Dear Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Sigma Day on Capitol Hill

 

Download PDF Dear Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, For far too long our country has been steeped in violence and lack of support and policies to help our children and families succeed. Teen dating violence is ending far too many young lives today. Violence in communities have devastated and traumatized children and families and to make matters worse, we are facing a high school student dropout rate in communities of color that affects the overall economy with a loss in hundreds of billions of dollars in productivity, decrease in property values as well as enormous social costs and disruption in social services. That’s why Men of Sigma will join together on September 18-20,2012 for Sigma Day on the Hill for three days of activities to bring national attention to the issues facing our communities and ending far too many lives before they are even started. THE PROBLEM “A comparison of Intimate Partner Violence rates between teens and adults reveals that teens are at higher risk of intimate partner abuse” and according to the Centers for Disease Control “Violence is a serious public health problem in the U.S. In 2007, more than 18,000 people were victims of homicide and more than 34,000 took their own life.” The highest rates of homicide are in the African-American community where homicide is the leading cause of death for black boys and men between the ages of 15-24. Researchers in a 2012 report released by America’s Promise also found that graduation rates for blacks fell behind every demographic by race; 91.8 percent of Asian students, 82 percent of whites, 65.9 percent of Hispanics and 63.5 percent of blacks. These statistics paint a pretty dismal picture for what we are facing in our country, but our lives will not improve unless we do something about it. SIGMA MEN ANSWERS THE CALL Sigma Day on the Hill along with its partners, allies and Sigma Beta Club will bring national attention to prevent teen dating violence; prevent or alleviate community violence with support to children adolescents, teachers, families, and community leaders on the principles and practice of nonviolence; and to help reduce the high school student dropout rate, especially in communities of color. Click here to register today! For more information click here or email sigmadayonthehill@gmail.com. Bro. Darryl T. Williams Bro. Jacob Gillison International Director of Social Action Sigma Day on the Hill Committee Chairman Jay G. Silverman et Al, “Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy, and Suicidality.” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 286, 572, 576-577, (Nov. 5, 2001).