Sigma Wellness: Advocacy For A Better Life Experience For The African American Male

SIGMA WELLNESS:

ADVOCACY FOR A BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE

For most people “wellness” means taking care of one’s physical being. For many years “Sigma Wellness” has been associated with engaging in exercise and training to look and feel good, with less emphasis on avoiding habits which can lead to health problems or how to manage one’s health once diagnosed with a medical condition. There has been hardly any mention of wellness meaning care for the mental, emotional, spiritual and the aspects of life which provide peace and contentment— financial security, positive relationships, living as stress free as possible, for example. The fact is all of these factors contribute to our wholeness or wellness as human beings.

Within the Cristal administration was an understanding that African American men have the highest rates of death at earlier ages as a result of being Black. In addition to less than adequate health care, Black men die from undiagnosed illnesses, refusal to seek medical care and management, stress related illnesses as a result of living in less than favorable conditions, and at the hands of other Black men. These and other issues put the African American male at greater risk than all other racial, ethnic and gender groups in America. With this understanding, Sigma Wellness had to provide a more wholistic approach as to how Black men can take better care of themselves, for the sake of their communities. All programs under the International banner were required to consider how Sigma Wellness could be included in their work.

Among the ideas put forth was a greater emphasis on mentorship—local chapters would be encouraged to identify the needs of their community and develop programming which encouraged active engagement with members of the community. Over the course of the Cristal administration more chapters became aware of the need to help students who wanted to attend college but were struggling with how they could afford to do so. The result of their advocacy and mentoring was Phi Beta Sigma providing $4 million in scholarships to college-bound students in the community to ease financial burdens and $320,000 in scholarships to Sigma collegians. Sigma Week on Capitol Hill provided more opportunities for the exchange of ideas and the dire need for mentoring and support for African American young men.

The Sigma Executive Leadership Council took up the mantle to give collegiate members opportunities to engage with Sigma brothers with successful careers in the corporate world. The Council recognized the necessity of being mentors, coaches and advisors to collegiate members preparing to face life in the real world. Who better to help young men become solid professionals in their careers than those who have lived, learned and succeeded?

P H I B E T A S I G M A F R A T E R N I T Y, I N C .

THE EMERGING LEADERS FORUM 2020-2021 ENROLLMENT APPLICATION

P H I B E T A S I G M A F R A T E R N I T Y , I N C .

A formal, structured mentoring program that serves to develop leaders with an eye toward future development and leadership. Member’s Value Proposition MENTORING PROGRAM PROPOSAL

Developed In-Kind by Sodexo North America Brother Phillip Edge, Senior Manager | Business Improvement & Growth Rho Iota Sigma | Rome, GA Alumni Chapter Spirit of Mentoring BROTHER TO BROTHER MENTORING INITIATIVE MENTEE APPLICATION PACKAGE