| Zeta Phi Beta | |
|---|---|
| ΖΦΒ | |
 | |
| Founded | January 16, 1920; 106 years ago (1920-01-16) Howard University |
| Type | Social |
| Affiliation | NPHC |
| Status | Active |
| Emphasis | African Americans |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | "A community-conscious, action-oriented organization" |
| Pillars | Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood |
| Colors | Royal Blue and White |
| Symbol | Dove |
| Flower | White Rose |
| Mascot | Dove |
| Publication | The Archon |
| Chapters | 850[1] |
| Nicknames | Zetas, ZPhiB, Finer Women |
| Headquarters | 1734 New Hampshire Ave NW Washington, D.C. 20009 United States |
| Website | zphib1920 |
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (ΖΦΒ) is ahistorically African Americansorority. Since its founding, Zeta Phi Beta has historically focused on addressing social causes.[2]
Zeta Phi Beta is a non-profit 501(c)(7) organization that is divided into eight intercontinental regions and 800+ Chapters located in the US, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.[3] In 1948, Zeta Phi Beta became the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter inAfrica (inMonrovia, Liberia). Zeta Phi Beta is the third-largest predominantly African-American sorority.[2][4]
| Part of a series on |
| Zeta Phi Beta Sorority |
|---|
People |
Associations |
| Fraternities and Sororities Wikiproject |
In the spring of 1919, during a stroll on the campus ofHoward University, Charles Robert Samuel Taylor, member ofPhi Beta Sigma fraternity, toldArizona Cleaver his idea for a new sisterhood; a sister organization to his fraternity. Cleaver presented this idea toPearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler,Viola Tyler, and Fannie Pettie, and a new sisterhood was formed.[5]
Cleaver secured permission from the Howard University administration to establish a campus sorority. On January 16, 1920, the sorority's first official meeting was held. The five students chose the name Zeta Phi Beta. Phi Beta was taken from Phi Beta Sigma to "seal and signify the relationship between the two organizations".[6]
The newly established Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was given a formal introduction at Whitelaw Hotel byPhi Beta Sigma members Taylor and A. Langston Taylor. The two Sigma brothers had been a source of advice and encouragement during the establishment of the sorority and throughout its early days.[7]
Alpha Kappa Alpha andDelta Sigma Theta sororities held a "Welcome to Campus" reception in the assembly room in Miner Hall, in honor of the new sorority.[7] Later that year, in December 1920, the sorority held the first boule (convention) with members of Phi Beta Sigma at Howard University.[8] TheArchon, the sorority's official magazine was established shortly afterward.[8]Later Boules were held in many locations across the United States.
Zeta Phi Beta was first incorporated on March 30, 1923, in Washington, D.C. by sorority members Myrtle Tyler, Gladys Warrington,Joanna Houston, Josephine Johnson, and O. Goldia Smith.[9] The sorority was incorporated by the state of Illinois in 1939.[9]
The Founders of Zeta Phi Beta were five collegiate students of Howard University. They are known to the members of the sorority as "The Five Pearls".
In 1923,Theta chapter atWiley College became the first black sorority chapter in Texas.[4] In 1959, Zeta Phi Beta purchased its current headquarters, located at 1734 New Hampshire Avenue NW on Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., becoming the first organization under theNational Pan-Hellenic Council to have a national headquarters for all operations.[11][12]
Zeta Phi Beta was the sorority first to charter a chapter in Africa (Monrovia, Liberia). Today, there are also chapters inU.S. Virgin Islands,Jamaica,Bahamas,Japan,Korea,Barbados,Haiti,Germany,Belgium,United Arab Emirates,Trinidad/Tobago and most recentlyAccra, Ghana.[11]
In 1986, a brother of Phi Beta Sigma, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal alongside 17 other men, and with additional assistance from other brothers of Phi Beta Sigma and sisters from Zeta Phi Beta, established themulticulturalSigma Lambda Beta fraternity at theUniversity of Iowa.[13][14]
Later on in 1990, following the establishment of multiculturalSigma Lambda Gamma sorority at the University of Iowa through the aid of members of Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, and Sigma Lambda Beta. The four organizations formed the First Inter-Racially Mixed (F.I.R.M) Family network. This network was created to embody a shared commitment to unity and mutual support across these diverse Greek organizations although it did not create any new constitutional bounds that weren't already present.[15]
On January 25, 2001, Zeta Phi Beta was grantednon-governmental organization (NGO) status with theUnited Nations.[16]
In 2005, Zeta Phi Beta completed its $2 million renovation project of the international headquarters. The historic building has served as Zeta's home since its purchase in 1959.[17]
Zeta Phi Beta's founding principles or pillars are Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. Its motto is "A community-conscious, action-oriented organization". Its colors are royal blue and white. Its symbol is the dove. Its flower is a white rose. Its publication isThe Archon.
Held annually, Zeta Day on the Hill provides an opportunity for Zetas to exercise another level of civic responsibility by learning the protocols for interacting with and the knowledge needed to maximize engagement with congressional representatives. Zetas schedule meetings with their representative or their representative's designee to discuss, during brief sessions, issues of interest to the local, state, and national Zeta membership.[18]
The goal of Z-H.O.P.E. (Zetas Helping Other People Excel) is to positively impact the lives of people at all stages of the human life cycle.[19] This is through doing hard work and community service. Z-HOPE (ZetasHelpingOtherPeopleExcel) is an international service initiative, introduced by the sorority's 22nd International Grand Basileus Barbara C. Moore.
Z-HOPE has six objectives. They are:
To date, more than 750,000 individuals have participated in Z-HOPE-related activities and programs.[19]
The Zeta Organizational Leadership Program is a leadership training certification program developed by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. The overarching goal of the ZOL program is to provide members of Zeta Phi Beta with essential leadership knowledge and skills.
In December 2010, the sorority partnered withStevie Wonder to collect toys for his annual House Full of Benefit Concert. All of the sorority's 850 chapters signed on to collect toys for the program.[1]
The objectives of the Foundation, as outlined in the Trust Agreement and By-Laws adopted by the Board of Managers, are:[21]
- to award scholarship grants to worthy students for the pursuit of higher education;
- to conduct community education programs that will aid individual and community living standards;
- to engage in other educational activities which will aid in the development of all women; and
- to engage in any appropriate research related to the purposes of the Foundation.
The National Educational Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is a 501(c)3 trust organization created in 1975 and operated by Zeta Phi Beta to oversee the sorority's charitable and educational activities.[21][22] The trust awards scholarship grants, conducts community educational programs and activities, and engages in Foundation scholarship related research.[22]
The Foundation partnered withXavier University of New Orleans, The Consumer Health Foundation, the MidAtlantic Cancer Genetics Network, the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and The Family Life Center of Shiloh Baptist Church and presented conferences on human genome research inWashington, D. C.,Atlanta Georgia,New Orleans, Louisiana,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, andChicago, Illinois.[23][24]
Since 1971, Zeta Phi Beta has enjoyed a partnership with theMarch of Dimes to encourage women to seekprenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy, thereby increasing the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality.[25] Known as the Stork's Nest Program, this collaboration encourages participation and healthy behaviors during the pregnancy through two components - incentives and education.[25] Nationwide, Zeta Phi Beta sponsors over 175 Stork's Nests. In 1997, during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of collaboration with the March of Dimes, the program was updated to include a new national logo, new educational materials, and new incentive items for those mothers participating in the program. As of 2005, the Stork's Nest Program has served over 28,000 women.
The Amicae group is composed of women who have not obtained a college degree but wish to assist Zeta Phi Beta members in local activities. Currently, there are over 175 Amicae groups in the U.S. The first Amicae group was organized in Omaha, Nebraska in 1948 by theBeta Psi Zeta chapter.[26][27]
The Archonettes are composed of young high school-aged ladies (ages 14 to 18) who demonstrate an interest in the goals and the ideals of scholarship, sisterly love, and community service.[26] Each Archonette group is affiliated with a local graduate chapter of Zeta Phi Beta.[28]
The Amicettes are composed of girls aged 9 to 13 who are willing to strive toward the high ideals of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and who demonstrate potential for leadership in service to the community. .[26] Each Amicettes group is affiliated with a local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta.[28]
The Pearlettes are composed of young girls aged 4 to 8.[26] Pearlettes are mentored by members of Zeta Phi Beta to become outstanding leaders in their communities.[28]
The Zeta Male Network is the title given to the support organization that includes males in the lives of members of Zeta Phi Beta.[26]
Following a February 5, 2006 news report byWJLA, an ABC-affiliated TV station based inD.C., the U.S.Internal Revenue Service,Federal Bureau of Investigation andUnited States Attorney opened an investigation into alleged financial irregularities occurring with the sorority's National President Barbara C. Moore. Sorority member and National Executive Board member Natasha Stark was thewhistleblower who notified WJLA of the president's wrongdoings. Moore admitted to using sorority funds for personal expenses such as clothes, shoes, jewelry, food, liquor, etc. but disputed the figures reported by WJLA. Despite her admission, the sorority's board of directors refused to remove her from office defying organization by-laws, attempted to suppress information reported by WJLA, and refused to fully cooperate with theFBI andIRS.[29] The sorority's board of directors initially tried to resolve the matter privately by asking the president to sign a promissory note to repay over $300,000 of sorority funds used for personal expenses back to the sorority but that dissatisfied Stark.[30][31] The purpose of the investigation was to determine if the president had obtained funds from the tax-exempt organization for personal gain which violated IRS codes.[31] In retaliation for contacting WJLA, Stark was expelled for "violating her duty of loyalty to the sorority, engaging in conduct injurious to the sorority or its purposes, and unsisterly conduct."[31] On March 20, 2007, Stark filed a lawsuit with the District of Columbia District Court requesting $1 million in damages.[32] Stark's claims for breach of contract and negligence were dismissed at a September 11, 2008 status conference.[33]
EntertainerSheryl Underwood was elected as the 23rd International Grand Basileus (President), during the sorority's biennial business meeting inLas Vegas,Nevada in 2008. Her election as Grand Basileus was disputed by some members as illegitimate, but District of Columbia Superior Court JudgeGerald I. Fisher dismissed a lawsuit against the sorority and Underwood that asked the court to unseat Underwood.[34][35][36]
In 2011, the chapter at theUniversity of Maryland, College Park was placed under heavy scrutiny when a former pledge reported to authorities the serious abuse she endured from members of the organization. Seven members of the chapter were arrested for assault.[37]
In 2012, a student at theUniversity of California, Berkeley sued the sorority after experiencing hazing so disturbing and humiliating that she dropped out of school. In her lawsuit, she stated she had her head slammed into a wall, her pockets ripped from her jeans, was beat over the head while being forced to recite the sorority's history, forced to clean up the juice with only her back, and was subject to other illegal hazing activities.[38][39]
In 2014, the chapter at theUniversity of Memphis was given a three-year suspension for physically abusing and harassing pledges. One pledge's nose was broken after being repeatedly hit in the face by several Zetas. Two Zetas identified in a police report as being extremely abusive towards pledges dropped out of the university soon after the suspension was announced.[40]
