Pi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. Continues to Engage in Community Service Activities

DURHAM, NC – Members of the Pi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated continue to be committed to providing services for the community in a safe and supportive manner during the Pandemic.

Some of the virtual activities include: 

• Sponsoring a “Coping with Grief and Loss” seminar with guest speaker, Dr. Cheryl Giscombe; 
• Sponsoring a “Hypertension” seminar with guest speaker, Dr. Joseph Cohen; 
• Sponsoring the Fourth Annual Leadership Retreat with guest speaker, Dr. Sarah Killian, National President of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated; 
• Partnered with the International Association of Sickle Cell Nurses and Professional Associates to co-sponsor a Sickle Cell Webinar where the speaker and leaders were Dr. Judy Cavazos, Clinical Psychologist Department of Hematology/Oncology, Sickle Cell Team Braddock Emotional Support Team (BEST), Dr. Cheryl Brewer and Dr. Coretta Jenerette; and 
• Sponsored the “Keeping a Healthy Heart during COVID-19” seminar in observance of National Heart Month.

Some monetary donations and other support were provided for the following organizations and institutions: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; C. C. Spaulding Elementary School; the Durham Branch of the NAACP; Community Health Coalition, Inc; NC Food Bank, Durham Branch; the Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center; the NCCU Foundation; Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation, Inc.; and the March of Dimes. Some members were also volunteers for the NCCU COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic and the Brown Bag Ministry to support the homeless and refugees. Gifts continue to be provided to Pi Gems observing safety guidelines. Pi Gems are chapter members who are age eighty and above with more than ten years of continuous service. Currently, there are six members.  

The chapter welcomed Nichole Barnette, Dr. Yvonne Ford, Jasmine Lovelace, and Dr. Terry Ward as new members on February 26, 2022: 

The Fourteenth Scholarship Program Fundraiser was held virtually on March 5, 2022. The theme was “A Lasting Legacy: Celebrating a Legend” to honor our last Charter Member, Mrs. Alberta Leeper Allen, who transitioned on December 4, 2021. The program was dedicated to her, the Inaugural Pi Chapter Alberta Leeper Scholarships were awarded and a digital souvenir booklet was developed. More than sixty (60) participants joined the virtual event, and more than $7000 was raised for scholarships. 

Some of the program activities included: Greetings by Dr. Ernest J. Grant, President of the American Nurses Association and a member of the Pi Chapter, written Greetings were also sent by Judge Elaine O’Neal, Mayor of Durham, and Dr. Sarah M. Killian, National President of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated; “Dedication to Mrs. Alberta Leeper Allen” by Dr. Valerie Cohen; a Musical Tribute “Great is Thy Faithfulness” sung by Marri “Nicki” Fryar; Acknowledgement of the Evelyn Dudley Award Recipient, Mohamed Barrie, by Dr. Queen Utley-Smith, Awards Committee Chairperson; Recognition of the Alberta Leeper Allen Scholarship Recipients, Brittney Cruz, Faith Kobusingye, Latonia Mason and Christa Parker, by Dr. Priscilla Ramseur, Scholarship Committee Chairperson; and Recognition of the “Soror of the Year”, Jouel Taylor, by Mary P. Dempson, 2021 Pi Chapter Soror of the Year. Other program participants were: April Bowen, Presider, Mary W. Burriss, Chaplain, Dr. Nicole Ware, member of the Awards Committee; Riley B. Walters, Jr., Chapter President; and Celestine Hughes Fundraising Committee Chairperson, who was responsible for planning the program.

Members also participated in leadership opportunities sponsored by the organization. Most recently, the following members attended the 69th Southeast Regional Conference of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated, that was held in Augusta, Georgia on March 9-13, 2022: Mary W. Burriss, Norris Burton, Veronica Eubanks, Wyvonia Perry, Linda Rouse, Willie Gilchrist Stanfield, and Riley Walters. 

Pi Chapter is an affiliate of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated, an organization for registered nurses and student nurses. The chapter strives to uphold the organization’s motto “Service for Humanity.” Riley B. Walters, Jr. serves as President, and currently, there are forty members.