National News

Raising Awareness of Domestic Violence Door-to-Door

By Meredith Davis The Zeta Chronicle | Last updated: Nov 13, 2010 - 9:09:05 AM

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Zetas, Omegas and community members canvas Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side. Photo courtesy, Malou Cristobal/Tau Xi Zeta Chapter
In an effort to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and support Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.'s national Z-H.O.P.E. efforts, sorority members of Tau Xi Zeta Chapter of Forest Park, Ill. partnered with the Mu Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. to canvas portions of the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side with domestic violence awareness and prevention information, Oct. 9.

Days before the event, members of Tau Xi Zeta Chapter, along with members of Mu Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and high school students from Urban Prep Academy (East Garfield Campus) stuffed 1,800 bags filled with pamphlets explaining the various types of domestic violence, prevention methods and where to get help for victims and abusers. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, members from both organizations and community members teamed up and walked door-to-door placing the information bags on door knobs, in mailboxes, as well as handing them to community members.

“It was an overwhelming feeling to know that hundreds of individuals were reached in a matter of 90 minutes that could have possibly changed someone's life forever,” said Natasha Parker, DVAM Project Coordinator and First Vice President of Tau Xi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta.

After the pamphlets were distributed, the teams of Zetas and Omegas returned to Greater Love M.B. Church to hear a presentation by Alicia Oeser of Family Rescue, a domestic violence support center and shelter for victims and their children.

The activities were organized as a part of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's Z-H.O.P.E. initiative (Zetas Helping Other People Excel).

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 forefront of anticipating the ever-changing needs of society.

Specifically, Z-H.O.P.E. is an outreach service program that has six primary objectives, corresponding measures of success and a mechanism for chapter recognition, which are:

- To provide culturally appropriate informational activities according to the Z-

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H.O.P.E. 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.

More information on Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's Z-H.O.P.E. initiative and other signature programs can be found at their website: www.zphib1920.org.

(Tamiko G. Muhammad, Editor of The Zeta Chronicle also contributed to this report.)

Related news:

Domestic violence, a raging epidemic (FCN, 09-06-2006)