Sigma Beta Phi

A brief history
Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc (ΣΒΦ) was established in 2007, and was later founded on February 28, 2008 as the first bilingual and predominantly black sorority at the University of Ottawa by five undergraduate female students.
Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc was formed to:
:Help young women who share similar passions to unite their individual strengths
:Recognize and to accept their uniqueness in order to discover their full potential
:Promote solidarity among its sisters with the purpose of establishing a trusting environment
:Offer support in any aspect of our member's life
Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc is listed on the Fraternities and sororities in Canada's page as a local sorority and on the University of Ottawa's page under the "Student Life" section. This page seeks to expand information on the Sorority as well as Greek Life in Canada. This sorority is recognized by the University of Ottawa Greek Council (UOGC). The UOGC's main focus is to unify the University of Ottawa's fraternities and sororities while actively promoting Greek Life on campus. UOGC consists of 3 fraternities and 8 sororities all working together to excel academically and socially during their time at the University of Ottawa. Each member of the UOGC is selected by their organization to help plan multiple social, athletic and philanthropic events during the school year.
<big>Sorority Milestones</big>
::* Founded on February 29th, 2008
::* The first line of Sigma Beta Phi Sorority Inc. came out on the University of Ottawa Campus, Officially opening the undergraduate chapter, BA. Spring 2008
::*Sigma Beta Phi Sorority Inc. was awarded merit from the former Governer General of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, for their commitment to community work in Ottawa at the University of Ottawa Black History Month Gala. 2010
::*The Sigma Alpha Alpha Graduate Chapter was founded. 2011
::*Beta Alpha expanded by crossing a sister at York University, Toronto, Ontario 2011
::*Sigma Beta Phi Sorority Inc. instituted a mentorship/ dance program they developed, the Step Up Program at Patro Ottawa. 2011
::*Sigma Beta Phi Sorority becomes incorporated 2014
Founding Principles
The founding principles are:
* Solidarity
* Loyalty
* Responsibility
* Support
* Community service
The Founding Mothers
The founding members and their executive roles were:
* President : Sandrine Umunoza
* Vice-President : Nastassia Colimon
* Secretary: Céline Mukasonga
* External Affairs Coordinator : Josiane Nizeyimana
* Treasurer : Flora Kanyange
Sigma Beta Phi Today
Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc is now comprised of both undergraduate and graduate female students from the University of Ottawa, York University and CEGEP and there are currently forty members.The primary goal is to promote female empowerment and successes both individually and collectively. Currently, there are two chapters a graduate chapter called Sigma Alpha Alpha (ΣAA) and an undergraduate chapter called Beta Alpha (BA) which is located at the University of Ottawa.
The sorority demonstrates female empowerment and success on its campuses, as well as in the community, through its pillars:
* High academic achievement
* Volunteerism
* Sisterhood
Throughout the past seven years, Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc has organized and participated in many fundraisers for various causes, both locally and internationally.
In furtherance of the Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc mandate to promote women's achievement through community involvement and volunteerism, the sorority organizes, participates and volunteer at a variety of events annually. The organizations Sigma has volunteered with since its inception include
:* The Black Women's Civic Engagement Network (BWCEN)
:* Youth Living the Dream Beyond Borders
:* Black History Ottawa
:* Saint Lucian Ottawa Association
:* Carivibe
:* Breast Cancer Action (bcaott.ca)
:* Harmony House (Women's Shelter)
:* Adopt a Highway (with the Alpha Delta Xi and Nu Gamma Gamma chapters of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity)
:* The Red Cross
:* Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Additionally, each year the sorority organizes an event in honour of women for International Women’s Day with those who share our interest in improving the status of women.
The Step Up Program
THE STEP UP PROGRAM is a project developed by the ΣβΦ Sorority, Inc. This program is aimed to encourage a healthy livelihood through dance and mentorship.This program encourages a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally by providing the opportunity to be physically active, be inspired by older role young women, as well as explore their strengths, insecurities, and goals in a safe, bilingual and open-minded environment. The program first started in the fall of 2011 at Le Patro.
:Vision: “Step by step each girl has the potential to achieve; sometimes all they need is the right tools and a little bit of support to - step it up-.”
:Mission: “The Step Up Program provides a free, bilingual, extracurricular, dance and mentorship based program for girls in Grades 6 to 12. It will encourage self-confidence, leadership, healthy livelihood and sisterhood.”
The sorority welcomes organizations, private businesses, and members of the community to help in anyway they can by providing curriculum and program development ideas, giving endorsements, being a guest speaker during our program sessions, and participating in our community and fundraising events.
The Goals of the Step Up Program
To help each girl ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE through:
Increasing physically health
*Through Step/Dance Sessions
Increasing psychological health
*Open-minded discussions in a safe environment
*Self-esteem building workshops
The sorority participated in the Pepsi Refresh Competition to win a grant for their Step Up Program. In an effort to support those who generate innovative, optimistic ideas, the Pepsi Refresh Project wanted to award more than $1 million to move communities forward over the course of a year. Individuals and organizations applied for grants to benefit a variety of projects, and Canadians voted for the best ideas for funding at www.refresheverything.ca or refresheverything.ca/stepupprogram for the Sorority's program. The Pepsi Refresh Project was an evolution of the Joy It Forward initiative that the Pepsi brand launched in 2009, which showed the brand as an optimistic catalyst for idea creation. The Pepsi Refresh Project looked to fund projects that made a difference in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighbourhoods and Education.Unfortunately they were not granted the $20K, but the publicity surrounding the event helped the sorority gain notoriety within the city of Ottawa.
Official Website
The official website of Sigma Beta Phi Sorority, Inc is http://sigmabetaphi.wix.com/sigmabetphi

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