From the Sorority‛s inception, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has long demonstrated an interest in serving the needs of the community. Spanning the Sorority‛s nearly thirty-year partnership with the March of Dimes to its relationship with the Human Genome Project, Zeta Phi Beta has been at the fore of anticipating the ever-changing needs of society.

It is within this framework that International President Barbara C. Moore introduced the new International Service Initiative for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.:  Z-HOPE: Zetas Helping Other People Excel.


What is Z-HOPE?  

Z-HOPE is an interactive, holistic and multidimensional outreach service initiative designed to enhance, cultivate and empower participants to develop health promoting lifestyle choices across the lifespan. It builds on the Sorority‛s legacy of service by offering a service initiative that addresses the mission-critical needs of a shifting population.

Z-HOPE will facilitate age-appropriate program implementation in the 500+ communities served by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority‛s chapters and affiliates around the world.  

Z-HOPE promotes community collaboration by encouraging Zeta chapters to partner with existing community organizations and resources to provide optimal quality programs. 

Z-HOPE provides Zeta chapters with a comprehensive training manual that targets program development to meet the unique cultural needs of the African-American community and persons of color. 

How does Z-HOPE work? Z-HOPE uses a holistic and multidimensional approach to program implementation. The multigenerational and gender specialized initiative contains programs and activities optimized to meet the needs and challenges of each group. Z-HOPE focuses its efforts within five major populations (women, youth, seniors, men and international women) and is designed to address the whole person via a holistic framework that focuses on the three key elements of life (mind, body and spirit):

What are some representative Z-HOPE programs? Z-HOPE contains programs and activities as varied as the people benefiting from them. The Z-HOPE approach to program implementation enables chapters to narrowly target specific programs based on population to achieve maximum impact. A small sampling of Z-HOPE program elements: 

Z-HOPE for Women addresses depression, domestic violence, responsible sexual behavior, money management, eating disorders, addictive behavior and nutrition.  

Z-HOPE for Youth includes physical activity, reading book clubs, goal setting, career planning, and crime prevention.

Z-HOPE for Seniors addresses literacy, personal safety, chronic illness, deferred giving and advocacy-care givers activities. 

Z-HOPE for Men focuses in part on prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, parenting skills, and domestic violence.
 
Z-HOPE for International Women includes supporting women's and family groups, providing financial aid and other resources and empowering them to identify and implement solutions to problems in their communities.