WS Chronicle

The Delta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, youth auxiliary Sigma Beta Club recently attended the Southeastern Region Leadership Conference in Charlotte on March 30-31. Twelve young men represented the Winston-Salem chapter at the Hilton Charlotte University Park. The Southeastern Region consists of chapters from North Carolina, South Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Mark Allmon is the SE Regional Director and Jenabu Williams is the International Director for the Sigma Beta Clubs.

Four Winston-Salem Sigma Betas were recognized as graduating seniors during the Awards Luncheon: Ezabai Diaz (N.C. Leadership Academy), Nasir McDaniel (Reynolds), Evan Simmons (Atkins) and Tyrek Thompson (East Forsyth).

The Sigma Betas of Delta Sigma also received a March of Dimes Award for raising the most funds for the March for Babies Walk; Adrian L. Wilkerson (Wiley Middle School) was named Middle Schooler of the Year, and the club was also recognized as the Southeastern Region Sigma Beta Club of the Year.

An Opening Session kicked off the conference with greetings from the International President of the fraternity, the Honorable Michael Cristal. He explained the TRILOGY OF CHANGE, a strategic plan to impact the African-American community, starting with enhancing the lives of our youth through mentorship with the Sigma Beta Club.  Cristal told them the Sigma Beta Club is the cornerstone to building the fraternity for the future. Young men of color need to see and interact with professional men, who can help them in determining their respective futures. The fraternity is committed to making sure we nurture their potential and support them throughout their formative years as long as they stay connected and committed to the fraternity.

The first workshop of the conference featured a mental health workshop that was tailored for young men. Phi Beta Sigma is committed to impacting the lives of young men of color.  Another workshop featured a local Boys Scout Troop that came in to engage our young men in several teambuilding workshops. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, Inc. and the Boy Scouts of America have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among 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.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte conducted a STEAM workshop that was led by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments. Our youth learned the difference between electrical and computer engineering.  They also discussed some of the foundations of electrical engineering through the demonstration of a circuit using bananas as a keyboard to play musical notes.

A community service project was conducted during the conference. The SBC Leadership Conference partnered with the Charlotte Police Department Domestic Violence Unit and presented them with over 200 stuffed animals. These items will be given to children who have witnessed or experienced violence and trauma.

The Sigma Beta Club consists of males ages 8 to 18. The Sigma Beta Club offers unique opportunities to exemplify wholesome values, leadership skills, educational enhancement, business training and development, and social and cultural awareness, to male youths at a most critical stage in their personal development. The club’s motto is “Next Generation of Leaders Accepting the Responsibility and Loving the Challenge.”

The advisory committee consists of Phi Beta Sigma members Willie Conner Jr, Daniel Crudup, Sean Hawkins Sr., John Jackson II and Antonio McCoy.