Visionary Vault: Quick Access Checklist
Clarify Your Vision & Mission
Write a Business Plan
Register Your Business & Get an EIN
Apply for Funding & Grants
Build a Strong Brand & Website
Launch Marketing Campaigns
Use Productivity Tools for Operations
Focus on Sustainable Growth
Visionary Planning: Crafting a Winning Business Plan
Key Components of a Business Plan:
Executive Summary: Summarize your business concept, mission, and vision.
Company Description: Detail your business structure, ownership, and the needs you plan to meet.
Market Analysis: Provide research on your industry, competitors, and target audience.
Organization & Management: Outline your team’s structure, including bios and roles.
Products/Services: Describe what you’re offering and how it addresses customer needs.
Marketing & Sales Strategies: Explain how you’ll attract and retain customers.
Funding Request: Specify the amount of funding needed and how it will be used.
Financial Projections: Include income statements, cash flow projections, and balance sheets.
Appendix: Attach supporting documents like permits, resumes, or additional research.
Opportunity Spotlight: SoGal Foundation Black Founder Startup Grant
The SoGal Foundation Black Founder Startup Grant is designed to support Black women and Black nonbinary entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance and strategic guidance to help scale their businesses. Recipients can receive grants of $5,000 or $10,000. Applicants must self-identify as Black women, have a legally registered business, and seeking investor funding. For more information and to apply, visit the SoGal Foundation Black Founder Startup Grant.
ASpotlightonFanbase:TheFutureofSocialMediaforCreators
Fanbaseisadynamicsocialmediaplatformrevolutionizinghowcreatorsmonetizetheircontent. FoundedbyIsaacHayesIII,Fanbaseempowersuserstoearnrevenuedirectlyfromtheirposts, fosteringamoreinclusiveandequitablesocialmediaenvironment.
KeyFeatures:
MonetizationforAllUsers:Unliketraditionalplatforms,Fanbaseallowseveryusertoearnmoney fromtheircontent,breakingdownbarrierstoentryforemergingcreators.
DiverseContentSharing:Supportsvariouscontentforms,includingphotos,videos,livestreams, andaudiochats,cateringtoawiderangeofcreativeexpressions
Ad-FreeExperience:Prioritizesuserexperiencebyeliminatingads,ensuringcontentreaches audienceswithoutalgorithmicsuppression
CommunityEngagement:Encouragesauthenticinteractions,enablinguserstobuildgenuine connectionswiththeiraudience
Fanbase,,hasgarneredsignificantattentionacrossvariousesteemedpublications,highlightingits uniqueapproachtocontentmonetizationanditsimpactonthedigitallandscape Ithasbeen featuredanddiscussedinpublicationssuchasVariety,TheRoot,Forbes,andBlackEnterprise Also, YahooFinancereportedonFanbase'simpressiveachievementofraisingover$52millionthrough crowdfunding,emphasizingtheplatform'srapidascentintheAppStorerankings Inthefeatured video,RolandS MartinandIsaacHayesIII,founderofFanbase,divesdeepintohowhissocialmedia platformisempoweringcreators especiallythosefromunderrepresentedcommunities tomonetize theircontentandowntheiraudience
BlackMenSmile
"Ifyou'rebuildingabrand,youshould bebuildingwealth.Fanbaseis designedtohelpyoudoboth."–IsaacHayesIII
WatchNow onYouTube
Black Men Smile is a designer brand and cultural movement that celebrates the joy, strength, and authenticity of Black men. The brand goes beyond fashion, using apparel, art, and storytelling to challenge negative stereotypes and highlight the beauty of Black masculinity. Through its signature designs, including bold typography and empowering messages, Black Men Smile fosters selfexpression and community pride, encouraging Black men to embrace their smiles as symbols of resilience and joy.
NEWSLETTER COMMITTE
Soror Karen Williams-Aguirre
Soror Dana Parrish
Soror Lisa Washington