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From the beginning of its existence, Iota Phi Theta has sought
to "Make a Difference." One of the very first activities of the
newly-formed Iota was participation in the protests at the
segregated Northwoods Shopping Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
The founders of the Fraternity considered themselves "Militant"
at a time when militancy was not an entirely popular stance.
This commitment to service has been a constant thread throughout
the history of Iota Phi Theta. In the late 1960's and early
1970's, Iota was a strong supporter of the "Big Brothers of
America" program. In fact, in 1974, then Grand Polaris, Thomas
Dean appeared in a local television commercial on behalf of Big
Brothers of America.
The commitment to service has continued and is manifested in the
activities of local chapters of the Fraternity. A partial
listing of involvements undertaken by Iota Phi Theta chapters
includes:
- The NAACP
- The United Negro College Fund
- The Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Project IMAGE
- The National Federation of the Blind
- The National Sickle Cell Foundation
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it highlights the
type of community involvement and spirit that exists within the
Iota Phi Theta brotherhood.
A NATIONAL EMPHASIS:
In the initial stages of the Fraternity's existence, the
Fraternity's service initiatives were local in nature as
reflected by the size of the Fraternity and the scope of its
resources. As the Fraternity began to take on a National
dimension, it became evident that its programmatic thrust would
have to be adjusted accordingly. This adjustment was complicated
however, by the fact that many chapters have had historical ties
to service organizations and causes in their local areas.
In order to address these concerns, In 1993, the Fraternity
created 2 important National initiatives that remain the primary
focus of its service thrust. These Initiatives are The National
Iota Foundation and The IOTA Youth Alliance.
Additionally, in 2001, the Fraternity has undertaken a new
program called, The Digital Heritage Initiative. This initiative
is a collaborative effort between Iota Phi Theta, Africana.com,
and Microsoft Corporation. To learn more about the Digital
Heritage Initiative, click here.
THE NATIONAL IOTA FOUNDATION:
The National Iota Foundation is a Tax-Exempt, 501(c)(3)
organization founded by Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. to serve
as a clearinghouse for funding and programs for worthwhile
endeavors. Since its creation, the Foundation and its
subsidiaries have distributed over $250,000 in grants, aid, and
services.
A recent example of the Foundation's work is the annual IOTA
Black College Tour. The tour, which is conducted each Spring and
is underwritten by the Foundation. This tour is designed to
introduce graduating High School Seniors to Historically-Black
Colleges and Universities with the further intent to have them
select and attend such an institution. The tour group typically
consists of 50- 75 students and staff members.
As a result of this tour, students have enrolled at HBCUs
throughout the nation with several approaching graduation.
Activities such as the Black College Tour are prime examples of
how the National Iota Foundation is attempting to channel
funding and resources into the minority community.
The National Iota Foundation is an important cornerstone in the
Fraternity's future strategy for providing assistance and uplift
to the African-American community.
Click here to visit The National Iota Foundation online
THE IOTA YOUTH ALLIANCE:
The IOTA Youth Alliance is a national umbrella program through
which individual chapters of Iota Phi Theta address the needs of
Black Youth in their communities. Under the auspices of the
Alliance, chapters either work with existing organizations or
create new ones based on the requirements and available
resources in their locality. In order to insure continuity, each
of the Fraternity's chapters is strongly encouraged to
prioritize youth alliance activities as a part of their
programmatic thrust.
The Youth Alliance is especially important because it allows the
Fraternity to make a national impact while maintaining ties to
those causes and organizations with whom it has had historical
relationships.
One of the many examples on Iota Youth Alliance Activities is
the African-American Male Educational Network (AAMEN). Created
and sponsored by the Beta Omega (Washington DC) Graduate
Chapter, AAMEN is a mentoring program consisting of boys between
the ages of 8 and 13 years old. Meeting twice a week, these
young men are tutored by members of the chapter in academic,
social, and leadership skills.
As a testament to their success, the 40 young men currently
enrolled in the program are collectively in the top five percent
of their classes. As a recreational and reinforcement activity,
the AAMEN program has also formed a "Step" team which performs
routines that reinforce the positive principles of AAMEN.
Membership on the team is contingent upon the establishment and
maintaining of a 3.0 grade point average. The team has performed
throughout the nation and continues to be in high demand.
AN ONGOING COMMITMENT:
As Iota Phi Theta continues its growth and development,
commitment to the African-American community shall remain the
priority of its activity. The Fraternity understands that its
primary mission should be to serve as an enabler for the
empowerment of the African-American community and as a
continuing source of positive images and assistance for our
youth.
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