Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Sponsorship

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to issue a Single Source Grant Agreement Award without competition to the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (Sigma) to sponsor Sigma's 2015 International Conclave and 2016 Regional Conferences.This sponsorship will help raise awareness of the positive impacts of outdoors recreation among African-Americans, and promote access to and enjoyment of federal lands for outdoor recreation use; develop targeted engagement between Sigma chapters and FWS facilities throughout the nation, particularly in urban areas; and help build a cadre of young African Americans seeking careers in wildlife conservation, including biological sciences. Youth engagement will occur through Sigma's existing youth outreach and mentorship program (Sigma Beta Clubs), which includes in-reach to urban schools, and adopt-a-school programs across the nation.Sigma is uniquely positioned to assist the Service in its efforts to actively engage the African-American community because of its role as a national community leader, and because of its historic links to local African-American churches, civil rights organizations, the African-American press, and its network of collegiate chapters throughout Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).