The IOTA Youth Alliance is a national umbrella program through which individual chapters of Iota Phi Theta address the needs of Black Youth in their communities. Under the auspices of the Alliance, chapters either work with existing organizations or create new ones based on the requirements and available resources in their locality. In order to insure continuity, each of the Fraternity's chapters is strongly encouraged to prioritize youth alliance activities as a part of their programmatic thrust.


The Youth Alliance is especially important because it allows the Fraternity to make a national impact while maintaining ties to those causes and organizations with whom it has had historical relationships.

One of the many examples on Iota Youth Alliance Activities is the African-American Male Educational Network (AAMEN). Created and sponsored by the Beta Omega (Washington DC) Graduate Chapter, AAMEN is a mentoring program consisting of boys between the ages of 8 and 13 years old. Meeting twice a week, these young men are tutored by members of the chapter in academic, social, and leadership skills.

As a testament to their success, the 40 young men currently enrolled in the program are collectively in the top five percent of their classes. As a recreational and reinforcement activity, the AAMEN program has also formed a "Step" team which performs routines that reinforce the positive principles of AAMEN. Membership on the team is contingent upon the establishment and maintaining of a 3.0 grade point average. The team has performed throughout the nation and continues to be in high demand.

Here in Jacksonville, FL we have developed the Jacksonville Youth Alliance into a city wide community service program that serves as mentors to the youth of Jacksonville at large. Numerous Youth Alliance members have gone on to graduate high school and enroll in college. We as the Jacksonville Youth Alliance are especially proud of one former member in particular... Ms. Angelina V. Bartley. Angelina is currently a student at Florida A&M University and has become an official member of the brown & gold family, becoming an Iota Sweetheart in Spring 2011.