Seven Pearls Foundation

Artist unknown but we love the message.

No matter your mode of transportation, we wish all members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. safe travels to Houston and a productive conference!

Happy Birthday to our Northeastern Representative, Dr. Jodi Jacobs! Enjoy your day! 💙💛

Happy Birthday to Western Representative, Terri Lyons! May your day be filled with much joy and happiness. 💙💛

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Homegoing Services for Soror Deborah I. Walsh will be held on June 22, 2024 at

Union Wesley AME Zion Church
1860 Michigan Avenue. NE
Washington, DC 20018

Omega Rho Ceremony at 10:30 am (Sorors are asked to please arrive by 10 am)

Viewing at 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Service at 1:00 pm promptly

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Louella W Norfleet Memorial Scholarship Fund in Deborah's memory. ( https://www.lwnorfleet.org)

Update: The service will be livestreamed from the church's website: https://unionwesleyamez.org/

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our Sergeant of Arms, Deborah I. Walsh. Our condolences to her family. We will miss her greatly. She was a valued member of the Foundation. May she rest in Power. Omega Rho 💙💛

Happy Mother’s Day!

Supporting the fight against Lupus! 💜

Happy Teachers’ Day! Today, we honor our Seven Pearls, the dedicated school teachers who worked to make a positive impact in the lives of children.

Founder Little taught in the Los Angeles school system until her retirement in 1967.

Founder Whiteside taught school retiring in 1951 helping her husband to start a business and ran her own millinery business. She then returned to teaching in 1959, retiring in 1970.

Founder Marbury’s professional career included teaching at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Director of Practice Training of teachers from Butler University, Indianapolis University and Indianapolis State University. She taught in the Indianapolis school system for nine years.

Founder Johnson received her first teaching assignment and over the years she was promoted to principal of one of the largest elementary schools in Indianapolis. She retired in 1966.

Founder Redford taught one year in Terra Haute, Indiana and thirty-seven years in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Founder Martin taught school for over twenty-five years.

Founder McClure began her teaching career for Indianapolis Public Schools at schools Numbers 24 and 26.
McClure received a Gregg Scholarship, dedicated to advancing professional training for recipients, from IPS. She was to attend Columbia University. Unfortunately, she was unable to use the scholarship as she died in August 1924.

Happy Teachers’ Appreciation Week
May 6-10, 2024
A week is not enough to thank you for all you do. Thank you for taking up
the tremendous responsibility of molding our children for the future. Make sure you thank a teacher this week with a card, a coffee mug or gift certificate.
Teachers are shining stars! ⭐️ ⭐️

To all the Lupus Warriors, stand strong! The Seven Pearls Foundation, Inc. supports the fight!

Today we remember Seven Pearls Foundation, Inc.’s 1st President/CEO, Christine E. Trigg. She was steadfast in her commitment to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the ICHQ charge. She was a mentor to many and we appreciate your wisdom and compassion for the sisterhood and the Foundation. Continue to Rest in Power. 💙💛

From Sigma Gamma Rho post 2016-

We continue to celebrate Women’s History Month and the sorority’s past presidents’ place in Sigma history. Dr. Mynora J. Bryant, 21st International Grand Basileus, believed in innovation, collaboration and implementation. “If we are committed to the vision, nothing is impossible and our opportunities are endless.”
During her term, PIGB Bryant lived the vision of Sigma Gamma Rho. She personally got permission from Soror Hattie McDaniel’s family to rename the sorority’s cancer program, the Hattie McDaniel Cancer Awareness Initiative. She is very proud of the fact that members all over the country bought so many Hattie McDaniel stamps that the U.S. Postal Service canceled the production of them, which makes the stamps rare and valuable.
Soror Bryant started the organization’s affiliation with the United Nations and the sorority’s legal team. She also created the corporate liaison position. There were many other firsts for Soror Bryant. Under her leadership, the sorority gave $10,000 to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. It also gave the first donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for $10,000. Our members held disaster relief funds for Haiti and Hurricane Katrina while she was in office. The sorority also expanded into Korea while Soror Bryant was the top leader. Here is another interesting fact. Sigma Gamma Rho members received The Aurora in color for the first time during her tenure. Let’s celebrate Dr. Mynora J. Byrant and her achievements as Sigma Gamma’s 21st International Grand Basileus.

Her service didn’t stop there…Dr. Bryant was elected as the 2nd President of the Seven Pearls Foundation , Inc. where she is currently the President Emerita. Dr. Bryant is a Sigma treasure and we are thankful for her service and wisdom.

This March, we celebrate all women who have empowered us and made the world a brighter place to live.

2024 Black History Month Theme- African Americans & the Arts

This year, we are celebrating the impact Black people have made in cinema, art, dance, cultural movements, & music.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”- MLK

Human trafficking is very real. It has happened several times in my own tranquil small city.

Children can be trafficked from the comfort of their own home through social media, on their phones and even while gaming online.

Traffickers are also at public pools, in malls – anywhere children and teens could be unsupervised. Experts say offers of modeling or other summer dream jobs are popular techniques.

While any age is a target, 11-14 are the prime ages traffickers look for. Boys and girls are approached by other kids trained to recruit. They know exactly what to say to your child.

Knowing what your child is doing and who they’re with could save their life.

Here’s some tops to prevent your child from being trafficked:

Help your kids by communicating

Be emotionally available – predators often target kids who crave attention;

Set internet and cellphone rules – many victims are first approached on the internet;

Explain what s*x trafficking is in frank terms.

Observe

Look for new friends you’re not familiar with;

Or changes in dress, attitude, behavior;

And a sudden influx of money can mean they’re being groomed;

And keep your eyes open when you’re out and about – a vast majority of child-victim rescues begin with a phone call.

Linette Caroselli
Human Trafficking Advocate
President/CEO Seven Pearls

May 2024 bring happiness, prosperity and unforgettable memories! Happy New Year! 🎉

From our families to yours, we wish you a safe, blessed and peaceful Holiday Season! 💛

Why We Hold Our Seven Pearls in Such High Regard

In 1922 Indiana, there was
an unspoken law which was often enforced prohibiting the gathering of blacks for means other than worship. Sigma Gamma Rho's Founders believed so much in the mission of starting an organization that would address the needs of education within the African-American community, they were willing to break this law. They risked jail or death. It is also important that we understand the K*K had an extremely large membership in Indiana where lynching was alive and well.

We, the Seven Pearls Foundation, Inc. are proud that our Illustrious Founders were passionate enough, brave enough and had the vision to create an organization that 101 years later still takes risks to improve the lives of those around us.

Happy Founders’ Day! May the legacy of our Seven Pearls live on forever! ⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service.

Honoring our Seven Pearls
Founder Cubena McClure

Founder McClure graduated from Shortridge High School and the Indianapolis Normal School. She also attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Founder McClure only attended one term at Butler. She won several local and regional scholarships including the Gregg Scholarship. Receiving this award was a huge honor. She planned to use the scholarship to attend Columbia University, but due to illness she could not accept it.

Founder McClure was highly regarded. In fact, she was publicly recognized as one of 22 women who graduated from the Indianapolis Normal School. According to the article below, she was one of two African Americans in the class.

She was talented in art and helped design the sorority pin. She died at a young age on August 24, 1924. Rest in Power. ⚪️

Honoring Our Seven Pearls
Founder Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin

Founder Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin was born on July 12, 1897. She was the youngest of six children and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from Manual Training High School and the City Teachers Normal School. In 1943, Martin earned her bachelor’s degree from Butler University.

While studying for her teaching degree, Downey had also been caring for her ailing mother, who had worked hard to help pay for her daughter's education. In 1918, Downey accepted a teaching position with Indianapolis Public Schools at William D. McCoy School (No. 24) where she taught for 25 years. Her mother lived to see her daughter's career begin but she died shortly thereafter.

Founder Martin married twice. She was a devoted wife, educator, and engaged founder of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She passed on May 14, 1947. Rest in Power. ⚪️