 Welcome to At the Crossroads. Thank you for joining us today where we have conversations that are real and relevant. I am your host, Keisha King. Today, we open our broadcast with some alarming news. America is in a financial crisis. Now, that's not new information. We, however, have some new statistic from the National College Board that the student loan debt is a staggering $1.5 trillion. The College Board reports that the average college student graduating from a four-year public school has $27,000 in student loan debt. Attending a four-year private non-profit school, the number skyrockets to $33,000 in student loan debt. You can go ahead and put up that number just so that people can see it is staggering. If you don't really know the numbers, you have millions, then you have billions, then you have $1.5 trillion. These numbers are distressing. One that even has our presidential hopefuls discussing and addressing this as a high priority issue on their platform. Many of them have discussed plans to eradicate the issue, including student loan forgiveness, reducing college tuition costs, and free community college. Believe me, there is no quick fix. The young Americans are seeking ways to reduce the debt and around kitchen tables everywhere throughout the country. Families are asking the question, how are we going to afford college for our children and avoid debt in its entirety? With no immediate governmental solutions in sight, one organization offers a glimmer of hope to deserving local students. For over 100 years, Phi Beta Sigma, fraternity incorporated, has offered scholarships for deserving students throughout the nation. Today, we will learn how they are continuing that tradition in a very spooktacular way, joining us is local chapter president George Allen Jr., president of the Zeta Phi Sigma chapter right here in Honolulu, Hawaii. Welcome to At the Crossroads, George. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. Certainly, it's totally my pleasure. I love the work that you all are doing throughout the nation as a larger organization and then throughout the state of Hawaii. Thank you so much. Now, I don't even know where to begin. As you heard me mention, in our opening, we have $1.5 trillion worth of debt and that's all student loan debt. It's unreal and the numbers are staggering. There are currently about 20 million students attending college right now and that is a lot different from when your organization was formed in the early 1900s. At that time, there were only about 600,000 students attending school and they didn't look like the demographics that we have today. So let's take it back to the early 1900s. Why don't you tell me when did your organization begin? It was founded January 9, 1914 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Okay. So you have a rich, rich history. Tell me a little bit about your history and your founders and anything you'd like to say with regard to that. Well, it was founded by three young men, Abram Lace and Taylor, Leonard versus Morse, and Charles and Nathan Sproul. And we was founded on three things, Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service. Okay. There is strength in numbers. I'd like to know nationally and even internationally, how large is your organization? Nationally, we're probably up to approximately 300,000 members. Wow. That is incredible. And now you have a local chapter, Zeta Pi Sigma. How large is that chapter? We actually have two chapters here. So we have a grad and an undergrad. Okay. Our grad chapter is approximately about 25 members and our undergrad is about five members. Okay. Wonderful. Congratulations on the growth that you all have here in the islands and all throughout the world. When I think about college and fraternities, I think about parties. And so for a little bit, we're going to talk about a party. But before we get there, I want to talk just a little bit about what your programs are with your organization. What, where do you place your emphasis of purpose? Of course, we love to place our emphasis on education. We have four major programs that we do and that's bigger and better, bigger and better business, social action, education of course, and Sigma Beta Club. Okay. You seem to put a great deal of emphasis on education. You all were founded on Howard University's campus. Wonderful. Some people call it the mecca of historically black colleges and universities, but it is a well-known university for African Americans. It's for everyone, but founded in, you know, the history. Please tell me, why do you all put such a great emphasis on education? Here's our future and we have to look at it as nowadays everything is based off of education. We want to make sure that everybody's successful and that's one of the ways that we get back to the community as trying to give scholarships and help others out with education. Very good. I think that's wonderful what you do. I'm an educator by trade, so it is delightful. It's like music to my ears to hear how wonderful or the great emphasis that you all put on education. Now I'd like to know what those programs look like in detail just a little bit as far as mentoring and working with young people. We love giving back to the community. One thing we do, we go to different high schools or different elementary schools and things of that such and we would like to spend time with the kids, teach kids how to tie a tie, just giving them the basic knowledge skills that they're going to need in life. We also give out scholarships and we also clean up the highway, Nimitz Highway. Right out here at Nimitz, I know exactly the area. I think you all have a sign out there. We do. Very good. That's awesome. So you give back in forms of mentoring, cleaning up literally and working with young boys to teach them how to tie ties and do things of that nature. Yes. That's very helpful. Do you have any idea of the numbers that you might have as far as the amount of people that you have helped here locally? Just an approximation. That's over 100. That's amazing. We go everywhere and we try to do the best I can to give it back. Wonderful. We appreciate the efforts that you're making and the things that you're doing to give back. And we love the way that you're doing it now. So I want to get into this because as you can see from our beautiful background, we're excited for the season. If you don't know, we are getting ready for, it's fall here in Hawaii. It's fall everywhere, I'm sure, everywhere in the continental US. And we are getting ready to celebrate Halloween. So you guys have a really spectacular event coming up in the name of partying with a purpose. Tell us what's the name of your event? My event is Sigma Fright Fest. Say that three times fast. Sigma Fright Fest. Yes. Okay, I did it once. Okay. When is this? So this is October 25th and it'll start at 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and it'll be at the artist's. Okay. All right. So we'll give more details about that in just a little bit. But I want to kind of go back to this student loan debt. $1.5 trillion is unsurmountable to me. I can't fathom that number. I agree. So I have to ask you a personal question. Do you have student loan debt? I do. You do? I definitely do. Yeah, I do too. And it's a scary thing when you graduate. That's the beginning you think of your life as an independent adult. And many college students graduate and they come out and they have that debt and they feel overwhelmed. How did it make you feel when you graduated school? I was very overwhelmed. I was having excited that I finally graduated and everything was good to go. However, I knew in the back of my mind that I still owe debt to the school. And you had to find a way to pay because they give you six months to find a job and to get a place and get a car and get an established job and then start making payments. But oftentimes that six months is not enough. And they say, as I mentioned earlier in my statistics that you graduate with at least $27,000 worth of debt. That's just with your four-year degree. Did you go beyond a bachelor's degree? I'm currently working on my master's right now. Congratulations. Will that give you more debt? It will. So if you want to make more money, you got to go more debt. And it's this cycle and so many of us find ourselves there. And so there are lots of ways to eradicate this debt. But if you're thinking in terms of sports, you have to play a little defense, a little offense. Right? Yes. So for me, I found that as I've done the research throughout the country, if you look at the number, let's see, 27,000, it breaks down like this. For the year, that's $6,700. Okay. So you have two semesters per college year. So that's $3,300, almost $3,400 per semester worth of debt that people approve. So I want to get into the scholarships that you all offer and how that works against that one semester, that $3,300 or $3,400. But before we get there, I want to ask you, are you comfortable with paying back your debt and meaning, are you able to afford it without getting too personal? At times it gets hard, but I try the best I can. Okay. And I think that's everyone, I think because life treats you like that. Yes. One minute you're okay and it's okay, I can handle this. But let an emergency come across and then you're faced in that cycle of having to just barely make it. So tell me more about you all's event coming up. But before we get into that, tell me more about the ways that you give back. How many events do you hold each year as an organization? We like to do two major events every year. And those two major events are our Halloween party. And in January, we always do our strut and stroll. Okay. Strut and stroll. So I've been to one of those. I had a lot of fun. And there were a lot of people there. There is. Yeah. Yeah. Do you expect a lot of people at the, I'm going to try to say it, Sigma Fright Best? We do. Every year is a good turnout and it's for good calls. And as people come out and just love the competition with the costume, they come out and enjoy it itself. Okay. So we're going to get into that. We're going to go for a break. But before we do, I want to make sure that everyone who is watching, I want to make sure that you know, there are organizations out there that can help. And when we come back from our break, we're going to talk some more with Mr. George Allen Jr., President of the Zeta Pi Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. So we're going to come back and talk about his party with purpose right after this break. Hawaii Energy, the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Hawaiian Electric Company, Integrated Security Technologies, Galen Ho of BAE Systems, Kamehameha Schools, MW Group Limited, the Schindler Family Foundation, the Sydney Stern Memorial Trust, Polo Foundation, Yoriko J. Sugimura. Thanks so much to you all. Aloha and welcome back to At the Crossroads. I am your host Tisha King. And today we're talking about the $1.5 trillion student loan debt that most of America is facing. Our young adults are graduating from college with all of this debt burden on their backs. And we have one wonderful local organization that is doing their part to help against this debt crisis. Thank you. I'm here with Mr. George Allen Jr., Local Chapter President of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. And his local chapter is the Zeta Pi Sigma Chapter. Thank you. So one of the things that we were talking about is how you guys have a party with a purpose and you do this every year in an effort to raise funds for scholarships so that people can avoid having to take out student loans on so much money. So I want to pull up a picture now of some of the men in your organization. We are looking at some of the men from the local chapter. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay. And so and then this is also the graduate chapter or undergrad or is it undergrad? Okay. All right. And when you say undergrad chapter, are we talking about locally here at UH? No, no. We are currently trying to get on UH and have a chapter at UH. It's just currently on Island undergrad. Okay. Okay. Understandable. We're a military town, so a lot of people are undergrad someplace else, maybe off Island, online, you name it. So I get it. So now back to the fund. There's a party coming up and it's going to be so much fun. The Sigma Fright Fest. I'm getting faster at saying it. Now tell us, you're doing this to raise funds. Yes. Yeah. And so approximately how much funds nationally, I'm figuring if your local chapter is doing this, they're probably doing it in every state and throughout different countries even. Yes. So how much do you think you've helped raise this annually approximate number? Approximately about 100,000 each year. Yes. $100,000. Okay. You see me here? That's a lot of money. $100,000 helps. 100,000 people or more, you never know. That's a great effort. So when people come to your events, they are making a big dent in that huge debt and they're helping people to avoid that debt as a whole. You must definitely. Yeah. So now tell me about the scholarship recipients. How do they qualify? What are you looking for? We usually ask for students who has a 3.0 or higher GPA, stays out of trouble, and they have to write an essay. An essay? Yes. Okay. They write an essay on why they deserve the scholarship. Simple enough. All right. Any page number or word count? No page number, no word count. Okay. So just make it known that you want this scholarship and here's why you believe you deserve it. Yes. And then the 3.0 GPA or better. Yeah. The higher the GPA, the better. Yes. I'm sure. And then stay out of trouble. Of course. Is this for young men only or men and women? It's not only young men, it's young men and young women. That's wonderful. Okay. So it's for anyone and everyone? Yes. Most definitely. It's not gender specific, so that's really good. All right. So now tell me that that's who qualifies. Approximately how much money do they earn once if they are chosen or selected as the winner? They earn roughly each recipient earns between $500 to $1,000. That's amazing. So let's go back to our numbers. If a person has approximately $27,000 every four years, for four years worth of college at a public institution, doesn't matter which institution they go to, is that right? Can they pick? That is correct. They can pick wherever they want to go. Okay. So they could go to Trump University. Don't say yes. I'm sorry. You said anywhere, but I don't know. Are they even open? I don't even think they're even open. Scratch that. But wherever they decide to go, they can take that $500 to $1,000 with them. Yes. Assuming they had to get loans all four years, if we go back to our numbers, we said $6,750 to be exact as per year. So if you give a student $500 to $1,000, let's say they get $1,000, that $6,700 drops down to $5,700. That makes a difference, especially when it comes to your monthly payments after graduation. Most definitely. Yes, indeed. So you guys are making a huge difference and it shows in the numbers because, you know, as parents when they're sending their kids off to school, that's what matters. The bottom line. Yes. Have you heard from parents who have written or called to say thank you, or do you have any stories, success stories about people who've received your scholarship? Yes, of course. Ever since I'm in the military. So ever since I've been on Island, we do it every year annually. And we have kids that have gone to college, wrote us letters. They definitely keep in touch with us, let us know how it's going. We make sure they have all the resources that they need to be successful in college. What does that mean? You make sure they have the resources necessary. You don't just give them the money and just go on your way. We, no, we do not do that. Okay. We always keep in contact with them and we try to keep in contact with them the whole four years that they're there. So it's much more than just money for you all. It's a relationship. It's built a relationship. I see. I see. So that is amazing. So I know in the community you all are known as the Sigma's. So it's amazing what the Sigma's are doing to build and develop relationships with these students. That's amazing. That's a good thing. Parents, if you're listening and you have a young adult who is ready to graduate, not a young adult, but a high school student who's ready to graduate, what should they do to get in touch with you all to get their child to write the essay and get the information to you? How can they connect? Good morning. Welcome to email myself at alan, a-l-l-e-n, nine two six six at gmail.com. Okay. And I will be more than welcome to send the criteria. Okay. And when they send it back, we'll make sure we'll put them in the shoot and hopefully they win the $500 to a thousand. That's amazing. And can they also find you on Facebook? Yes, they can. Okay. And what's that? You can find me at Facebook. It's just simply George Allen. Okay. So George Allen, or does your organization have a Facebook page or website? Yes, ma'am. We do. You can just type it on Facebook, Honolulu Sigma. Okay. That's easy enough. Honolulu Sigma or George Allen, nine two six six at gmail.com. Allen nine two six six. Allen nine two six six at gmail.com. So we want to make sure we save that a lot. So now in order to get this money to give away to these deserving students, you have to have an event. Yes. Let's talk about this event. We could show the flyer because we want you guys to see it is the Sigma Fright Fest coming up. Tell us all about it. You can hold that picture up. So Sigma Fright Fest, we do it every year. This is our sixth annual Halloween party. And this is something that 21 and older and it's something that you would enjoy. Yeah, come out. We'll have raffle tickets and you have the costume contest and people just come out meet new people have a good time. Okay. Okay. So you have a costume contest? Yes. This sounds exciting. What have people dressed up as in the past? Oh, you can see everything. You have a Bobby and Whitney Houston. I think they won last year. They did. We have that picture. There's she looks just like Whitney. She looks just like Whitney Mid. I want to say 85 Whitney, right? Like 85, maybe early 90s. I can see that. And is that Bobby? It is Bobby. Okay. Looking like a bad boy. And then we also got man to man seem to get a little more creative than the females, especially last year. Oh, what in the world? I know. What is this? It almost looks like Oh, what's the group that sings the YMCA? Looks like the village people. Spider man, police officer, showing his guns biceps. So the men do get a little bit more creative. They love it. Okay. All right. So come prepared, wear your costume and enter the contest. Yes, you have raffle tickets. For prizes such as it could be money prizes, a gift basket, anything of that such. Okay, okay. So you have lots of things going on to make the night frightfully exciting. Yes, spooktacular. And then all of then, of course, a portion of the proceeds go toward the scholarship fund. Yes. And then you give it away at the end of the year. Yes. Amazing. And then you have another major event. Tell us about that. Try to be in January. That's the Strut and Stroll. Like you said before, you've been there before, you know, it's a lot of people there and it's just plenty of stuff going on, a lot of action. We go and we have every fraternity and sorority, they'll do a step and we'll have special guest judges. And whoever's the best winner wins, wins money, wins $1,000 for the organization. Okay, sounds amazing. So now I was there last year, I sat at the judges table, but I wasn't an official judge. I was an observer. And I observed a lot. I remember if I'm not mistaken, a military group won. Military, right? Is that right? That's my memory. I'm trying to remember. I do remember they were sharp. They was. They were really amazing. So that was good. Now we're going to expect them and everyone else to step it up a notch this year, but October 25th. So not this Saturday, but next Saturday, I think it is. Is that right? Next Friday night. Yes. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. So you're going to party all night long until the next day at the Sigma Fright Test. Yes. We love it. We love it. We love it. Where can we buy tickets? You can buy tickets online on Eventbrite or you can find any brother that's a Sigma and we have a hard copy ticket. Okay. So I want to make sure everyone knows they can buy tickets online at Eventbrite. Yes. And then can we go to the Facebook page of the Sigma's? You said Honolulu Sigma's? Yes. It is currently not on the Facebook page. Okay. We will definitely put the link on the Facebook page. Okay. So you guys can just click on it and go to it and you can also buy tickets at the door. And tickets at the door. Yes. How much for the tickets at the door? Tickets at the door $25. But I bet they sell out. They do. So you don't want to take that chance. Believe me. You don't want to miss a really good event. So don't take the chance of waiting to buy the tickets at the door. Try to get them in advance. Get them from someone who knows how to reach you all. We'll put that flyer up again. There is contact information there. And where is this located? Because I'm not familiar with where you said it was. It's actually on the flyer. It's located at the Otter Street in downtown Honolulu. Downtown Honolulu. You know what? That is going to be so fun. Fun, fun, fun. I don't have a costume yet. I don't know what I'm going to wear. I don't. I might just go as a news reporter. I'm really, you know, not real original with that one. You know, it's not a far stretch. What about you? Do you know what you're wearing? I don't know. It's a secret right now. It's a secret. Tap secret. Every year I come up with something different and something bigger. So I can't let everybody know what I'm wearing. That's right. That's right. Mom's the word. You can tell me. I won't tell anybody. Just tell my friends. You're secret safe. I will not tell it. We will just know that when we get there, it's going to be fun. There'll be a who's judging this by the way. It will be us. Oh, you guys get to judge. But it really is on the crowd. Okay. So wherever the crowd decides. Okay. That's who wins. That's who wins. Got it. So we've got great costume party coming up a spooktacular event for a good cause. I like to call it a party with a purpose with the brothers of the local chapter is the tell us all about that. So I don't mess it up. The local chapter is Zeta Pi Sigma, a five beta Sigma fraternity incorporated. Got it. It's going to be a blast. Probably people from all of the divine nine will be there. Yes. And then of course, people from the community are welcome to come. It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from. Most definitely. Just show up. I promise you, you will have a good time. I love it. I love it. Listen, we've been talking about a fun event that's coming up. And it is the Sigma fright. Yes. And that is October 25 2019. It's going to be a great time, but it's a party with a purpose. And we have to have parties with a purpose like this in order to eradicate the national student loan debt crisis. Keep that number in the back of your mind. The sigmas are doing their part in making sure that students who are deserving earn at least $500 to $1,000 that they can apply toward their student loans. We want you to do your part. Come on out. Enjoy the party. Get your tickets. Don't wait. Don't delay. It's going to be fun. I'm going to be there. And I hope to see you there. Thank you so much for watching at the Crossroads. And I'll see you next time. Aloha.