WSSU chapter of My Sister's Keeper:

Some Winston-Salem State students were able to take a Wal-Mart trip off their to-do list after attending Grocery B-I-N-G-O sponsored by My Sister's Keeper in Dillard Hall this month.

My Sister's Keeper is an organization that was introduced to the campus spring semester and is working with female students.

The first MSK Collegiate chapter was established in September 2002 at the Tennessee State University.

The Winston-Salem State chapter of My Sister's Keeper is the first chapter outside of Tennessee and the only chapter in North Carolina. This chapter was started by Courtney Dubose, Miss WSSU of 2009-2010.

The visionaries of My Sister's Keeper are Cece Winans, Kiwanis Hockett, and Demetrius Stewart. My Sister's Keeper is an organization that focuses on the needs and development of college women.

The mission statement is "To educate, motivate and inspire young women to live whole and complete lives in spirit, soul and body."

 Their colors are silver/grey, representing the word of God; purple, representing royalty; and pink, representing "new life".

"Our goal is to counteract influences that negatively impact the lives of young women during crucial transitional periods in their lives — teen and college years," said Valerie Able, president of My Sister's Keeper.

Able is a senior business management and finance major from Charlotte.

"My Sister's Keeper changed me in the aspect of becoming more outgoing and not being scared to take a stand for what I truly believe in," said Sandra Sturdivant, secretary of My Sister's Keeper.

Sturdivant is a senior exercise science major from Burlington.

My Sister's Keeper adopted Moore Hall for direct mentorship with those residents prior to its closing.  

"The objective of adopting Moore Hall was to establish an ongoing relationship with the ladies of this female dorm, welcome them to WSSU and assist them in their crucial transition," Able said.

Door hangers were placed on each resident's door in Moore Hall, Dillard Hall, and Atkins Hall that read "MSK Welcomes You."

Program activities are designed to create a support network to nourish healthy self-esteem and to instill the qualities of grace, character, integrity and humility.

"Although Moore Hall has closed, mentoring cannot stop. We will continue our interactions and hold specific programs in Dillard Hall, and everyone is welcome to attend," Able said.

The organization sponsored two events this month. The Grocery B-I-N-G-O was one. The organization collaborated with Campus Fitness for Kardio Kick.

Grocery B-I-N-G-O was open to all students and took place in Dillard Hall. Some of the prizes included gift baskets and individual items of toilet tissue, bottled water, chips, fruit cups, fruit snacks, popcorn, feminine products, razors, bath soap, deodorant, lotion, juice, cookies, cans of Sprite, and hand sanitizer.       

Kardio Kick, a program of aerobics, boxing and martial arts combined, took place in Thompson Center. At the conclusion of the Kardio Kick, the organization circulated My Sister's Keeper bookmarks with health tips and scripture on them.

"The purpose of this event was to make WSSU's campus aware of our organization and begin to bond with some of the ladies on campus," Able said.

"It could be a positive influence on the young women of the campus to inspire them to live whole and complete lives in spirit, soul, and body," Sturdivant said.     

Able said the organization will focus their upcoming events on the prospective members that attended this month's interest meeting.