A Community Conscious Action-Oriented Organization

Zeta women care about their community

Since 1920, community service has been a main focus of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. However, we seek to generate creative ways to serve our communities, instead of doing activities such as dishing out soup once a week in a homeless shelter. We want to make a real impact on the people we are seeking to serve.

Our national programs reflect the above creed. Our new national program, under 22nd International Grand Basileus, Barbara C. Moore, is titled Z-HOPE Zetas Helping Other People Excel. To learn more about this new program visit Z-HOPE

We also sponsor a number of signature programs that have remained a part of our national agenda for years. To learn about these programs click here:Signature Programs

Rho Rho's own community involvement

Since Zeta Phi Beta came to Oberlin in 1998, sorors have tried to accomplish the impossible––introduce black Greek life and Zeta's principles to an all white and non-Greek institution. For many this would be an incomprehensible idea, but rooted in the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood, Zetas on Oberlin's campus have demonstrated extreme dedication and zeal.

Below is a summary of some of the programs implemented by The Blue Honeyz

By promoting this idea of service, the Rho Rho chapter began the 2003 Spring semester by giving out a survey. We are dedicated to ultimately serving our community. The survey's results were instrumental towards our goal of tailoring our programs to meet community concerns.

The ladies of Rho Rho understand how difficult it is be a woman of color on Oberlin's campus. Therefore we decided to create a safe space for first-year women of color to discuss their concerns about any and everything. We also led a discussion about safer sex practices.

April 28-May 1 of 2003, Rho Rho chapter held events to commemorate the life of our Alpha chapter soror Zora Neale Hurston. We read a children's book Zora and the Chinaberry Tree to a group of children at the Oberlin Public Library. The book was based on the childhood of Zora and the children also made crafts. They actually sat still and listened to the story! Next, Professor Noelle Morrissette, of the Oberlin College English Department, facilitated a discussion on Zora's short story "The Gilded Six Bits." Ten people attended the event. Our main event: "Celebrating Women in the Zora Neale Hurston Tradition" featured an unvailing of the Zora Neale Hurston postage stamp, live music, gourmet refreshments and numerous creative performances. The Rho Rho chapter was also presented with a commemorative Zora Neale Hurston plaque courtesy of the Oberlin Post Office. Area women were honored and Original Artwork was displayed. All who attended had a wonderful time! The final event was a showing of the film "Zora is my Name" written by and starring Ruby Dee.

In spring of 2002, Rho Rho collected used clothing items, cleaned them, ironed them and even dabbled them in perfume. The members then sold then them to the Oberlin Community and the proceeds went to the Lorain County Rape Crisis Center. It was a truly lovely event!

Fall semester 2002 began with our community barbecue. We launched a huge letter writing campagin and invited community organizations to meet members of our chapter as well as set up informational booths in Park Street Park. The Barbecue was a success as we were able to bond with members of our sponsoring graduate chapter Nu Theta Zeta, and other Zetas and Sigmas, as well as community members who were unfamiliar with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

The Rho Rho chapter represented Zeta on an international level. Co-sponsored by the Alternative Spring Break Program, sorors volunteered at the Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica. The Mustard Seed Communities are shelters that provide food and care to mentally retarded and HIV positive children.

Again on an international level, the Rho Rho chapter volunteered with a primary school in the rural Manchester Parish of Jamaica. In the future we are undertaking a crayon and pencil drive to not only raise funds but collect school supplies for the Porus Primary center.

The Rho Rho chapter introduced the "Adopt an Agency" program espoused by the national office of Zeta Phi Beta. We participated in the Food Distribution Program. We also helped to disburse food supplies among the needy families in the Oberlin community.

The Rho Rho chapter is filled with Jamaican sorors, as well as sorors that can cook! We took this opportunity to use their skills for fundraising efforts for the St. Jude's Hospital. We prepared delicious meals of jerk chicken and rice and peas and we were ultimately able to fundraise $225 for research efforts with the St. Jude's Hospital.

The Rho Rho chapter hosted an alcohol forum in hopes that we would enlighten and empower women to make wiser decisions in regards to drinking. Together, the chapter and the women present made non-alcoholic drinks. We discussed binge drinking and its relation to date rape and familial alcohol abuse.

Forever concerned about women's health, Rho Rho chapter has dedicated quite a bit of time to educating women about themselves and their bodies. We slipped breast cancer packets under women's doors. Included in these packets were instructions on how to perform the breast self-exam as well as otther very necessary and pertinent information.

In addition to community events we attempt to fill the social void that is present on Oberlin's campus. We want to create a space where women can socialize with women, hence our women's bonding series. This series has included the following events:

• The Cat's Meow Champagne Sip Parts I and II
• The Valentine's Day Cards and Giveaways
• The Beachwood Mall Outing
• Rho Rho Chapter Movie Night
• Women's Day at Red Lobster
• "Self Indulgence" Ladies Beauty Day
• The Early Dove Rho Rho Chapter Breakfast
• Sweets for the Sweet-Blue Jean Event