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So as to spotlight the people who find themselves main graduate chapters around the country, we at Watch The Backyard reached out to the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.’s Zeta Chi Sigma in Prince George’s County, Maryland and Metropolitan Washington, DC and did an interview with Wes Lewis the President of the bankruptcy.
The placement of president of a Black fraternity bankruptcy is a extremely revered function and there’s a particular delight that one takes. Lewis, who works as a Internet Advertising Chief and Agile Trainer, has been within the place of President for two years.
We interviewed Lewis, who’s a Spring 2006 (March 12, 2006) – Beta Gamma Bankruptcy at Hampton College start up of his fraternity and talked to him about his place, objectives, long run and what it manner to carry this sort of management place within the virtual age.
Learn the overall interview under.
What motivated you to take at the function of alumni bankruptcy president?
Keen about Sigma and its impactful paintings, I’m a Prince George’s County local with a robust want to give a contribution in the community. Returning house in 2006, I used to be blind to Zeta Chi Sigma’s life—a small bankruptcy of 20-30 brothers. I first of all joined bankruptcy, resulting in restricted involvement. Within the early 2010s, I found out an alumni bankruptcy in Prince George’s County, devoted to native affect in spite of its dimension, and promptly transitioned. I first of all all in favour of bettering bankruptcy operations and advertising thru strategic generation integration. This concerned revamping our web site and refining content material for higher engagement. I additionally additional aligned our social media messaging with our project. Coming near the 2022 election, I identified the wish to raise our county provider project. Embracing revolutionary and agile approaches as a servant chief, I aimed for a Vice Presidential function first of all however was once inspired through fellow brothers to steer at once. With their self assurance and in spite of the educational curve, I’ve guided Zeta Chi Sigma towards a brighter long run, development upon previous successes. Lately, I proudly stand right here because of that adventure.
What explicit projects is your bankruptcy heading up this 12 months and the way do you suppose they are going to support the local people or the wider Black neighborhood?
Our Fraternity’s nationwide methods focal point on Larger and Higher Industry, Training, Social Motion, and the Sigma Beta Membership, which is our nationwide adolescence auxiliary program. Underneath Larger and Higher Industry, we provide unfastened digital periods on property making plans, wealth development, homeownership, and entrepreneurship. We designate the primary Saturday of each and every month as “Swarming Black Industry Saturday,” selling make a selection Black-owned, Prince George’s County-based eating places and shops. Referring to Training, we constantly award 10-15 scholarships to college-bound Prince George’s County Public Faculty highschool seniors. Closing 12 months, we awarded a bankruptcy report of $16,000 in instructional help! So far as Social Motion, our dedication to males’s well being intensifies. Our “More potent In combination 5K: Selling Males’s Well being Consciousness” with ZERO Prostate Most cancers (@zeroprostatecancer) targets to do away with stigmas, foster vulnerability, and percentage healthcare good fortune tales. We plan to host this once a year, elevating budget to strengthen analysis on urgent males’s well being problems. Moreover, we’re partnering with Alpha Sigma – the DC alumni bankruptcy – for a blood pressure, and participating with a Brother of ours, an area martial artist, for self-defense coaching all the way through October’s Home Violence and Sexual Attack Consciousness month. We additionally constantly spouse with Operation Earnie’s Plate on meals pressure projects, to incorporate our upcoming Nationwide Sigma Day of Provider venture with our Sigma Beta Membership supporting our native seniors and our annual Thanksgiving meals pressure, the place actually hundreds of turkeys and dinners are disbursed to the neighborhood. We in most cases shut out our years with our Undertake-a-Circle of relatives initiative, the place we determine between 10-15 native households to bless all the way through the Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations with meals and items, respectively. Our Zeta Chi Sigma Bankruptcy Sigma Beta Membership, lately mentors 13 13 younger males. This system readies them for maturity thru publicity to treasured stories. Zeta Chi Sigma is now within the means of setting up The Blue Bridge Basis, a 501(c)(3) as our bankruptcy’s philanthropic arm. Prince George’s County, MD, a hub of Black excellence and wealth, has wallet desiring our strengthen. Our devoted bankruptcy targets to uplift and foster development in those communities.
What made you need to pledge Phi Beta Sigma?
As a first-generation American, my folks emigrated from Guyana within the early Nineteen Eighties. Regardless of my father’s commencement from Howard College, Greek existence wasn’t a part of his enjoy. In a similar fashion, my mom’s nursing research in Guyana didn’t introduce her to historically-Black Greek letter organizations. This lineage hole left me at midnight after I started at Hampton College in 2002. Severe contemplation of pledging emerged all the way through my junior 12 months. By means of then, I’d amassed insights into fraternities and sororities, sufficient for a initial analysis. Dealing with not unusual frat stereotypes and remarks, I got down to follow and assess widely. On this analysis procedure, I emphasised twin evaluation—whilst they evaluated me, I keenly noticed their movements and omissions. From their campus presence to their projects and repair, I made an educated selection. Amongst them, the Beta Gamma bankruptcy of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. stood out. Regardless of their small dimension, they made a exceptional affect with humility. Surrounded through better organizations, I watched the Sigmas reach essentially the most with simply six participants at the backyard. That was once sufficient for me to make my choice.
What’s it about your explicit bankruptcy that makes it so distinctive?
Zeta Chi Sigma’s area of expertise stems from its numerous member experience and the unique context of Prince George’s County, MD, the place we’re situated. Whilst I haven’t widely researched different chapters, our bankruptcy flourishes on quite a lot of specialised stories. We price the abilities of army, legislation enforcement, federal staff, tech execs, entrepreneurs, well being mavens, and extra, enabling impactful neighborhood engagement. Situated in Prince George’s County, MD, spanning 599 sq. miles with over 955,000 citizens, our bankruptcy operates in a posh atmosphere. With a 60% Black majority, the county ranks as the second one wealthiest with a Black majority. Alternatively, disparities persist in spaces like training, public protection, and healthcare. That being said, there are numerous alternatives to serve this numerous neighborhood’s urgent wishes, and Zeta Chi Sigma leverages our place to just do that.
How is your bankruptcy offering for the undergraduate chapters you strengthen?
The Brothers of Zeta Chi Sigma Bankruptcy have the distinct honor and privilege of advising the Delta Mu bankruptcy at Bowie State College (@deltamusigmas on IG). As advisors and mentors, our function is to supply our undergrads with a broader standpoint past their rapid campus atmosphere. We strengthen their instructional {and professional} construction, guiding them in strengthening their networking abilities (and granting them get admission to to our personal networks) and gaining a greater figuring out in their selected fields. We familiarize them with the workings of our Fraternity at native, state, regional, and nationwide ranges and give a boost to what is anticipated of them as recently-minted Sigma males. Group development is very important, remodeling person officials and participants right into a united entrance, bettering good fortune and war control. Encouraging self-reflection is a very powerful, permitting participants to research their movements whilst profiting from your positive insights. We goal to care for a robust connection between Zeta Chi Sigma and Delta Mu through adapting our method to their wishes, uplifting them in each and every method imaginable. It’s vital to notice that this isn’t a one-way finding out enjoy; as a gaggle that values steady finding out and innovation, we acquire insights from our younger brothers too, particularly in modernizing our use of social media for enticing campaigns and dynamic performances (the reminiscence and athleticism required for those new-school Sigma strolls is astronomical). Finally, motivation is pivotal, involving spotting their efforts, tapping into their pressure for trade, and linking their university stories to neighborhood affect, all whilst fostering and maintaining prime enthusiasm.
How do you way fostering a way of team spirit and camaraderie amongst alumni participants, and what methods have you ever discovered efficient?
I emphasize development on our Fraternity’s basis of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Provider. Brotherhood is essential; we inspire social gatherings the place participants bond naturally. We’ve even presented semi-regular walk practices to stick lively and varnish our Sigma walks. Those efforts rewarded us HANDSOMELY with a exceptional 41% build up in club in 2022. Scholarship is essential, with our numerous club sharing stories and data. Provider is central, and we contain participants in adapted projects for Prince George’s County, aligning with our motto. This way fosters authentic funding and strong strengthen. In essence, I give a boost to our undying rules to support team spirit and camaraderie, making sure our bankruptcy flourishes in combination.
What recommendation would you give to aspiring leaders inside of your fraternity/sorority who would possibly aspire to tackle roles of management inside of alumni chapters?
I price this query, as my adventure to a humble bankruptcy function was once unconventional. My best insights:
1. Domesticate self-assurance and self-awareness. Prior enjoy isn’t important, however dedication is essential. Acknowledge your limits and brace for demanding situations.
2. Construct a various advisory board inside of your bankruptcy, accumulating views from previous leaders and participants of various ages.
3. Keep in touch your intentions and align along with your strengthen community in case you have non-public commitments. Main calls for steadiness. Navigating this trail gives expansion, resilience, and teamwork, bringing nice rewards for individuals who dare to steer.
How has mentorship helped you get to the place you might be these days? Are there any explicit other folks for your org who’ve made an important affect for your existence as mentors?
Mentorship has been a motive force in shaping my trail. It has propelled me ahead as a faithful circle of relatives guy, a qualified, and a dedicated Sigma member. The give-and-take nature of mentorship has allowed me to uplift others simply as I’ve been uplifted. It’s transparent that I owe a lot of my expansion to the steering I’ve gained, particularly given my robust focal point on provider and mentorship. As a father now, I’m decided to go at the similar strengthen to my kids, making it my best precedence. My folks stand as my number one mentors, shaping my persona and paintings ethic. They instilled in me a pursuit of excellence that I raise with me. Inside Sigma, the overdue Bro. Leonard Ok. Barrett, a mentor from my adolescence, had a profound affect on me lengthy prior to I even knew about Sigma. In my function as President, mentorship has been my lifeline. Dealing with the demanding situations of my preliminary months was once like a “baptism through hearth,” with a fast finding out curve. Not like non-fraternal management roles, fraternity management became my management standpoint round. I very much price the steering of Bro. Carlton Wourman, Bro. Jeff Shelton, Bro. Steven Davis, Bro. Willard Hutt, Bro. Germaine Norman, Bro. Willie Harrison, and Bro. Ben Dashiell, who’ve performed a very powerful roles in my adventure as mentors. Their insights and strengthen have fueled my momentum and self assurance. I additionally recognize my Beta Gamma mentors, together with my Dean, Bro. Korey Colbert, Bro. Jason Fahie, and Bro. Eduardo Jackson (additionally a member of Zeta Chi Sigma), who stay me attached to my Sigma roots and my Hampton College origins, reminding me of our function in guiding the following era.
Why do you suppose Watch The Backyard is vital to Black greekdom?
Watch The Backyard is certainly a game-changer within the on-line international of Black information, tradition, and conversations. With a project of empowering the following wave of leaders, creators, and go-getters, this platform promotes the Black university and Black Greek enjoy, retaining legacies, and celebrating contributions. Being totally clear, Watch The Backyard’s affect on Zeta Chi Sigma has been actual. Occupied with our June 2023 bankruptcy photograph which this platform shared over the summer time – dashikis and polos blending it up. We’re STILL listening to from Sigmas in different chapters inquiring about our dashiki plug (which, through the best way, you could have to sign up for the bankruptcy to snag, haha). It’s transparent that Watch The Backyard is aware of how one can grasp consideration and spark conversations. In an international the place on-line platforms rule, Watch The Backyard sticks out for all of the proper causes – connecting communities, highlighting achievements, and holding it recent.
Taking a look again at it, why do you’re keen on being a member of your org?
I like and cherish my club in Phi Beta Sigma as a result of I price the wealthy number of views and personalities inside of our Brotherhood. As Sigma males, we become independent from from stereotypes and include inclusiveness. Our movements validate this dedication – from how and the place we serve, together with our core operations, we defy categorization. Our taste isn’t imposed; it’s a mindful selection. This philosophy runs deep, carried through revered Sigmas, even our Maximum Honorable Founders, sponsored through tangible accomplishments. This explains why my reference to Sigma stays robust. My love for Sigma is additional fueled through the deep-rooted dedication to provider that’s been instilled in me since adolescence. My folks’ stories within the Guyanese army and nursing career formed my trust in helping and supporting others. This basis was once bolstered all the way through my time at Gonzaga Faculty Prime Faculty in Washington, DC, the place the motto “males for others” impressed neighborhood paintings. Assembly the devoted Brothers of Hampton College’s Beta Gamma bankruptcy, who had been tirelessly serving with restricted brothers at the backyard, felt like discovering a real house. During my years throughout the Brotherhood, the average thread stays – regardless of our backgrounds or pursuits, we unite underneath the Royal Blue and Natural White to SERVE OTHERS. This dedication to provider is intrinsic to our id. It was once this herbal alignment that drew me to Phi Beta Sigma and continues to gas my unwavering love for this group.
Finally, what does brotherhood imply to you?
Brotherhood holds a singular position in my existence. Being an handiest kid amidst a big prolonged circle of relatives, I’ve all the time appeared my cousins, god-brothers, and the nearest of my buddies as my exact brothers and sisters. Upon becoming a member of Phi Beta Sigma, my figuring out of brotherhood deepened as I shaped robust connections with my line brothers. To me, Brotherhood is going past mere settlement or similarity; it’s a profound bond rooted in mutual recognize, agree with, strengthen, and camaraderie. It extends past blood ties, cast thru shared stories, values, and a dedication to one another’s well-being. Brotherhood flourishes on authentic care, empathy, and a team spirit that surpasses individuality, fostering a neighborhood the place folks uplift, encourage, and steadfastly stand through one every other, particularly all the way through difficult occasions. It’s obvious that our Maximum Honorable Founders had been smart to prioritize Brotherhood as the primary of our rules. It serves as the motive force at the back of the whole lot we do, and we’re similarly smart to proceed nurturing and selling this crucial perfect within the fashion they established greater than a century in the past.
We at Watch The Backyard wish to commend Wes Lewis for his paintings because the President of the Zeta Chi Sigmawhich has a legacy that spans again to .
Proportion this on Fb and lend a hand us spotlight Wes Lewis’s bankruptcy.
Picture Credit: Maya Darasaw (@madworksphoto); Damian Barton(@uknowmoo1914); Oral Grant (@blutransformer1914); Colin Peart (@peart_colin)
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