|
|
From the Sorority’s inception, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has long
demonstrated an interest in serving the needs of the community.
Spanning the Sorority’s nearly thirty-year partnership with the
March of Dimes to its relationship with the Human Genome Project,
Zeta Phi Beta has been at the fore of anticipating the ever-changing
needs of society.
It is within this framework that International Grand Basileus Barbara
C. Moore proudly introduces the new International Service Initiative
for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.: Z-HOPE: Zetas Helping Other People
Excel™. “Since 1920, our national service programs have evolved
to meet the critical societal needs of the time,” said International
Grand Basileus Moore. “This administration has identified some key
areas of concern as part of our programmatic thrust, and all of our
efforts will be consolidated under the banner of Z-HOPE.”
What is Z-HOPE?
*
|
Z-HOPE is an interactive, holistic and multidimensional outreach
service initiative designed to enhance, cultivate and empower
participants to develop health promoting lifestyle choices across
the lifespan. Z-HOPE builds on the Sorority’s legacy of service by
offering a service initiative that addresses the mission-critical
needs of a shifting population. |
*
|
Z-HOPE will facilitate age-appropriate program implementation in
the 500+ communities served by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s chapters and
affiliates around the world. |
*
|
Z-HOPE promotes community collaboration by encouraging Zeta chapters
to partner with existing community organizations and resources to
provide optimal quality programs. |
*
|
Z-HOPE provides Zeta chapters with a comprehensive training manual
that targets program development to meet the unique cultural needs of
the African-American community and persons of color. |
How does Z-HOPE work?
Z-HOPE uses a holistic and multidimensional approach to program
implementation. The multigenerational and gender specialized
initiative contains programs and activities optimized to meet the
needs and challenges of each group. Z-HOPE focuses its efforts
within five major populations (women, youth, seniors, men and
international women) and is designed to address the whole person via
a holistic framework that focuses on the three key elements of life
(mind, body and spirit):
Why Z-HOPE?
When one reviews the “State of Black America,” it is evident that
there still is much work needed to eliminate health disparities. In
spite of America’s technological advances, Black America still
continues to experience more preventable diseases and ills in
disproportionate numbers. There is no dispute that one’s physical,
mental and spiritual health impacts one’s ability to work, live, love
and just exist. Z-HOPE focuses the collective Zeta service
efforts “upstream” by increasing awareness and prevention, thereby
decreasing or lessening the impact of these preventable health issues.
The goal of Z-HOPE is to empower people to become active
partners in improving the quality of their own lives by providing
information and knowledge in a digestible and usable format.
What are the Z-HOPE programmatic elements?
Z-HOPE responds to the “State of Health in Black America” by
creating programs and activities that provide the knowledge of and
tools to address the Healthy People 2010 ten leading health
indicators:
* | Physical Activity |
* | Substance abuse |
* | Injury & Violence |
* | Obesity |
* | Responsible Sexual Behavior |
* | Environmental Quality |
* | Access to Health Care |
* | Tobacco Use |
* | Mental Health |
* | Immunization |
Z-HOPE uses this context to create a database of over 60 events,
programs, collaborations, partnerships and activities subcategorized
by generation, gender and holistic focus that will be implemented by
Zeta chapters around the world to affect change and continue to build
on Zeta Phi Beta’s legacy of service.
What are the objectives of Z-HOPE?
Z-HOPE is an outreach service program that has six primary
objectives, corresponding measures of success and a mechanism for
chapter recognition. The primary objectives are:
* |
To provide culturally appropriate informational activities
according to the Z-HOPE program format |
* |
To foster collaborative partnerships between community organizations with shared goals |
* |
To promote the opportunities for expansion in Stork’s Nest programs |
* |
To facilitate community service and mentorship opportunities for members of the organization |
* |
To provide an equitable chapter recognition program for community services rendered |
*
|
To provide a standard reporting format to concentrate efforts and demonstrate the organization’s impact |
What are some representative Z-HOPE programs?
Z-HOPE contains programs and activities as varied as the people
benefiting from them. The Z-HOPE approach to program
implementation enables chapters to narrowly target specific programs
based on population to achieve maximum impact. A small sampling of
Z-HOPE program elements:
*
|
Z-HOPE for Women addresses depression, domestic violence,
responsible sexual behavior, money management, eating disorders,
addictive behavior and nutrition. |
*
|
Z-HOPE for Youth includes physical activity, reading book
clubs, goal setting, career planning, and crime prevention. |
*
|
Z-HOPE for Seniors addresses literacy, personal safety,
chronic illness, deferred giving and advocacy-care givers activities. |
*
|
Z-HOPE for Men focuses in part on prostate cancer,
cardiovascular disease, parenting skills, and domestic violence. |
*
|
Z-HOPE for International Women includes supporting
women’s and family groups, providing financial aid and other
resources and empowering them to identify and implement solutions
to problems in their communities. |
Who are the National Z-HOPE committee members?
International Grand Basileus Barbara C. Moore assembled a “dream-team”
of the Sorority’s leading health providers and educators to design the
extremely navigable Z-HOPE service initiative. Committee
members include:
Dr. Constance S. Hendricks, Chair
Dr. Lucy Perez, Co-chair
Z-HOPE for Women: Dr. Constance S. Hendricks (Mu Zeta)
Z-HOPE for Youth: Dr. Gloria S. McCutcheon (Gamma Zeta)
Z-HOPE for Seniors: Theresa Dixon (Beta Omicron Zeta)
Z-HOPE for Men: Darneta G. Brown (Nu Zeta)
Z-HOPE for International Women: Mary Singletary (Zeta Delta Zeta)
Overall Health & Wellness: Karen S. Gipson (Zeta Tau Zeta)
Overall Community Partnership Development: Ella Nelson (Delta Mu Zeta)
Where is more Z-HOPE information?
If you are a Sorority member, non-profit organization or business
looking for more information about Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s International
Service Initiative, Z-HOPE, please contact:
Soror Dr. Constance Hendricks at CSHZHOPE@aol.com.
|
|
