The NPHC, or National Pan-Hellenic Council, is fondly called the “Divine Nine” by a host of people inside these sororities and fraternities and out. In May 1930, on the campus of historically black college or university (HBCU) Howard University in D.C., the collaborative organization of the NPHC was formally organized. The charter members of the council are Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, and Zeta Phi Beta sororities, and Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi fraternities. Alpha Phi Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma fraternities, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority joined in 1937.
More on HBCUBuzz.com: Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Launches New Initiative To Help Build Police And Community Relations
Later in Nov. 1996, Iota Phi Theta was made a member of the NPHC. The fifth-largest growing black fraternity officially joined the NPHC in Feb. 1997.
Iota Phi Theta, in collaboration with Sigma Gamma Rho, announced on Monday that the fraternity has officially executed a Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on addressing the social injustices that face our society on an effective and long-term basis, according to an email to Iota members that HBCU Buzz obtained. It is the first time in the fraternity’s history that this has happened:
Iota Phi Theta® Fraternity, Inc. has officially executed a Memorandum of Understanding with another black greek-letter organization for the first time in our illustrious history. We, along with the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., have teamed up to form…#MoreThanAHashtag.
This initiative will focus on addressing the social injustices that face our society on an effective and long-term basis. What’s unique about this focus is that #MoreThanAHashtag pays attention to issues that are not seen on television and/or social media every day.
- Voter registrations & deputization
- Participating on citizen review boards
- Serving on grand juries & jury duty
- Property taxes protesting
- Participating in Home Owner Associations (HOA)/Civic Clubs/Municipal Utility Districts (MUD).
According to Iota Phi Theta, the fraternity wants to get as many people involved and engaged as possible especially on issues that impact the black community:
“Our goal and mission is to get as many Brothers, Sorors, Sweethearts, family, friends and community members as possible involved in local, regional and national organizations that directly affect and impact our lives and communities.”
