City of Birmingham, AL

08/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/01/2024 06:15

The City of Birmingham celebrates the 100 year legacies of three local Black Greek letter organizations

The City of Birmingham is honoring the collective centennial anniversaries of three Black Greek-letter organizations. Three Legacies, One Century is a special photo exhibition of the histories of three groups and their service to the city. The Tau Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated; the Alpha Phi Chapter of OmegaPsi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated; and the Omicron OmegaChapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated were all founded in 1924. All year long, the local organizations have celebrated individually and collectively with service projects, galas, film screenings, scholarship fundraisers, and social events.

"Sustaining an organization for 100 years is a major feat," said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. "These college-educated African Americans maintained their mission to serve our community for decades in spite of the many challenges and tribulations; persisting through Jim Crow, through segregation and inspiring others, by building up our community, offering scholarships, educating young people, and serving as role models."

  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is an international organization comprised of 225,000 college-educated men, and built primarily on the ideology of promoting brotherhood, scholarship, and service. Over its one hundred plus years of existence, the fraternity has focused on improving the global community through dedicated service. Birmingham's Tau Sigma Chapter was charted on January 9, 1924. Joseph Fenderson is the chapter president.
  • OmegaPsi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded as the first international fraternal organization on the campus of a historically black college on November 17, 1911, in Washington, D.C. Its cardinal principles are manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. Birmingham's Alpha Phi Chapter was chartered on July 5, 1924. Robert Averhart is the chapter president.
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ®, an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. Birmingham's Omicron Omega Chapter was chartered on October 24, 1924. Pauline Parker is the chapter president.

The Three Legacies, One Century is a free exhibit that will be on display through September 2024, on Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall. For more information about the exhibit, the organizations and their upcoming events, go to www.birminghamal.gov/threelegacies.

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