Soror Huretta Wright
Southeastern Regional Director
NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
The National Educational Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. with 501© 3 status is created and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The principle activities and purpose of the trust are to award scholarship grants to worthy students for the pursuit of higher education; to conduct community educational programs which will aid in the educational and vocational improvement in individual and community living standards; to engage in activities which will aid in the educational development of all women; and to engage in any appropriate research related to the purposes of the Foundation scholarship.
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Managers, which including seven trustees, the four Founding Members Emeritae and four Ex-Officio Members. The Foundation Board of Managers established an Advisory Council as a resource to assist the Foundation in reaching its goals.
For more on the National Education Foundation or to download scholarship applications, visit the National Educational Foundation's website.
THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT
Begun formally in 1990, the Human Genome Project is an effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health to:
- Identify all of the approximate 30,000 genes in human DNA;
- Determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA;
- Store this information in databases;
- Improve tools for data analysis; transfer related technologies to all sectors;
- Address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project;
- Train scientists who will be able to use the tools and resources developed through the HGP to improve health; and
- Provide internships in order to encourage minority students to pursue the sciences, biotechnology, and scientific research.
As leaders in academia, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's National Educational Foundation was the first Greek letter organization to address this issue of concern. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has undertaken the responsibility to serve as a link between the scientific community and the general population-the people whom our local chapters serve in their communities. The Sorority believes that there is a continuing need to disseminate this information to minority communities about the Human Genome Project and the status of minorities within this health research, as well as provide an appreciation of the societal implications for the knowledge gained from this research.
The NEF has planned and presented major Information Conferences for Minorities on the Human Genome Project in New Orleans, LA, Philadelphia, PA, Atlanta, GA and Washington, D.C. In 2001, the Foundation assisted the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus in planning a conference for legislators and community representatives on the Human Genome Project and worked as a collaborator with the legislative groups at the conference by planning and implementing the two-day HGP program, and selecting the conference HGP presenters.
Through a grant awarded by the US Department of Energy, Zeta Chapters, States and Regions have been awarded mini-grants to sponsor one-day informational conferences, workshops and seminars in local minority communities through out the country. Some of the most worldwide authoritative voices in genetic research have presented at HGP conferences, including Dr. Ari Patrinos, Associate Director of Health and Environmental Research at the U.S Department of Energy; Dr Francis Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Karen Nelson of the Institute for Genomic Research.
SCHOLARSHIP - SERVICE - SISTERLY LOVE - FINER WOMANHOOD
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Southeastern Region - Copyright 2007-2008 - webmaster@zphibseregion.org