The International President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Dr. Stacie NC Grant, announced a $100,000 breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment project for women in the New Kru Town community at the organization’s Finer Brunch on Saturday, March 11th. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Liberia Cancer Resource Initiative (LCRI), Public Health Initiative Liberia (PHIL), local medical practitioners, hospitals and service providers between April and November 2023. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment project is the flagship Global Day of Service program in the Sorority’s 2023 Year of the International Woman: Serving and Advocating for Health Justice at Home and Abroad.
Dr. Grant arrived in Monrovia on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 with the organization’s Atlantic Region International Area Director, Salaine Atkins-Little. Dr. Grant, is an award winning international speaker, best-selling author, and CEO of several business enterprises in the United States.
The arrival of Dr. Grant was a momentous and significant occasion and coincided with International Women’s Day. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is a community conscious, action-oriented organization of university educated women, founded on January 16, 1920 at Howard University by five women and established on the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood. It was the first, of nine similar organizations established by African-Americans, to establish a chapter in Africa. The Delta Iota Zeta Chapter was chartered in Liberia in 1948, with the late Dr. Rachel Townsend as its first president.
Dr. Grant was in Liberia to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of this historic chartering and participate in service events marking the occasion. The women of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated observe the last week of February and the entire month of March as Finer Womanhood month. They commemorated International Women’s Day, March 8th, with the market women of Swaggar Island.
The program was in collaboration with Lifting Individuals Through Education (L.I.T.E), a not-for-profit organization founded by a member of the sorority, Monigo Saygbay-Hallie. Dr. Grant shared words of encouragement, and with other Zetas, served lunch to more than 100 women, distributed 75 bags of rice (3,750 lbs ), danced and celebrated being women.
Redemption Hospital is Delta Iota Zeta Chapter’s Adopt-A-Hospital. On March 9th the Nursing Director provided the delegation an overview of successes and challenges, a tour of the hospital wards and outpatient services. Zetas distributed new mother kits to women in the maternity ward, these included items for the mother and baby. Over the past four years the local chapter has provided mattress coverings to the pediatric ward, led a consortium of partners to rehabilitate the oxygen plant and held its 4th annual holiday toy drive for the pediatric ward.
The Ann Sandell Independent School in Paynesville is the chapter’s Adopt-A-School. On March 10th, the school presented an appreciation program to the delegation which included a tour of the school educating more than 700 students, a cultural performance, gifts for the delegation and chapter members and, the highlight, cultural dance training. The chapter presented copies of the book, “Living Legends” by Brenda Brewer Moore to the school and will be delivering chairs to replace benches for one of the classes. Dr. Grant delivered Pen Pal letters from the sorority’s youth auxiliaries from Delta Zeta Zeta Chapter of Prince George’s County, Maryland, USA. Over the past two years they have received book donations and teacher training in collaboration with African Community Exchange. For the girls, several hundred reusable menstrual pad kits were donated and a book discussion was facilitated on “My Body, My Treasure”, led by the author, Brenda Brewer Moore, of Kids Educational Engagement Project. The discussions provided a safe space for the girls to talk about and begin to understand appropriate and inappropriate touching.
at Ann Sandell Independent School in Paynesville
The Finer Brunch, on March 11th at the Royal Grand Hotel, was the key celebration for the 75th Anniversary. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Project was announced and the Antoinette Tubman Legacy Award was given to the only surviving 1948 charter member Soror Mabel Fagans-Hill and to Soror Tidi Stewart. The Emerging Woman of Excellence Award was given to Ms. Precious Joy Teeweh for excellence in early childhood education and the 2023 Woman of Excellence Award was given to Mrs. Leymah Gbowee for for her outstanding service to the community, promotion of peace, and dedication to uplifting all Liberians.
The Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home has been a recipient of the chapter’s food donations over several years. On March 12th, prior to the departure of the delegation, a visit was made to understand their needs. The late Antionette Tubman was an Honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. The chapter recently painted the facility, supported the expansion of the garden and is providing assistance in the development of sustainability plans. The delegation departed Roberts International Airport on March 12th, following five days of programs and service.
The visit to Liberia was particularly special for Dr. Grant as her Godmother, the late Rev. Mother Cora Paris, who had a major influence on her life, was Liberian. Her command of Liberian English surprised everyone she met.
The final activity for the week of celebrations was leadership training for 42 school principals from Montserrado and Margibi, in collaboration with African Community Exchange on March 14th at the Orange Digital Center. It included the responsibilities of a leader and a manager, job description development, performance evaluation, professional development, the impact and importance of data as well as self care. The training was the second component of a program which began in October 2022.
Members of the Delta Iota Zeta Chapter are Soror Freda Koomson (President), Soror Fredical Mars-Mulbah (1st Vice President), Soror Victoria Cooper (2nd Vice President), Soror Decontee King-Sackie (Treasurer), Soror Mariam Thiam (Recording Treasurer), Soror Dr. Jobila Sy (Secretary), Soror Sara Buchanan (Z-HOPE Coordinator), Soror Moriah Yeakula (Parliamentarian), Soror Wede Fahnbulleh (Public Relations), Soror Korbalagae Kuawogai, and Soror Anna Ware (Chaplain).
