Programs & Services
Iota's Long Standing Commitment to Service
Partial listing of involvements undertaken by IOTA PHI THETA® chapters includes:
- The NAACP
- The United Negro College Fund
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- Project IMAGE
- The National Federation of the Blind
- The National Sickle Cell Foundation
IOTA Brothers continue to make an impact in their surrounding Communities participating in:
- Walk-A-Thons
- Food Drives
- Senior Citizen Homes
- Political Awareness and Mobilization activities
SERVICE INITIATIVES
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 provide assistance to 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.
The I.O.T.A. (“Intelligent, Outstanding Talented Achievers”) Youth Alliance (often referred to as 'I.Y.A.') – a national umbrella program, established in 1991 (by Grand Polaris Robert Clark and First Lady Felita Clark), through which individual chapters of Iota Phi Theta address the needs of Black Youth in their respective communities, addressing issues important/relevant to those communities. Since its inception, I.Y.A. programs have included mentorship, manhood development, relationship building, college awareness, HBCU tours, athletics, academic supports (scholarships, academic and career advising/counseling, tutoring), and personal development.
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.
#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. 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 in a nonpartisan basis.
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 day of the election.
- Develop metrics and compile data to measure effectiveness of voter registration drives
- 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 effectiveness of project
- 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 effectiveness of project
- protesting and tax exemptions
- serving on the Tax Review Board
- Develop metrics and compile data to measure effectiveness of project
5. Home Owners Associations / Civic Clubs / Municipal Utility Districts