- Good Health WINs — The Good Health Women’s Immunization Networks (GHWs) campaign is committed to building an army of good health champions who understand the importance of immunizations across the lifespan. Working with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), our fraternity network of trusted messengers will help educate, advocate and impact families and communities across the US to address health disparities, increase vaccination rates and remove barriers to vaccine access and good health.
- I-S.H.I.E.L.D. – Our newest, comprehensive initiative (started Spring 2016) designed to address and end all forms of abuse, nationally and worldwide. I-S.H.I.E.L.D. is an acronym that stands for “IOTAS Saving, Healing, Improving, Empowering Lives Daily”. We have 5 focus areas that address Human Trafficking, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Abuse, Elder Abuse, and Child Abuse/Bullying. To view the comprehensive program, click here.
- The American Red Cross (ARC) – In January 2015, Iota Phi Theta became the first NPHC fraternity to establish a partnership with the ARC to assist communities through the United States in the areas of blood drives, disaster relief operations, and other areas in which each partner believes cooperation and support will be mutually beneficial. To view the Iota/ARC MOU, click here. To view the recent initiative, Sound the Alarm, click here.
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Since 2012, the Fraternity has been supporting and raising funds for St. Jude, primarily through the annual “St. Jude Run/Walk to End Childhood Cancer. Iota Teams comprised of members of the IOTA Family (Brothers, Sweethearts, and our families and supporters) run/walk-in unity in major cities across the nation on a single day while raising funds through the year for St. Jude. To view the Iota/St. Jude MOU, click here.
- Iota Phi Theta Men’s Health Program – Established in Spring 2016, The purpose of Men’s Health is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Chapters of Iota Phi Theta fulfill this program’s purpose by sponsoring health awareness seminars and workshops and ‘hands-on’ support for Fraternity members, other African American males, and men of color.
- I-PhiT (“Impact Others Through Awareness by Implementing Public Health Initiatives Throughout the World.”) – I-PhiT is a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3), a non-profit organization, founded in 2011by its President and CEO, Iota Brother David Odige. I-PhiT and Iota Phi Theta have officially joined to address both national and international issues through education and community involvement and promote health awareness for Fraternity members and the community. To view the Iota/I-PhiT MOU, click here.
- #MuchMoreThanAHashtag – A partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. We must ask ourselves is registering people to vote the answer to civic engagement? Is this the best way to effect a change in our community? Are there other ways we can get involved where our voices are heard? Historically voting participation numbers have not increased significantly in years. The only time we see an uptick in voter participation is during the presidential elections. In other election years, the voting participation numbers are dismal. Yes, we must continue to have voter registration drives to maintain what gains we have while seeking other avenues to engage our community. We need to educate our community that local elections are far more important than the presidential elections and why? While we must continue to educate and register our constituents to vote, we should seek out other ways to get our community involved civically. This is a five (5) part, long-term, civic engagement project designed to educate and encourage our communities to get involved in the local, county, and state beyond the vote. The areas of interest identified for engagement are voter registrations & voting, participating on citizen review boards, serving on grand juries & jury duty, property taxes protesting and participating in Home Owners Associations (HOA) / Civic Clubs / Municipal Utility Districts (MUD). Below are five (5) areas identified for civic engagement and opportunities to get our communities involved locally. All program events, activities, messaging, materials shall be prepared and delivered on a nonpartisan basis.
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1. Voters Registration, Deputization and Get Out to Vote (2-Steps)
- Information on Volunteer Deputy Registrar Program
- Engage the community to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar
- Develop Voter Registration Drives
- Engage the community via voter registration drives on a semi-annual basis
- Follow-Up – Engage the community to vote during early voting periods and the day of the election.
- Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of voter registration drives
2. Citizen’s Review Board (Police Review)- Research to understand the dynamics of the citizen review board in your community
- Understand the process to make yourself available to serve on the board
- Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of a project
3. Grand Jury Process …serving jury duty and on a grand jury?- Understand the process in your political subdivision to make yourself available to serve on the grand jury in your jurisdiction and why you NEED to appear at jury duty.
- Understand Jury Duty Selection Process in your City, County or Parish
- Understand Grand Jury Selection Process in your City, County or Parish
- Canvas the community for eligibility based on the Grand Jury criteria
- Registration of eligible candidate for the Grand Jury in the respective residential area
- Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of a project
4. Property Taxes …- protesting and tax exemptions
- serving on the Tax Review Board
- Develop metrics and compile data to measure the effectiveness of a project
5. Home Owners Associations / Civic Clubs / Municipal Utility Districts
Good Health WINs — The Good Health Women’s Immunization Networks (GHWs) campaign is committed to build an army of good health champions who understand the importance of immunizations across the lifespan. Working with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), our fraternity network of trusted messengers will help educate, advocate and impact families and communities across the US to address health disparities, increase vaccination rates and remove barriers to vaccine access and good health.