Page 190 - NSPDK 80th Eastern Regional Conference Workbook 2020

CONFERENCE THEME: “PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER: SISTERHOOD, EDUCATION, & CULTURAL RELEVANCY”
THE NATIONAL SORORITY OF PHI DELTA KAPPA, INC. • 80TH ANNUAL EASTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE
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LITERACY
READING: Number of Sorors: 8 Number of Students: 400 Description of the Activity: Pi Chapter sorors, Ivey
Avery, Xinos and Kudos chairperson, and the Xinos and Kudos unveiled a small library of reading books, comic
books and magazines in the Diamond Cut in Trenton, New Jersey. A total of forty-five books were donated by
sorors, Classic Books Bookstore, and the Trenton Free Public Library at the behest of Ivey Avery and the Xinos
and Kudos. At the unveiling, the importance of reading a minimum of 20 minutes every day was emphasized.
Young customers will be encouraged to read independently or read to their parents while waiting for a haircut or
read to the barber while getting a haircut. The owner agreed to give readers a discount on their haircut. More than
400 students are projected to have read the books in 2019.
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY: Number of Sorors: 8 Xinos: 8 Kudos: 4 Others: 259
Description of Activity: The African American Cultural Collaboration of Mercer County and the
NSPDK, Inc Pi Chapter joined forces to sponsor two African American History Bowls in 2019. Student teams
from NAACP Act-So Program and Xinos and Kudos participated in both contests and the SEED Male Mentoring
Program team participated in the second contest. Community members facilitated all aspects of the program,
which was open to the public and included a special Libation ceremony conducted by Sa Mut A. Scott, an African
Centered Spiritualist, a tribute to the elders, and the Negro National Anthem sung by Melda Grant. The contest
questions were based on a study guide of African American experiences originating in the early African
Civilizations to the present provided to the participants prior to the event. The winning teams were awarded
monetary gifts for their organizations that were donated by Pi Chapter, and a member of the African American
Chamber of Commerce and the William Trent House.
TECHNOLOGY/COMPUTERS: Number of Sorors: 36 Description of the Activity: Pi Chapter
under the leadership of Dr. Nicole Stephens, STEAM Committee Chairperson, in collaboration with the Trenton
School District is planning a STEAM Spelling Bee Contest for elementary school students in June 2020. The
purpose of the contest is to expose students to STEAM vocabulary words in order to promote etymology,
pronunciation, and comprehension. Two Vocabulary Workshops have been scheduled for the teachers of
participating schools in preparation for their school™s Spelling Bee and the identification of students for the
District-wide Spelling Bee. The first workshop was provided in November 2019 and the second workshop is
scheduled in March 2020. Each school will nominate 5-7 students to participate in the District Spelling Bee. The
STEAM committee will meet with the students and teachers in May 2020 to review the guidelines and rules for
the Spelling Bee scheduled in June 2020.
CHILDREN, ADULT & EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, TOUCH -A-CHILD:
The Praxis classes began its 26th year facilitated by Dr. Carolyn Gibson, Pi Chapter Tamias, on
Monday, September 23, 2019 at the Wilson Center in Trenton, NJ. The Praxis classes are a
demonstration of Pi Chapter™s partnership with the Trenton School District, the Wilson Neighborhood
Center and the Educational Testing Service Corporation to support future educators. The Praxis flyer can
be found on the Trenton Public School District website at www.trenton.k12.nj.us and classes were
recommended by Human Resources offices in school districts, teacher union representatives, friends and
previous participants. The instructors, currently employed and retired teachers and administrators,
volunteered to provide instruction in Reading/Writing, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and SLLA.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) made a presentation in September, at the beginning of the
sessions, to provide information to the participants about the Praxis and test taking strategies. Practice
materials and snacks were donated or provided to the attendees for each session.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TEACH-A-RAMA: Number of Sorors: 3 Others: 8
Description of the Activity: Pi Chapter in partnership with the Trenton Education Association (T.E.A.) and Capital
Area YMCA, located at 431 Pennington Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey, offered parents of preschool children a
variety of workshops to attend throughout the year. The monthly workshops addressed a range of topics requested
by the parents such as parenting tips, discipline, nutrition, literacy, numeracy, growth and development and
preparation for kindergarten. Parents were provided supplies to replicate activities at home and resource articles for
additional information. While parents attended the workshops, the children were engaged in educational activities.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Number of Sorors: 15
Description of the Activity: An inspiring leadership workshop titled fiNSPDK, Inc., Pi Chapter Celebrates 86
Years of Sisterhood. June 1933-June 2019fl was presented by Harriet Murray, Leadership Committee Chairperson.
She reminded us that Pi Chapter was chartered in June 1933 and as we celebrate 86 years of sisterhood, we salute
those 14 sorors who were building a Chapter for the future and look back in history to the year 1933. A sample
page from the Chapter Ledger of 1933 was shared as well as the Record of Minutes from the 1930s and 1940s.
Pictures of our first Chapter Basileus, Sarah Blackwell Harris and Charter member Pansy Williams Newsome were
displayed.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:Number of Sorors: Pi Chapter used a variety of strategies to publicize our events.
L.A. Parker journalist with Trentonian and reporters from other local newspapers such as the Times of Trenton,
US1, Fourth Estate, and Hamilton News were invited to Pi Chapter events and/or emailed news releases. The New
Jersey, radio station, WIMG, promoted the Goldenred Scholarship Luncheon through interviews with the Basileus
and sorors. NSPDK Pi Chapter™s Book GiveAways, Back-To-School Give Aways and other events were posted
on the Trenton School District website and Facebook. In addition, flyers for all events were distributed by sorors at
their churches, schools, and organizations in the community.

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