Greetings from the Tenacious Theta Phi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. primarily serving Jersey City and The Oranges of New Jersey! I am Marianne Harris, president of this wonderful chapter for the 2022-2024 sorority term. I have spent almost two decades in higher education specifically residence life and my background is in psychology and social work.

Since our revitalization in 2018, our focus has been to stay abreast of our communities needs and be an invested community partner providing resources and making connections whenever possible. While we are highly motivated to serve, we know that we can achieve GREATER together and we do so through partnerships and collaborations. Since 2018 we have partnered with several schools, a church, non-profit organizations, State agencies and other fraternal organizations to provide food, monetary donations, schools supplies, financial literacy, STEAM education, mental health awareness, driving education and more to our constituents.

We hope you take a look around our website and get to know us. Please make sure to connect with us on our social media and in-person. Let's work together as we believe that Greater Service will lead to Greater Progress!

Sigma Gamma Rho is the only:

• member of the NPHC which started as a professional organization
  
• NPHC sorority founded at a predominately white institution
  
• NPHC sorority not founded at Howard University
  
• greek-letter organization founded by university graduates rather than undergraduates
  
• sorority founded at Butler University
  
• sorority with a poodle as its mascot
  

From seven young educators, Sigma Gamma Rho has become an international service organization comprised of women from every profession. Sigma Gamma Rho offers its members opportunities to develop their unique talents through leadership training and involvement in sorority activities. Sorority activities provide an atmosphere where friendships and professional contacts are developed which often lead to bonds that last a lifetime.

Sigma women are dedicated to helping each other and their personal success is recognized in The AURORA and through various awards.

• Established: November 12, 1922, at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana
  
• Membership: 100,000+ members
  
• Conference: National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC - Divine 9)
  
• Division: Five Regions – Central, Northeastern, Southeastern, Southwestern, Western
  
• Service Channel: Over 500 chapters in the U.S., Bahamas, Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Germany, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
  
• Sorority Flower: The Yellow Tea Rose
  
• Sorority Mascot: The Poodle
  
• Sorority Colors: Royal Blue and Gold
  
• Sorority Slogan: Greater Service, Greater Progress
  
• Sorority Abbreviated Title: SGRho or Sigma
  
• Sorority Call: EE-yip!
  
• Sorority Magazine: The AURORA
  

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated had grown so much during the 1990s however Sigma in New Jersey still had a lot of ground to cover. The desire to focus “Greater Service, Greater Progress” their respective communities led a small group of Sorors to decide it was time to organize a new chapter that would become a part of our Sorority’s rich history. And so it began, the brainstorming for a new chapter in North Jersey, specifically in Jersey City and the cities that comprise The Oranges (East Orange, Orange, South Orange/Maplewood and West Orange).

Getting Sorors to start a new chapter was easy. There were plenty of Sorors interested in developing another beacon of light to this remarkable Sorority thus beginning the planning process. Early on a cold Saturday morning, the chartering members gathered together to travel to Morgan State University where Theta Phi Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., was chartered at the Northeastern Region’s Mid-Winter Workshops on January 30, 1999.

The Chartering members were Sorors Sherron Armstrong, Kendra Daniels, Angelic Gordon, Cristal Howard, Dawn Luc, Lynn Lyle, Karla Simmons, LaTrenda Smith, Cynthia Walston, and Carolyn Williams. Since that day, Theta Phi Sigma has strived to continue its legacy of dedication to the community through programming, scholarship, and service.

Eighteen years later, in January of 2018, the vision of Theta Phi Sigma was reawakened by Sorors Danetta Albright, Rozlyn Dreher, Marianne Harris, Michelle Geban, Abena Koranteng, Rosalee Howard, Chanah McKenzie and Raven Whitehead. With this rekindled focus, the new Sorors of Theta Phi Sigma began their journey to once again bring greater service and greater progress to their service areas. These women immediately made their presence known and have worked tirelessly to impact their service areas through implementation of the Sorority's national programs and spearheading local initiatives to address additional issues that specifically impact Jersey City & The Oranges.

Through their community service endeavors, social media, sisterly bonding, and relationships with other Sigma Gamma Rho chapters in the surrounding areas along with awesome collaborations with other Divine Nine Organizations and several community partners, Theta Phi Sigma implements programs and activities to improve the quality of life and provide opportunities for personal development for those we serve.

From seven young educators, Sigma Gamma Rho has become an international service organization comprised of women from every profession. Theta Phi Sigma currently has members of different ages, professional backgrounds, cultural experiences and years of Sigma service. The dynamic women of Theta Phi Sigma are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and leaders in their chosen professions and the community. The chapter motto, “For the Seven”, keeps sisterhood, scholarship, and service, the founding tenets of the Sorority, at the forefront in all that we do. Our passion has reignited the fire of other Sorors and sparked the interest of women in the area causing the chapter to grow each year since.

To this day, Theta Phi Sigma Alumnae Chapter continues to be steadfastly committed to the beliefs of excellence in Scholarship, Sisterhood and Service. The chapter has a proud legacy of providing positive and proactive community leadership and support when and wherever needed thus reestablishing our presence in Jersey City & The Oranges as indicated by the international slogan of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., “Greater Service, Greater Progress.”

Executive Board

National PRograms

Operation Big BookBag is a program designed to address the needs, challenges and issues that face school-aged children who are educationally at-risk, in local homeless shelters and extended-care hospitals and facilities. Through this program, chapters and members collect and donate educational materials, equipment and school supplies.

Swim 1922 was created to address the unfortunate truth that according to the CDC, approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S.A. An even more startling fact is that 70 percent of African American children and 60 percent of Hispanic children in the U.S. do not know how to swim. Additionally, African American children are three times more likely to drown than Caucasian children. Through the partnership with USA Swimming, Sigma Gamma Rho’s Swim 1922 campaign aims to address this disparity by having.

The Women’s Wellness Initiative is a consolidated effort that allows chapters to focus on health issues that impact women; specifically, women of color. Acceptable educational and programmatic efforts under this Initiative include, but are not limited to Breast Cancer Awareness, Intimate and Domestic Violence, Heart Health, Diabetes Health, Mental Health and other issues that target women.

A collaboration between Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the March of Dimes, Project Cradle Care Prenatal Health Program seeks to improve pregnancy outcomes in high-risk communities by increasing the number of women of childbearing age who receive adequate prenatal education and care. The program also focuses on educating moms about proper infant care and child development.

Held simultaneously, on the second Saturday of March by Alumnae Chapters across the nation, our Youth Symposium serves as a unifying effort during Sigma Week. The Symposium (supported by undergraduate chapters and affiliates) is designed to highlight some of the prevalent concerns that negatively impact our youth (drugs, teen violence, abuse, low self-esteem, suicide, teen pregnancy, human trafficking, etc.).

Partnerships

Soror Monica Johnson

Sisterly Relations Chair

Theta Phi Sigma proudly welcomes Sorors who stepped away from Sigma for a minute back home. No matter how long you have been away, Sigma is where the heart is and Theta Phi Sigma is where that re-connection resides. Our Sisterly Relations Chair is a great guide back into the fold as she will keep you connected and informed.

Welcome Home Soror(s)

Soror

Stitt

A potential graduate member should make sure that her ideals align with those of the organization. She should be involved in her community/field, passionate about education both formal and informal and a supporter of women.

Potential graduate members must hold a degree from a four-year accredited educational institution.

If you are interested in finding out more about membership into Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. via the Theta Phi Sigma Alumnae chapter, email us at membership.thetaphisigma1922@gmail.com or fill out our interest form HERE.

Soror Michelle Geban

Membership Chair

Soror Arlenia Fitzhugh

Rhoer Advisor

A love for youth and the development of their full potential was the primary motivating factor that inspired Founder Mary Lou Allison Gardner Little to organize Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Young people, today, face challenges that could never have been imagined years ago; however, such challenges provide the sorority with opportunities to carry on Little’s vision.

Rhoers are young girls who are organized on a local, regional and national level. The Rhoer affiliates are working to help other young people while they learn about their heritage and develop leadership skills. Sigma Gamma Rho is dedicated to helping Rhoers grow to be women of substance who are dedicated to service.

Soror Nadia Sanon

Rhosebud Advisor

The Rhosebud Club is an affiliate group of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. consisting of a diverse group of girls, ages 8 through 11. Delicate like the petals of a rosebud, this affiliate group is handled with special care and attention.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. seeks to play a role in helping to cultivate girls as they grow into young ladies who are well-rounded and will embody the qualities needed to be good students and productive citizens. We feel this can be best achieved through action that will contribute to the overall well-being of the Rhosebud.

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