Kappa Zeta Pivots Amid the Pandemic By Cinnamon Sheffield Kappa Zeta Chapter The pandemic did not deter Kappa Zeta from thriving despite the new normal. They took the business of Zeta online! They capitalized on the strength of more than 200 members and supported the motto of ONE ZETA through the concept of focusing on mind, body, and soul. Fall 2020 started with a full two-day retreat totally online. The committee kept more than 100 sorors engaged on the Zoom platform over the weekend with educational sessions, games, stroll sessions, committee promos, a scavenger hunt, and pictorial fashion shows. The Health and Wellness committee took total advantage of the virtual platform as they partnered with the committees supporting our international programs. They created a series of Health Care Talks that covered topics such as Surviving Breast Cancer, Domestic Violence, and Prematurity Awareness, which can all be found on their Kappa Zeta YouTube channel. They also held Zoom/Facebook Live events that hosted triple negative breast cancer experts and domestic abuse survivors and their saviors. The Sigma and Zeta undergraduates partnered and held an online summit. They spent the day discussing topics that pertained to college students and their ability to be successful students in preparation for real-life situations. The youth auxiliaries were also ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED
able to adjust and use Zoom and Seesaw to keep their monthly meetings and activities on schedule. In support of Black entrepreneurs, Kappa Zeta created the “Black Business Crawl,” choosing various businesses and online companies to collectively patronize. During this time when so many families were in need, Kappa Zeta was able to continue working and serving in the community. While Kappa Zeta members were cooped up in their homes, they partnered with the Stork’s Nest Charity Fund of Dallas and the Amicae and youth auxiliaries and knitted more than 500 hats for babies, which they delivered to the Children’s Hospital in downtown Dallas. Prematurity Awareness was the focus in November; Kappa Zeta provided 300 snack bags to families in the NICUs of surrounding hospitals. Kappa Zeta provided 100 families with full meals during the Thanksgiving holiday and later provided toys, food, and gift cards to 50 families for Christmas through the Kappa Zeta Angel Tree program. Kappa Zeta celebrated 100 years by collaborating with the four chapters in the area and had a weeklong Centennial Celebration. It started with a National Billboard balloon release that featured two Kappa Zeta members, followed by a morning celebration at the local radio station during the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. The chapter amazingly curated historical items that were unveiled at the Dallas African American Museum while receiving several proclamations from dignitaries within our city as well as the governor’s office. They worshipped together at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and marched in the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and later celebrated with the Sigmas at a “Roaring Twenties” themed gala. It was a time to remember! SPRING & SUMMER 2021 • THE ARCHON MAGAZINE
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