Project HOPE Triple Crown: Part I

Willingboro, NJ---------The first part of the Triple Crown Project H.O.P.E.—the Teen HIV/AIDS Awareness Program was held on November 15th. The event was attended by over 200 students, sorority members, LINKS, and community residents. The day started with a light fare breakfast and poster board display. Students from the Burlington County Institute of Technology, under the guidance of the Health Occupation Instructor and Project Chair, developed and presented 39 post board presentations. A total of $600 will be distributed to the poster board contest winners.

These presentations centered on sexually transmitted diseases; they were colorful, imaginative, and most of all informative. Inspired by the students’ creativity the Burlington County Health Department requested that the poster board presentations be displayed until after World’s AIDS Day (December 1, 2008)!

During the day, the teens were entertained by singing, a skit, and dancing by the following groups respectively Faith in Action, the Willingboro High School Show Choir, and The Making Visions Possible Group also from Willingboro High School.

The HIV/AIDS prevention/awareness message was conveyed by engaging the teens in Girls Only, Guys Only and Parent Only panel discussions. These panels were thought provoking and educational; they also stressed the need to improve communication between teens and parents. Furthermore, the students were able to ask questions to a well-rounded panel of experts in the areas of HIV Prevention, Teen-Parent Communication, OB/GYN Health, Nursing, HIV/AIDS Advocacy, and Peer Mentoring. The students overwhelmingly enjoyed this format as evidenced by high marks on the program evaluation. But what most stands out about this event was the fact that 10 teens were tested for HIV. The HIV-Testing Van Staff stated that if they had gotten half of that number they would have been satisfied. So we are pleased that we were able to press upon their hearts & minds the necessity of KNOWING THEIR STATUS! Thus making this an Exceedingly Successful Program!

Thank you to our partners: Epsilon Upsilon Omega, Zeta Sigma, The Rancocas Valley Chapter of the LINKS, Inc., The City of Trenton-Department of Health and Human Services, The Burlington County Partnership for Healthy Adolescents, and Willingboro Township! And most of all thanks to the committee for helping to provide an environment that encouraged the teens to talk freely and learn!

(Taken from the Pi Mu Omega Sister to Sister Newsletter)

Pi Mu Omega featured in the Courier Post

The Pi Mu Omega chapter (Willingboro, NJ) was recently featured in the Courier Post for their work with Goodwill through the Career Gear program. Click here to check it out.

Pictures From the Global Centennial Walk

South Jersey AKA Chapters Promote HIV/AIDS Awareness

Ewing, NJ ----On November 14, 2007, the Pi Mu Omega (Willingboro, NJ), Epsilon Upsilon Omega (Trenton, NJ), Theta Pi Omega (Moorestown, NJ), and Zeta Sigma (The College of New Jersey) chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) School of Nursing, School of Culture and Society, and City of Trenton Department of Health and Human Services, with the support of the department of African American Studies -TCNJ) hosted an HIV/AIDS panel in support of the North Atlantic Region's Project HOPE (Helping Other People Excel) intiative. The event took place in the Don Evans Black Box Theater at The College of New Jersey campus in Ewing, New Jersey and focused on the fact that a disproportionate number of people infected with HIV and AIDS are minorities. The event also highlighted methods of promoting prevention and awareness.

The panelists for this program included: Dr. Christopher Coleman - Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Martina Crespo - HIV Survivor, Rev. Dr. Stanley Justice - Pastor of Trenton's Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Larry Ganges - Assistant Commissioner for the Division of HIV/AIDS Services of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. The program was well attended by 60 high school students, 10 senior citizens, sorority members, and 122 community members.

The event was moderated by Gloria Dickinson, Centennial International Regional Director and Pi Mu Omega chapter member. One of the other main points addressed by all of the panelists was the vital need of more education and awareness of the fact that this disease is preventable. In addition to the informative and thought-provoking speeches, the audience received pink "goody bags" featuring male and female condoms, dental dams, and instructional brochures. The importance of abstinence as a viable option was also discussed. At the conclusion of the program, donations were given to Rev. Dr. Justice for the HIV/AIDS ministry at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Trenton.

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Pictured above in the first picture are the audience in attendance.

Pictured above in the second picture are members of the Zeta Sigma chapter at TCNJ.

Pictured above are students with Pi Mu Omega president, Shirley Jones.