OUR PROGRAMS
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is an international organization comprised of 225,000 college-educated men and built primarily on the ideology of promoting Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. Over its one hundred-plus years of existence, the Fraternity has focused on improving the global community through dedicated service. This focus has compelled the development of the organization’s four main programs: Bigger and Better Business, Education, Social Action, and Sigma Beta Clubs that embrace these objectives:
To support Sigma’s vision of ensuring programs are focused and committed to serving our communities and serving young males through mentoring and scholarships.
To ensure symmetry among all organizational and community initiatives.
To develop a sense of pride and commitment in the community toward healthy living that will reduce the incidences of health conditions that adversely affect men of color.
Through the lens of these programs, members determine how best they can serve their respective communities. For example, our national mentoring program for males aged 8-18 supports the development of young men as they prepare for college and the workforce. The organization’s partnerships with the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund are examples of its efforts to address societal ills, including health disparities and educational and developmental challenges for people of all backgrounds.
Bigger & Better Business
Bigger and Better Business became the first national program of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. It was first introduced at the Tenth Anniversary Conclave, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (December 1924). When Bigger and Better Business was adopted as a national program, special emphasis was placed on encouraging and promoting Negro businesses. At its inception, the program sought to encourage Negro businesses to improve their business acumen, efficiency and service to the public, to be competitive with other businesses. Nu Phi Sigma Chapter has been vigilant in incorporating these programs into our community to maximize our outreach and enhance the opportunity of those whom we serve.
Adopt-A-Business initiative - Phi Beta Sigma is committed to working with Black-owned businesses to promote self-sufficiency, growth, and development in communities of color. Nu Phi Sigma highlights, promotes, and encourage patronage of businesses monthly.
The Black Spend Initiative - The purpose of Black Spend is to be a change agent for Black-owned businesses by increasing the circulation and of the Black dollar and awareness of Black-owned franchises within our community.
Education
The Education Program stands as a testament to the Fraternity’s enduring commitment to advancing excellence in education and community impact. Originating from the transformative 1945 Conclave in St. Louis, Missouri, this program evolved into an international initiative, reflecting the Fraternity’s belief in education as a foundation for success. Recognizing the interconnectedness of education and community well-being, our initiatives extend beyond individual academic pursuits to make a positive impact at the broader societal level.
Scholarship stands as a cornerstone among the triad of guiding principles upheld by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. It is incumbent upon Nu Phi Sigma Chapter embraces and fosters this ideal, recognizing that providing educational opportunities is not merely an option but an essential mandate. This principle is meticulously designed to amplify Phi Beta Sigma’s influence in educational support, specifically aiming to alleviate the financial burdens faced by African American men. By awarding scholarships at both the high school and collegiate levels, Phi Beta Sigma demonstrates its unwavering commitment to nurturing these young men’s academic and professional futures, thereby contributing significantly to the broader objective of educational advancement within our communities. Nu Phi Sigma has several events where the proceeds of our fundraising efforts are allocated to help fund scholarships.
Adopt-A-School (AAS) - The initiative has been thoughtfully crafted to engage our brothers directly within the educational institutions of our community. This endeavor seeks to position such involvement as a series of value-added activities, with a twofold objective: to enhance student literacy and to accumulate educational service hours. Furthermore, this approach is aimed at augmenting male presence within schools, thereby solidifying our commitment to the educational upliftment of our community’s youth. Through this strategic engagement, we aspire to deliver substantial benefits to both our members and the students we aim to support, underlining our dedication to fostering an environment of learning and development. Nu Phi Sigma Chapter not only has adopted two schools in the Dayton, Ohio area but have encouragedthe two collegiate chapters whom we advise to do the same.
Social Action
In 1934, Bro. Elmo M. Anderson called for the reconstruction of the social order while fighting against anti-lynching practices. Today, Social Action is the heartbeat of our beloved fraternity, and we should continue to honor our dear Bro. Anderson through meaningful and measurable activities. Our communities need strong leadership with a clear BOLD vision and message from our great fraternity. We need to continue to be the voice for the voiceless and work in the community we serve to drive the most impact. We also need to ensure that we have a lens of equity when it comes to the partnerships that we have established. Our Social Action program is segmented into four focus areas: Brotherhood for Justice Reform, Healthy Communities, Safe Communities, and Voting Empowerment.
Blue & White Legislative Days - Each year Phi Beta Sigma Chapters are encouraged to convene at their respective state capitols to engage their elected government officials and representatives to discuss issues and legislation that affect the communities we serve.
Walk a Mile in My Shoes - The purpose is to raise money for Autism research, increase knowledge for Autism, screening and treatment considerations.
Voter Registration, Education & Mobilization - The purpose of this initiative is to change the voting culture by increasing participation in each election by helping to close the race and age gap within our prospective communities and ensure that more males are participating in the voting process. Nu Phi Sigma Chapter has set up voter registration drives at various locations throughout the community to promote access to the ballots so residents can exercise their power to vote, inform people of their voting locations, and update voter registrations to reflect current addresses as well as name changes.
