FALL/WINTER 2018
TRILOGY OF CHANGE IT STARTS WITH OUR YOUTH
Sigma men are strong fathers
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THE OFFICIAL PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INC.
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Contents
10
PHI BETA SIGMA GOES TO WASHINGTON
34
A Brotherhood of Conscious Men gathered in the nation’s capital to facilitate a layered agenda aimed at advancing several causes simultaneously.
22
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT AFA 2018 A 4-day conference for Greek Advisors employed by colleges and universities from across the nation.
30
IN MEMORIAM: BROTHER GERALD SMITH Brother Gerald D. Smith, 2nd International Executive Director Remembered.
4
The Crescent Magazine
TRILOGY OF CHANGE: IT STARTS WITH OUR YOUTH A look at Sigma Men mentoring through the Sigma Beta Club.
42
TAKING IT FROM THE STREETS Why FUBU’s Business Model Has Always Been the Right Fit.
49
AROUND THE REGIONS Highlighting the accomplishments around the seven regions.
EDITOR
Steve E. Ballard Deputy Executive Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Steve E. Ballard Madison J. Gray RaeKwon J. Groover Dr. Kent L. Poindexter
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Christopher P. Fleming Ann Alphonse Studios
EDITORIAL OFFICE
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 145 Kennedy Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-5294 (202) 726-5434 www.phibetasigma1914.org
ON THE COVER FALL/WINTER 2018
TRILOGY OF CHANGE IT STARTS WITH OUR YOUTH
Members of the Chi Sigma Chapter, Epsilon Sigma Chapter and Sigma Beta Club join Brother Malik Yoba for a day of mentoring in Brooklyn, New York.
The Cresent Magazine is published twice annually by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Micheal E. Cristal International President
POSTMASTER
Please send address changes to: The Crescent Magazine Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 145 Kennedy Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-5294
Fall/Winter 2018
5
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT’S GREETING
Greetings Conscious Men of Sigma,
W
hen you receive this publication, we’ll be completing the countdown to closure of year two of this administration. These have been the best of times for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, as we continue to construct the blueprint for “A Brotherhood of Conscious Men Actively Serving Our Communities”. Your involvement as active Sigma Men in chapters around the globe, as well as your active support of this administration, is invaluable to the future of our Brotherhood.
Honorable MICHEAL E.
CRISTAL
International President
As I write this, we are indeed changing the narrative on what it means to serve our communities. We are rewriting the norms, as many look to Phi Beta Sigma as the agent of change. The road map we created last year with Phase I of our Strategic Plan provided a clear direction and focal point for the future of our beloved fraternity. We launched Phase II just four months ago and it’s already taking shape. The Trilogy of Change is our mission and vision. Its purpose is evident by the bright light beaming on our Sigma Beta Club, our culture’s future. In this issue of The Crescent, we highlight our mentoring program, the administering organization, our corporate service partners, committed chapters and powerful testimonies. We hope that by sharing these gems with the world, everyone will understand how important and critical this program is toward promoting the wellbeing of our nation. The supporting mantra for our administration is “Brotherhood First!” Our continual aim is to create a Brotherhood Experience that goes beyond your membership expectations. To that end, you’ll see more collaboration with our high-profile brothers. In this issue we feature Sigma Brothers Keith Perrin, J. Alexander Martin and Carl Brown, more familiar as FUBU. These talented Men of Sigma have gone far beyond their celebrated impact on the fashion industry and Hip-Hop culture. Take a look and discover the many facets of these highly successful businessmen. I want to thank the International Headquarters’ Marketing & Communications Department for producing another excellent communication piece, always reflecting the best of our fraternity. We hope you enjoy this issue and encourage your regions and chapters to submit interesting information for display in upcoming issues. Brotherhood First!
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The Crescent Magazine
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S GREETING
Greetings Brothers!
T
his is the season for giving, sharing and believing! I
pray that this issue of The Crescent arrives to you at a
time when you’re experiencing all that this season has
to offer. I’m excited to greet you on behalf of your International Headquarters team.
As your primary portal for sharing and delivering informative news
of interest, we’re excited to bring you this issue of your official journal. I invite you to take your time and enjoy the awesome
collection of information on our theme “Trilogy of Change – It Starts
with Our Youth”. I truly believe you will be inspired to further commit yourselves to the work of Sigma as we touch and impact the lives of young men and boys in our communities.
Honorable DARYL A.
We believe that by giving of ourselves through sharing time with
Executive Director
our Sigma Beta Clubs is the greatest gift we can give. When we
ANDERSON
deposit knowledge, care and attention in our youth, we directly
impact the outcome of their lives, thus impacting the future of our communities.
As we elevate and enhance the Brotherhood Experience, Phi
Beta Sigma is intentional in our efforts to make the vision plain: it starts with our youth! The job starts in our neighborhoods, at our
universities and definitely at the International Headquarters of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Sigma has experienced another ground-breaking year and we’re
poised for 2019 to even go higher! We will herald and defend! So,
let every Conscious Sigma Man continue to give, share and believe in the greatness of this noble Brotherhood!! GOMAB!!!
Fall/Winter 2018
7
DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S/EDITOR’S MESSAGE
Greetings Sigma Brothers,
F
or all that Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity stands for, securing the future of our boys and young men of color is, by far, of paramount significance. Not only does research data provide meaningful information with respect to this, our own personal stories and chapter experiences are peppered with proven real-life examples. When we sacrifice our time and talents for the benefit of our youth, we leave profound imprints on their lives.
STEVE E.
BALLARD
Deputy Executive Director
The Sigma Beta Club has been a valued organization for my family. The practice of sons, nephews and male cousins being active members is a cherished tradition. The experiences have yielded confidence, responsibility, forward-thinking, and vision in the young men who’ve been full participants of the program. They’ve gone on to celebrate great achievements in their academic pursuits and continued into their professional careers. This issue of The Crescent fully showcases this amazing program that began in 1954. Today, our mentoring program has grown in its scope, curriculum and exposure. We’re excited to share with you the vitality and energy of the leadership who are pushing this program to higher levels and providing testimonies of the program in action. When you’ve completed the reading, I’m convinced, you’ll have a greater appreciation of and renewed commitment to our most prized program. So, in 2019, when you hear “Trilogy of Change”, you will immediately think of changing lives through the Sigma Beta Club program. You will be able to offer your own testimony on the greatness Phi Beta Sigma and the fraternity’s commitment to young men. Thank you for embracing the magazine and our continued efforts of providing quality communication and information to our valued customers, the Men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity! Brotherhood First!
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The Crescent Magazine
PHI BETA SIGMA GOES TO WASHINGTON
A Brotherhood of Conscious Men gathered in the nation’s capital to facilitate a layered agenda aimed at advancing several causes simultaneously. From September 10th through September 15th, the international leaders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. participated in five days of activities held during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 48th Annual Legislative Conference, “The Dream Still Demands Courage, Resilience, Leadership & Legislation.”
Because of the threat of the impending Hurricane Florence, several international leaders and participants were unable to complete their travel plans to attend various scheduled activities. Overall, Phi Beta Sigma’s delegation arrived safely, with minimal disruptions and great representation.
SIGMAS AT THE TABLE ADDRESSING CRITICAL NATIONAL ISSUES The week of activities began on Tuesday, September 12th with 2018 & Beyond: Building a Strategy for Black America, sponsored by the United Negro College Fund, Rainbow Push Coalition and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The national public panel held discussions concerning the future of the Black community.
On Wednesday, President Cristal began the day representing Phi Beta Sigma’s leadership at the March of Dimes President’s Breakfast, hosted by Stacey Stewart, President of March of Dimes. This annual breakfast afforded the Sigma delegation the opportunity to engage directly with the leaders of its national partners and address the March of Dimes’ focus for the upcoming year.
President Cristal also served as a panelist for the 9th Annual NPHC Greek Forum, entitled “#Whatsatstake”, hosted by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. The panelists included national presidents or representatives of the Divine Nine. The topics were focused on 12 The Crescent Magazine
the importance of voter registration and education for the 2018 Mid-term elections, an accurate and inclusive census court in 2020, as well as the impact of the events of 2018 and 2020 on 2022 and redistricting and funding allocations based on the census. Each of the leaders shared with event participants their organization’s plans, programs and initiatives addressing the issues of voter education, mobilization and registration. On Thursday, September 13th, the NPHC Council of Presidents (COPS) and the NPHC Undergraduate Vice Presidents held concurrent meetings at the American Red Cross, National Headquarters. President Cristal, joined by International First Vice President Jean B. Lamothe and Hon. Brother Daryl A. Anderson, Sr., International Executive Director, attended the COPS meeting, while International Second Vice President Frederick Bell joined his collegiate counterparts.
The day provided the opportunity for other leaders to participate in other meetings, workshops and seminars at the annual legislative conference. Among the many activities was the 2nd Annual Minority Health Summit and Networking Luncheon, held by the Minority Health Institute, led by Bro. Dr. Richard Allen Williams, President.
AL
Fall/Winter 2018 13
REAL TALK 2018
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity once again hosted its signature event for CBC Week. REAL TALK, the fraternity’s annual forum, focuses on critical issues impacting the communities we serve, was held at The Mayflower Hotel. Preceding the forum was a reception held in The East Room, to welcome all Sigma Brothers, Zeta Sisters and fellow Greeks, as well as all Sigma Men who were 2018 MidTerm political candidates around the nation.
The pre-reception audience was ushered into The State Room, for REAL TALK: The Conscious Man’s Role in Addressing Police Brutality in the African American Community. Discussing the topic from various angles were a diverse table of panelists, including Bro. Frank Nichols, Chief of Police, City of Starkville, MS; Bro. Jonathan Butler, civil rights activist; Honorable Bro. Dr. Anthony A. Samad, Executive Director, Mervyn Dymally African American Political & Economic Institute and author; Bro. Chris V. Rey, International Director of Social Action; and Reverend Matthew Watley, Executive Minister, Reid Temple-North AME Church. Also scheduled as panelists were Congressman Bro. Elijah Cummings and Hon. Justin Fairfax, Lieutenant Governor, State of Virginia; both were called away due to attend to pending disaster relief concerns in their community. 14 The Crescent Magazine
Ameshia Cross, State Policy Director, Pretrial Justice Institute served as the forum moderator, which was live streamed to viewers around the globe. The panelists provided strong opinions and promising recommendations as to how African American men as a whole and Phi Beta Sigma men in particular, can address the issues which continue to disproportionately affect African American male youth.
Fall/Winter 2018 15
CALL TO ORDER THE FALL 2018 GENERAL BOARD MEETING The General Board of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. assembled for the Board’s Fall
2018 session on Friday, September 14th in The East Room of The Mayflower Hotel. In
addition to the elected board members, several appointed, invited and local members were in attendance to participate in the official meeting of the fraternity’s leadership. The meeting was also shared via Facebook Live compliments of Bro. Chris V. Rey,
International Director of Social Action. The meeting’s full day agenda called for reports and updates of major areas and concluded with an executive session on critical issues
impacting the organization. Shortly after the meeting, the Board assembled for dinner, where they were addressed by Brother Jenabu C. Williams, International Director of Sigma Beta Clubs.
16 The Crescent Magazine
ENTERING PHASE II OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN General Board members, past international presidents and specially invited Sigma Brothers rose early on Saturday, September 15th to board a bus to Howard University for the General Board Strategic Planning Retreat. The brotherhood gathered to launch PHASE II of the fraternity’s Strategic Plan. At the top of the day, President Cristal gathered the assembled members at the Centennial Memorial Monument for encouraging words from him and each of the past international presidents in attendance. The session closed the moments of reflection with a prayer and photograph to commemorate the occasion. The retreat took place in The Blackburn Student Center with the day’s meals sponsored by Sodexo. After breakfast, the attendees participated in two icebreakers, one which required attendees to line up according to their year of initiation in reverse order, so that the oldest initiated brother present would be last. It was recognized that there was a nearly 50-year span of membership represented at the retreat.
After an update from the Strategic Plan’s PHASE I Champions, teams were assigned as PHASE II Champions, then separated into breakout sessions to begin planning the next phase of focus areas. The next five focus areas include: (6) Programs (7) Policies & Procedures (8) Corporate, Government & Community Partnerships (9) Fundraising (10) Training & Advisor Development.
The retreat concluded with all five champions reporting on their focus area’s preliminary strategic plan, followed by a board development session led by Brother Dr. Ernie Hughes. Honorable Micheal E. Cristal closed out the retreat sharing his vision and timeline for the remainder of the year, extending into 2019.
Brother Antonio McCoy, originally scheduled to facilitate the retreat, was unable to attend due to the Hurricane Florence travel ban. Brother Luzerne McAllister graciously offered to stand in the gap and facilitate the retreat in McCoy’s absence. Fall/Winter 2018 17
LAS VEGAS T H E
P R I D E
A N D
T H E
P O W E R
JULY 9, 2019 - JULY 14, 2019 WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT & CASINO 3 0 0 0 PA R A D I S E R O A D | L A S V E G A S , N V 8 9 1 0 9
LOGIN TO THE BLUPRINT
& REGISTER TODAY!
CONCLAVE 2019 | SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE PRELIMINARY MONDAY, JULY 8TH • EXHIBITORS (SET UP) 7:00AM – 11:59PM | Pavilion 1-3 • REGISTRATION (SET UP) 7:00AM – 12:00PM | Ballroom REG • REGISTRATION 2:00PM – 7:00PM | Ballroom REG
• INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT OFFICE (SET UP) 9:00AM – 5:00PM | Boardroom • INTERNATIONAL HQ OFFICE (SET UP) 9:00AM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rm 1
• HOTEL PRE-CON MEETING 3:00PM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rm 4 • VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION 2:00PM – 4:00PM | Pavilion 10
TUESDAY, JULY 9TH BUILDING SIGMA POWER LEADERS • INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OFFICE 7:00AM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rm 1
• COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT 10:00PM – 3:00PM | OFFSITE
• GENERAL BOARD MEETING 3:00PM – 5:00PM | Pavilion 6
• REGISTRATION 8:00AM – 5:00PM | Ballroom REG
• CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS 10:00AM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rms 7-10
• SIGMA MARKETPLACE RIBBON CUTTING 3:00PM – 6:00PM | Pavilions 1-3
• VENDORS (SET UP) 7:00AM – 11:59PM | Pavilions 1-3
• LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS 10:00AM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rms 11-14
• PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE 3:00PM – 5:00PM | Pavilion 11
• COLLEGIATE ADVISORS UNIVERSITY 8:00AM – 4:00PM | Pavilion 9 • PRODUCTION ROOM (SET UP) 9:00AM – 9:00PM | Conf. Rm 3
• LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 12:00PM – 1:30PM -
• GENERAL BOARD DINNER 6:30PM – 9:00PM | Pavilion 4 • HOSPITALITY 8:00PM – 11:00PM | TBD
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10TH THE POWER OF THE BROTHERHOOD • REGISTRATION 7:00AM – 5:00PM | Ballroom REG
International Programs 10AM – 12PM Conf. Rm 14
Awards & Standards - 2PM – 5PM Conf. Rm 8
• ANNUAL DEMETRIUS C. NEWTON GOLF CLASSIC 7:00AM – 2:30PM | OFFSITE
Law & Revisions 10AM – 12PM Pavilion 11
Credentials - 2PM – 3PM | Conf. Rm 9
• INTERNATIONAL HQ OFFICE 8:00AM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rm 1
Nominations - 10AM – 12PM | Pavilion 11 Resolutions - 10AM – 12PM | Pavilion 10
Elections - 2PM – 4PM | Conf. Rm 11
• PAST PRESIDENTS’ BREAKFAST 8:00AM – 9:30AM | Pavilion 4 • FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES ORIENTATION 8:00AM – 10:00AM | Pavilion 4 • PRODUCTION ROOM 9:00AM – 9:00PM | Conf. Rm 3 • PAGEANT AND STEP SHOW PRACTICES 10:00AM – 5:00PM | Paradise Event Ctr-N • COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Audit - 10AM – 11AM | Conf. Rm 7 Awards & Standards - 10AM – 11AM Conf. Rm 8 Credentials - 10AM – 11AM Conf. Rm 9 DSC - 10AM – 12PM | Conf. Rm 10 Elections - 10AM – 12PM | Conf. Rm 11 Grievance - 10AM – 12PM | Conf. Rm 12 Honorary Members - 10AM – 12PM Conf. Rm 13
20 The Crescent Magazine
Sigma-Zeta Relations - 10AM – 12PM Pavilion 11 • DEBATE COMPETITION 10:00AM – 12:00PM | Pavilion 9 • NOBLE WORKSHOP 10:30AM – 12:00PM | Pavilion 4 • LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS 11:00AM – 12:00PM | Conf. Rms 7, 8, 9 • LUNCH ON YOUR OWN • ORATORICAL COMPETITION 2:00PM – 4:00PM | Pavilion 9 • NOBLE WORKSHOP 2:00PM – 4:00PM Pavilion 4 • HONORARY MEMBER INDUCTION CEREMONY 2:00PM – 4:00PM | Pavilion 10 • COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Audit - 2PM – 3PM | Conf. Rm 7
DSC - 2PM – 4PM | Conf. Rm 10 Grievance - 2PM – 4PM | Conf. Rm 12 International Programs - 2PM – 4PM Conf. Rm 14 Law & Revisions - 2PM – 3PM | Pavilion 11 Nominations - 2PM – 3PM | Pavilion 11 Sigma-Zeta Relations - 2PM – 3PM Pavilion 11 • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS 3:00PM – 4:00PM | Conf. Rms 7, 8, 9 • VIP HOLDING ROOM 5:30PM – 6:30PM | Pavilion 4 • OPENING CEREMONY 6:30PM – 9:00PM | Paradise Event CTR-S • PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION 9:00PM – 11:00PM | Pavilion 9-11 • HOSPITALITY 10:00PM – 12:00AM | Pavilion 4
CONCLAVE 2019 | SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE PRELIMINARY THURSDAY, JULY 11TH THE POWER OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS • DELEGATE VERIFICATION/VOTING TOOL DISTRIBUTION 6:00AM – 9:00AM | Pavilion Foyer 7:40am-8:15am Eastern
7:40am-8:15am Great Lakes
• SIGMA MARKETPLACE 9:00AM – 7:00PM Pavilions 1-3 • CHAPTER DISPLAYS 9:00AM – 5:00PM Exterior of Pavilions 4-6
8:20am-8:40am Southeastern
• REGIONAL MEETINGS 10:00AM – 11:30AM Conf. Rms 7-13, Pavs 4, 6, 9-11
8:40am-9:00am Southwestern
• LUNCH ON YOUR OWN 11:30AM – 1:00PM
8:20am-8:40am Gulf Coast 8:40am-9:00am Southern 8:40am-9:00am Western
• REGISTRATION 7:00AM – 5:00PM | Ballroom REG • INTERNATIONAL HQ OFFICE 8:00AM – 5:00PM | Conf. Rm 1 • BREAKFAST WITH THE CANDIDATES 8:00AM – 10:00AM | Paradise Event CTR-N • MISS PBS PAGEANT REHEARSALS 8:00AM – 4:00PM Paradise Event CTR-S • PRODUCTION ROOM 9:00AM – 9:00PM | Conf. Rm 3
• COLLEGIATE PIZZA LUNCHEON (COLLEGIANS ONLY) 11:30AM – 1:00PM | Pavilion 4 • LIFE MEMBERS LUNCHEON 11:30AM – 1:00PM Pavilion 6 • PLENARY SESSION I 1:30PM – 5:30PM | Paradise Event CTR-N • INTERNATIONAL STEP SHOW COMPETITION PRACTICES 4:00PM – 6:00PM | Paradise Event CTR-S
• SIGMA EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL RECEPTION 5:30PM – 6:30PM | Pavilion 4 • GENERAL BOARD MEETING (Special Meeting) 5:30PM – 6:30PM | Pavilion 6 • DINNER ON YOUR OWN 6:00PM – 7:00PM • DSC DINNER (DSC ONLY) 6:30PM – 8:00PM | Pavilion 4 • MISS INTERNATIONAL PHI BETA SIGMA PAGEANT 7:00PM – 8:30PM | Paradise Event CTR-S • INTERNATIONAL STEP SHOW COMPETITION & PARTY 8:30PM – 11:00PM | Paradise Event CTR-S • HOSPITALITY 10:00PM – 12:00AM | Pavilion 4
FRIDAY, JULY 12TH THE POWER OF OUR SERVICE • REGISTRATION 7:00AM – 5:00PM | Ballroom REG
• SIGMA MARKETPLACE 10:00AM – 7:00PM | Pavilions 1-3
• DEBATE COMPETITION: FINAL 8:00AM – 9:00AM Pavilion 6
• OMEGA & REDEDICATION CEREMONIES 7:00AM – 8:00AM | Paradise Event CTR-N
• INTERNATIONAL HQ OFFICE 8:00AM – 5:00PM Conf. Rm 1
• PBSFCU ANNUAL BREAKFAST MEETING 8:00AM – 9:00AM | Pavilion 4
• PRODUCTION ROOM 9:00AM – 9:00PM Conf. Rm 3
• PLENARY SESSION II 9:00AM – 11:30AM | Paradise Event CTR-N
• ALAIN LEROY LOCKE HONORS CHAPTER INDUCTION 5:00PM – 6:00PM | Pavilion 6 • DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CHAPTER INDUCTION CEREMONY 6:00PM – 7:00PM | Pavilion 4 • GRAND ORCHID BALL 8:00PM – 1:00PM | Paradise Event CTR-S
• INTERNATIONAL AWARDS LUNCHEON 12:00PM – 2:30PM | Paradise Event CTR-S
SATURDAY, JULY 13TH BROTHERHOOD FIRST: THE POWER OF FELLOWSHIP • INTERNATIONAL HQ OFFICE 8:00AM – 12:00PM | Conf. Rm 1
• PLENARY SESSION III 8:00AM – 12:00PM | Paradise Event CTR-N
• ENJOY LAS VEGAS!! 1:00PM – Until!!!
• SIGMA MARKETPLACE 9:00AM – 6:00PM | Pavilions 1-3
SUNDAY, JULY 14TH THE POWER WITHIN • POST GENERAL BOARD MEETING 8:00AM – 9:30AM | Pavilion 6
Fall/Winter 2018 21
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT AFA 2018
E
ach year hundreds of Greek Advisors from across the nation gather to discuss, review and share information on vital subjects and issues focused on fraternities and sororities. The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors held its Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana from Thursday, November 29th through Sunday, December 2nd. The AFA membership is comprised of professionals employed by colleges and universities responsible for Greek Life, as well as all Greek-lettered organizations represented in the National Pan Hellenic Council, Inc., Interfraternity Council, and Pan-Hellenic Council.
Phi Beta Sigma's delegation consisted of Hon. Micheal E. Cristal, International President, Jean B. Lamothe, International First Vice President, Chris V. Rey, Director of Social Action, T.J. Lewis, Director of Collegiate Affairs, Honorable Bro. Daryl A. Anderson, International Executive Director, and Rafael Matos, Director of Sigma Leadership Academy. Phi Beta Sigma was also represented at the AFA conference by members of the Regional Directors Council, including Brothers David A. Turner, Great Lakes; Edwin K. Miles, Gulf Coast (Chair, Regional Directors Council); Dr. Lawrence Rouse, Southeastern; Roy Edmonds, Southern, and Mark A. Armstrong, Western. Also in attendance were members of the Sigma Professional Advisors Council (SPAC), made up of Sigma brothers employed in Greek Affairs at various colleges and universities.
Similar to most meetings, the 4-day conference offered attendees business meetings, educational tracks, meal and award functions and social events. The most anticipated and informative activity was the two days of Fireside Chats, where fraternity leaders were given the opportunity to engage directly with university representatives. This forum allowed them to speak directly on matters related to chapters on their specific campuses. President Cristal, along with the Council of Presidents, participated in an NPHC Forum where they fielded questions. For the third year, Phi Beta Sigma was the only NPHC organization to make a presentation to conference attendees. During Education Block #4, the organization presented the topic #dosomethingnow: Addressing Members Expectations of the Organization's Civic Engagement. Brothers Rafael Matos, Chris Rey and Daryl Anderson presented on the topic which featured Phi Beta Sigma's Social Action Program, its history and initiatives. The presentation also highlighted the fraternity's successful partnerships with current corporate service organizations and newly established Memorandums of Understanding. Immediately following the presentation, the spotlight was on Phi Beta Sigma as the fraternity's Social Action Program was honored with AFA's 2018 Diversity & Social Justice Initiative award during the luncheon. On Friday evening, Jennifer M. Jones, Immediate Past President of the National Pan Hellenic Council and members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. were recognized for their years of service and leadership during the NPHC Reception.
24 The Crescent Magazine
The NPHC Town Hall featured a presentation on Saturday evening entitled "Six Point Strategy for Collegiate Councils". During the AFA Meeting in 2017, NPHC leaders and campus professionals met to identify issues impacting councils and chapters on their campus under six themes: Academic Performance, Hazing, Sexual Assault, Chapter Size, Risk Management and Leadership Development. This Town Hall presentation included the required actions to develop into a plan, which request feedback to ensure that as much information as possible was captured.
The Sigma delegation fellowshipped over dinner with Grand Basileus Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker and members of her leadership team and also over lunch with the Sigma Professional Advisors Council.
Fall/Winter 2018 25
International
SIGMA DAY OF SERVICE
From Western Plains to Eastern Hills, the Brotherhood of Conscious Men actively served communities around the globe on Saturday, September 22nd. On this day, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity chapters rendered countless service hours impacting the lives of citizens nationwide. The International Program Directors provided chapters with two valuable resources to assist them with planning their specific Sigma Day of Service activity. The Sigma Day of Service Chapter Tool Kit and the Fall 2018 Chapter Planning Tool Kit encouraged chapters to be intentional as to which program best fit their community’s need. 26 The Crescent Magazine
Some chapters chose education initiatives, while others rendered service in the areas of business, social action or mentoring. Social media was flooded with Sigma Day of Service posts showing the fraternity in various activities of service. Kudos to those chapters who forwarded their posts and submitted their stories to the International Headquarters. In this issue, we showcase several chapters who committed to the special day of service— when duty called, they responded.
EDUCATION
Nu Sigma Sigma Chapter, Harford County/ Greater Baltimore Metro, MD, established a partnership with Sigma REACH, the chapter’s foundation arm and provided $2,000 in backpacks and various school supplies to local organizations. The recipients of the donations were the Langston Hughes Community Resource and Training Center, Church of the Holy Trinity, Ruth Kirk Center, the No One Left Behind Program and the Sigma Beta Club. The backpacks were filled with composition books, folders, Sharpies, glue sticks, index cards, erasers, rulers, pencils, pens, white paper and scissors. Chapter members, in conjunction with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), welcomed back students on their first day of school at the Southwest Academy. This marks the second consecutive year Nu Sigma Sigma chapter has done the
SOCIAL ACTION
The Brothers of Rho Epsilon Sigma, New York, NY collaborated with City Harvest of New York to take steps in ending hunger in the surrounding communities. City Harvest is New York City’s largest food resource organization, helping to feed more than 1.2 million New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. On this particular afternoon, 5,335 pounds of unsold produce was rescued for distribution to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens and other community partners across the five boroughs.
educational project. The chapter members and NOBLE members were dressed in professional business attire. The project is designed to promote positive images of African-American males, to show support for the school and to encourage the students to strive for academic excellence. In the spirit of community service and participation, the chapter collected and purchased over 200 books donated to the Langston Hughes Community Resource and Training Center. The large selection of books was provided for young leaders. The center, located in Baltimore, is under the direction of Brother George Mitchell. During the State Leadership Conference, the Brothers of the State of Mississippi donated supplies to the LeFlore County School District, along with a $400 donation.
The chapter provided a helping hand with collecting a variety of produce from more than 50 local farmers in the Union Square Farmers Market. “Aligning our local actions with the international vision turned this day into a great and rewarding experience,” stated the Social Action Chairman and event organizer Brother Jean Cherfils. The Alpha Omega Sigma Chapter, Ft. Knox, KY joined the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority by beautifying the lands and greenspace along their Adopt-A-Highway stretch. Omicron Beta Sigma Chapter, Fall/Winter 2018 27
Baton Rouge, LA, also cleaned sections of the Adopt-A-Highway supporting their efforts to keep America beautiful. Several other chapters decided to beautify their adopted freeways and highways, including Lambda Iota Sigma, San Diego, CA, Epsilon Alpha Sigma, New Orleans, LA, Pi Gamma Sigma, and Theta Beta Sigma, New Orleans, LA. The Phi Beta Sigma Chapter, Los Angeles, CA collected cleaning products and supplies to support Forgotten Children, Inc., an organization that combats human trafficking. Pi Psi Sigma Chapter, Chicago, IL, decided to enhance the community by cleaning a children’s play lot for the Chicago Park District’s Jackson Park on the city’s southeast side, and also joined the sisters of
MENTORING
For the International Sigma Day of Service, the Delta Omicron Sigma Chapter, St. Petersburg, FL, combined Social Action with Mentoring by joining the chapter’s Sigma Beta Club in service. The brothers and club members volunteered by passing out water during the “One Step Closer to the Cure” Marathon, sponsored by the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation.
28 The Crescent Magazine
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Xi Mu Zeta Chapter in conducting voter registration. The Sigmas of Jersey Shore participated in the Autism Awareness Walk. The Brothers of Tampa, Florida received media attention for supporting Habitat for Humanity by completing the landscaping of two newly constructed homes for needy families. Theta Mu Sigma Chapter, Dallas, TX, chose to Feed the Homeless, along with their Sigma Beta Club, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Zeta Theta Sigma Chapter, Rock Hill, SC was joined by Nu Chi Chapter and the Sigma Beta Club to render service to Pilgrim’s Inn, a women’s shelter in the city.
These are a small sampling of the thousands of hours of community service rendered by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity chapters around the nation. As A Brotherhood of Conscious Men Actively Serving Our Communities, Sigma is intentional on impacting our schools, community centers, social service agencies, neighborhoods and lands.
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Brother
GERALD D. SMITH REMEMBERED 2 nd INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
By Honorable Brother Peter M. Adams, Esq., 30th International President
Rockville, MD.
B
ro. Smith devoted some of his best years to Phi Beta Sigma. As the 2nd titled International Executive Director (there was the position of National Executive Secretary before), he spent countless hours and weekends in Headquarters, and wrote some of the computer programs used for membership tracking. He was a student of history and our African culture and heritage, a very fine writer, a Past Editor of The Crescent, and the 16th Eastern Regional Director. While Gerald was Executive Director and I was Eastern Regional Director, I remember our times interacting with the Brotherhood, including at the renown Philly Greek Picnic. Gerald had his pen and flip-pad in hand (no cell phones then) capturing the contact information for the drones of non-financial Brothers who were known to attend, so that we could reclaim them to the financial rolls. I clearly recall an eloquent poem that he penned in memory of my mother when she passed. Easily, 100 Brothers came out to pay their respects, and express support for his wife, Zeta Phi Beta Soror Lynette and sons Jason and Steve (Sigma Brother), and Family.
30 The Crescent Magazine
It’s been almost 30 years since Gerald left office as the IED. He was a thoughtful brother, and unafraid to give his unvarnished opinion and insights to the General Board regarding the operation and best practices in delivering service to the Brotherhood. In his later years, steeped in his embrace of African culture, he chose to begin every communication with the Egyptian salutation: “Hotep”: I come In Peace. It is also interpreted: At Peace. Bro. Gerald is at Peace, and May his Soul Rest In Peace from his labors in the vineyard of Sigma.
HIS LIFE STORY
(excerpt from the sevice program)
Gerald D. Smith was born on February 14, 1945 to Rhoda J. Carrison and Lawrence Edward Smith in Harlem, Hospital in New York City and educated both in the schools of that city and Washington, D.C. Following graduation from Peter Stuyvesant High School (a special science preparatory high school) he began his collegiate experience in 1963 as a member of Howard University’s centennial class (1963-1967) in pursuit of what was colloquially known as “culture”, but more commonly recognized today as a college education. This theme of culture, unbeknownst to him at the time would frequently reoccur, become one of his life’s educational pursuits, and enable him to effortlessly resonate with those making his acquaintance personally, professionally and in service to the community. He joined the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Choir on his second Sunday of enrollment and continued for forty years. While pursuing his education, he met a talented and affable, young microbiology student, Lynette R. Francis. He soon realized that he’d identified the love of his life, and they eventually married. Gerald fulfilled his collegiate educational pursuit, graduating from the university with a major in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. As an undergraduate student during the 1960s, his ideology closely aligned with those labeled as “radicals” because of their demands for change and unwillingness to be satisfied with the status quo. His impression of fraternities and sororities on campus at the time was anything but favorable as he regularly found himself at political odds with their members. On 32 The Crescent Magazine
one chance day, while walking across campus, a diminutive young fraternity man walked up to Gerald and said, “I want you to pledge my fraternity” and shoved a copy of a periodical entitled “Our Cause Speeds On Its Way” under his arm. Gerald, astonished by the statement and irritated by the presumption that he’d be associated with those of that ilk sternly replied, “Do you know who I am?” That young man, Julius Amaker was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The fraternity’s motto, “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity” was something that appealed to Gerald’s sensibilities and desires to begin serving others with the education (aka “culture”) he’d recently completed at the university. In 1968, he joined the fraternity’s Alpha Chapter as a graduate. Gerald began his professional career in the public health field, working in various capacities at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (clinical chemist) and in the Prince George’s County Maryland Health Department System (food and water chemist). In 1971, he accepted a research position in the Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. In this capacity, Gerald was highly commended for his contribution to hormone research and the computerization of data production and data evaluation relative to hormone research. It was also in this professional role that he demonstrated his scientific acumen, adeptness for learning (taught himself computer programming) and began cultivating the organizational skills that would later allow him to amplify his service to others.
The fraternity also recognized these diverse skills and penchant for service, naming him Eastern Regional Secretary, and later electing him Eastern Regional Director. The fraternity’s membership was so pleased with his stewardship and service that it lured him away from his interests in the chemistry profession in 1978 to officially designate him as its first full time National Executive Director, responsible for organizing, directing and managing all of the fraternity’s day to day operations, serving for twelve years. He wrote programs to automate the fraternity’s membership services, refined organizational processes, worked cooperatively with a vibrant headquarters staff, and demonstrated a tireless commitment to the brotherhood to enable the fraternity’s chapters to efficiently serve communities. He was also elected president for the organization’s first graduate chapter, Alpha Sigma. The Sigma Sigma Sigma Chapter was the place he proudly called home for the remainder of his fifty years of membership and life’s service to others through the fraternity. Gerald was a voracious reader, recognizing early that in order to serve others, one’s culture (knowledge) had to be broad, deep and properly oriented. He became a selfproclaimed “born again African”, taking the name Asagai Abejinde Cazembe-Musa as a result of his exposure to a number of African-centered books recommended by one of his fraternal mentors, Ancestor Bro. Richard Alleyne. Titles such as The MisEducation of the Negro, The Destruction of Black Civilization, The African Origin of Civilization and The Autobiography of
Malcolm X are but a few foundational texts that would reorient his thinking to make people of African descent (i.e., Negro, Blacks, African-Americans, Continental Africans) “the subject” of history and not is object. He formed the African Renaissance Institute, a think tank and presentationseminar vehicle to formally enable him to emphasize and lecture about topics to include Afrocentricity; Decoding Societal Racism/White Supremacy, Bridging Philosophical & Cultural Differences; Organizational Management and Development; the Construction of Organizational Constitution and Bylaws; and Parliamentary Procedure.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Soror Lynette Smith, two sons Jason (Monica) and Steven (Yvette), three grandchildren Najia, Kameron and Christian, his mother Rev. Rhoda C. Nixon, sister JoAnne Stanback, niece Michelle, nephews Michael, Matthew, Linwood, Sean, and Darryl, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, study group brothers and sisters, family and friends.
Fall/Winter 2018 33
TRILOGY OF CHANGE IT STARTS WITH OUR YOUTH
The year 1950 was significant in the United States, and particularly for local communities. The country was just a few years removed from World War II, and working to rebuild itself as a world power. The result of years of war was the depletion of economic and human resources-America spent huge sums of money on the war effort, and many who served as soldiers or worked in factories to support the war effort set aside academics. After the conclusion of WWII, many institutions of higher learning needed to rebuild, which subsequently affected education at all levels— less trained professors meant less teachers. Less available money for education at governmental levels meant less than adequate schools and less people being educated. And for the Black community, less was significantly magnified….. Black Greek-lettered organizations were directly affected by WWII, and the nowimpending Korean conflict. Many of the nation’s best and brightest African American men were sent off to war, which resulted in smaller numbers of Black men going to college and preparing for professional life. Already struggling for equal rights, wars took bright minds off college campuses and away from the causes promoted by Black fraternities and sororities. BGLOs were practically starting from square one in 1950; but they understood that they had to keep up the fight for equality and education in order to survive in America. Keeping the dreams of brighter tomorrows in Black communities meant that more African Americans had to be encouraged to pursue education at all levels. Black Greek organizations had to keep their communities encouraged, through greater outreach at the local levels. In 1950, Dr. Parlett L. Moore, principal of Carver High School and Junior College in Montgomery County, Maryland was elected as the 20th President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. With 20 years of experience in
school systems and a wealth of knowledge on being black in America, Honorable Bro. Moore led the fraternity in its quest to promote education in the African American community, and to continue fighting for equal rights in this country. During his term as National President, Sigma joined other Black Greeklettered organizations to force the Supreme Court to decide on the Brown vs. Board of Education case. But he would not stop there— he understood the necessity of Black people being solidly educated. He also understood that academics was not necessarily the first thing on the minds of heads of Black families in 1950—in many cases, the survival of Black families might mean that every able body would have to work, no matter how young. So there had to be some way to help young African American men know the importance of a strong work ethic and solid academic preparation. Who better positioned to promote this cause than successful Black men who were beating the odds? As National Director of Education in 1954, Brother Dr. Moore established the first Sigma Beta Club in Montgomery, Alabama. Per SBC Foundation President and ‘unofficial’ historian, Honorable Brother Arthur R. Thomas, the original intent of this “Beta” Club was to provide an informal way for the Montgomery alumni chapter to mentor young men, with the hope of also introducing them to the Fraternity. While the idea of local alumni chapters forming interest groups did not take off immediately, the seed was planted, and the General Board was constantly nudged about the idea of encouraging chapters to provided mentorship in more formal ways. Beta Clubs were started through some local chapters across the country, but the official formation and support of a national “Sigma Beta” Club did not take root until the 1990s. Prior to becoming Sigma’s 31st International President, Bro. Arthur Thomas had a deep interest in formalizing the idea set forth by Bro. Dr. Moore. He promoted the idea of creating Summer 2018 35
a formal structure at the top to assist alumni chapters in creating Sigma Beta clubs. The purpose was to “provide structure at the National level” for a program which could potentially have a significant impact on the growth of the Fraternity going forward. While alumni chapters were encouraged to establish these clubs in their communities, they needed the formal support of the International body to give the program credibility. In 1997, Honorable Bro. Thomas was successful in getting support for a constitutional amendment which would provide for the creation of the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, which would provide oversight and support for the local clubs. As Sigma’s 31st International President, Bro. Thomas would make the Sigma Beta Club one of the top priorities of his administration. Although the next years saw very little growth in the numbers of Sigma Beta Clubs around the country, the Sigma Beta Club has claimed a place in the hearts and minds of Sigmas. Through the collaboration of past International Presidents and General Board members, Sigma Beta continues to maintain relevance, especially as the country watches painful changes in how the federal government views race, equality and protections of the basic rights of all its citizens. The result of these changes has resulted in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity stepping up its commitment to mentoring and empowering young men to become leaders within their communities.
36 The Crescent Magazine
THE SIGMA BETA CLUB TODAY
The celebration of Phi Beta Sigma’s 100th Year Anniversary ushered in the beginning of a recommitment to the ideals which were set by Honorable Founders Taylor, Morse and Brown. Under the leadership of its 34th International President, Honorable Jonathan A. Mason, the fraternity introduced to the world a 10-point agenda, laying the foundation for the “I Am My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. This initiative included plans to strengthen Sigma’s commitment to mentoring and guiding young men of color to become successful leaders in their respective communities. With the encouragement of former President Barack Obama, Phi Beta Sigma pledged to develop the “Rise and Thunder” curriculum for its Sigma Beta Clubs, increase the numbers of young men it would engage through the SBC and to work with the federal and local governments to provide more financial resources for this and related programs. In 2013-14, the Rise and Thunder curriculum became a reality, setting a standard by which chapters desiring to form local Sigma Beta clubs would be encouraged to follow. Past Presidents Arthur Thomas and Carter D. Womack worked to increase the presence of the Sigma Beta Club by setting a
solid vision for the National Foundation, and asking brothers to commit to contributing and raising more money for the operation of local clubs and establishing state, regional and national events to bring Sigma Betas together from all parts of the United States. The efforts of Honorable Brother Womack and others dedicated to the cause of Sigma Beta began to yield positive results. The numbers of local chapters which would sponsor Sigma Beta clubs increased over the next years. Greater numbers of young men joined clubs across the country, and more brothers made the commitment to serve as advisors for the local clubs. In 2017 there were more than 1,800 members of Sigma Beta Clubs nationwide, with 350 brothers certified to be advisors for local clubs. During the Cristal administration the leadership of the National Sigma Beta Club shifted to Brother Jenabu C. Williams, a seasoned veteran in Sigma Beta programming and development. As a member of the Chi Sigma chapter, Bro. Williams was part of a team of devoted members who have firsthand experience with developing and Fall/Winter 2018 37
Honorable Micheal Cristal speaks regularly about how a strong male mentoring program can change the African American community. The theme of his administration, “A Brotherhood of Conscious Men, Actively Serving Our Communities” exhibits his desire to move the Fraternity in the direction of building stronger Black communities by guiding and supporting its young men. running a successful Sigma Beta Club in the New Jersey area. His work as an educator and advocate for children has informed how he has begun to make the Sigma Beta Club a viable program for the fraternity. His body of work in sociology, public administration and education, and his years of experience in education and empowering children provide a solid background for the development of what International President Micheal E. Cristal envisions as a “Trilogy of Change” for the program. Jenabu has worked as a special education teacher in the New Jersey area, the Boys’ Club of New York, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union Counties in New Jersey. He has served as the Vice President of the East Orange (New Jersey) Board of Education, and is currently the Vice Principal of Newark Technical High School and Acting Supervisor for the Paterson, NJ Board of Education. For eight years he has served as the Executive Director of the Sigma Community Enrichment Initiative, Inc. Under his leadership, Bro. Williams has established a strong team of Regional Directors to move the National Sigma Beta Club to the next level. They are: James Spence (Eastern); Mark A. Allmon (Southeastern); Dr. M. Anthony Hew (Southwestern); Dr. Walter Stephens (Southern); Timothy McDaniel (Gulf Coast); Larry Hemingway, Sr. (Great Lakes); and Ian Heisser (Western).
38 The Crescent Magazine
President Cristal shares his vision for making the Sigma Beta Club a higher priority for Phi Beta Sigma moving forward. “My vision is to deliver upon the promise of Past President Parlett Moore’s vision in 1950 by building upon the branding, presence and impact of our Sigma Beta Club. When I pursued the Presidency, I said that the centerpiece of our programmatic focus would be the Sigma Beta Club via the Trilogy of Change of the African American Male: Sigma Beta Club Member, Collegiate Member and Young Alumni Member.” His first goal was to find a passionate leader for mentoring boys and young men of color but one who also possessed the skillsets and experience to deliver upon the vision. He shares, “I was fortunate to find all of the attributes and more in Bro. Jenabu Williams, a Brother who has worked tirelessly in mentoring through Chi Sigma’s very successful foundation as well as mentoring young men professionally within his career.
As the two collaborated, the established focus areas became: providing a comprehensive training module for SBC Advisors; measuring the success rate students in the SBC vs non-participants; working with the SBC Foundation in writing grants to support the programmatic focus areas; identifying Alumni chapters with Fraternity houses to turn a section of their house into the Parlett Moore Sigma Beta Club Academies; collaborating with other mentoring organizations to expand the brand of the Sigma Beta Club; growing the number of alumni chapters sponsoring Sigma Beta Clubs and holding a bi-annual National Sigma Beta Club Conference. “Here’s when we will know we have been successful. We’re recognized as a premier organization that provides mentoring, nurturing and development of boys and young men of color through our Sigma Beta Club,” says President Cristal. For President Cristal, the Sigma Beta Club is one of the cornerstones to building the fraternity for the future. He recognizes the need for young men of color to see and to interact with professional men, who can help them in determining their respective futures. But he also expresses his specifically for young men of color today. “My greatest concern for young men of this generation is not growing up to their fullest potential. I want us to take some time to reflect on mentorship. Mentorship, at its core, is an affirmation to our boys that there is at least one person in this world who cares about him, assures him that he is not alone in dealing with daily challenges, and makes him feel like his life matters.” Research supports that well-developed mentoring relationships have powerful positive effects on young people in a variety of personal, academic, and professional situations. Mentorship provides young people personal growth and development, and social and economic opportunities. Consider that students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class; students who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor; youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking; young people who meet regularly with a
mentor are 81% more likely to participate regularly in sports or extracurricular activities than those who do not; mentoring promotes positive social attitudes and relationships. Mentored youth tend to trust their parents more and communicate better with them; and mentors can help provide their mentees with professional preparation and career advice. “I want our SBC to serve as a supplement to families in fostering a support system for boys and young men of color living up to their GREATEST POTENTIAL!,” shares the President. For the national Sigma Beta Club, the future is bright. The National Foundation continues to work with the Boy Scouts of America and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services under previously established “Memorandum of Understanding” agreements. Honorable Bro. Arthur Thomas recently renewed the partnership with USFWS, and looks forward to the development of more activities to educate young men of color about the natural resources of this country. The numbers of interested, active Sigma Betas continues to grow—as of Fall 2018, there were 2,250 members in 92 chapters nationwide. And more brothers are catching the vision, with more than 400 certified advisors providing support for the young men in their communities. The vision of Dr. Parlett Moore is alive and well, as our “Cause Speeds On”. By: BRO. KENT POINDEXTER Iota Nu Sigma Chapter Chicago, IL | Great Lakes Region
THE “TRILOGY OF CHANGE” IN REAL LIFE: Brother George Darby tells his story If you ever want to see an example of how visions become reality, look up Brother George Darby, current State Director of New Jersey and Second Vice President of Chi Sigma chapter. His real-life story is one which sounds like a movie or television show—kid from the inner city makes good—except it’s real life. Brother Darby grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey under some of the most unimaginable circumstances. The neighborhood was infested with drug dealers and drug users; his family was no exception. In fact, he shares that family members thought he was crazy for believing that he could do something to get out of the vicious cycle which was claiming lives right in front of him. When he told them he wanted to be an artist, they laughed at him, and told him he was crazy. George was determined to prove them wrong. He recalls his first encounter with Phi Beta Sigma as an 8th grader, who spotted some “fine girls” on the school drill team. The coach of the team was Brother Anthony Arnold, who spotted he and his friends checking out the girls, and made friends with them. Seeing their curiosity and energy, Bro. Anthony formed a Sigma Beta Club with George, two cousins and three other classmates. This club eventually grew to nearly 100 members! These young men would meet Sigma men from the surrounding areas—Black men who had attended and graduated from college, enjoying successful professional careers! Bro. Darby continued to be active in the Sigma Beta Club all the way through high school. He eventually met Brother Nigel Coelho, a neophyte attending Seton Hall University who also worked with the Plainfield Sigma Betas. Though he was doing well in school, life was not without its hiccups. George fell in love in 40 The Crescent Magazine
his sophomore year, and that love produced his first son, Joseph Darby, who eventually followed in dad’s footsteps as a member of the Plainfield Sigma Betas and joined Phi Beta Sigma in Spring, 2016 through the chapter at Bloomfield College. Bro. Coelho and others encouraged George to stay in school and to share his experiences of being a teen parent. He graduated and attended Bloomfield College, where he bumped into Nigel Coelho, his mentor at a party at Seton Hall. Bro. Coelho eventually “drafted” him (with son Joseph in tow) into Sigma in 1998. Bro. Darby met and married his wife Tinika, and added three children to their family—younger son Jason joined the Plainfield Sigma Betas with his brother and is still a member of the Club in Newark. Their two sisters are active with the Zetas as members of the Archonettes and the Amicaes. Brother George Darby is a witness to the power of mentoring young men through the Sigma Beta Club. He has lived the concept of the “Trilogy of Change”, and passes his experience and wisdom on to his family and all who will hear his story.
IT’S TIME TO COME HOME BROTHER.
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TAKING IT FROM THE STREETS: WHY FUBU’S BUSINESS MODEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE RIGHT FIT
Picture it. Queens, N.Y., 1992. A group of young black men are putting together a business based on the needs of their peers who had spent their teen years growing up in hip hop turning it from just music into their own urban culture. There are four of them: Keith Perrin, who started working when he was just 14 and by 18 had started a career in real estate first with Housing and Urban Development, then went on to manage a 200-unit complex in Harlem. Then there’s J. Alexander Martin, a young man with loads of tenacity and an entrepreneurial spirit to go with it, but also military discipline having served in the U.S. Navy during the Desert Storm and an understanding of markets, and the industry from attending New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. With them is Carl Brown, himself looking for opportunities to create style statements for the black men in his neighborhood who were emulating the hip hop fashions they saw their favorite rappers wearing. He grew up next door to his friend Daymond John, who was working at Red Lobster to make ends meet, and was selling tie-top hats with him when they realized they could make their own statements by making the hats themselves. They brought in Martin and Perrin to expand on the venture in embryo that soon became t-shirts, jeans and other gear under a label they said was made “For Us By Us” hence the name FUBU. Fast forward 26 years and FUBU has become an international brand, recognizable inside and outside hip-hop culture and is worn by people of every nationality, having earned more than $6 billion in global sales and an estimated net worth of $250 million. The brand has since expanded into mobile phones, hotels and online radio and more ventures are ahead. In 2009, Perrin, Brown and Martin joined our Wondrous Band as honorary Sigma Men, committing their time, expertise and wisdom to the organization as they continue with their growing business ventures and promotion of their original brand. The three brothers sat down to speak with The Crescent about what it takes to succeed, their vision for their own contributions to the Fraternity and what they plan on talking about at Conclave 2019 in Las Vegas, including what could turn out to be a master class in entrepreneurial thinking. The Crescent: You three, along with Daymond John, were some hip-hop young men in Queens on the hustle, grinding. Did you have any idea that you would be building the FUBU brand to what it is today?
to, we were able to ask him questions which he would write down, then go to school and get them answered and come back and let us know what we should be doing and how we should be doing it and that helped us a lot.
Keith Perrin: I don’t think we ever even thought this big, I think it was just more or less, we would have a store and we would sell some of the products we made. I don’t think we had any inkling that it would be this big. [J. Alexander] held us down a lot with the school, (Fashion Institute of Technology) that he went
The Crescent: So it was a gradual business and fashion education as you went along? J. Alexander Martin: (Laughs) Oh yeah. A lot of the time the teacher would say A, but really we were doing B and B actually was working and A wasn’t. Summer 2018 43
Carl Brown: J definitely had the vision, a little more insight than us, but as far as being in business, with Keith and J and Daymond, I didn’t know where we would land, but I knew it would be in a better place than I was at. So, I was willing to do whatever it took, be it the fashion or anything else. I knew I was with some good partners. The Crescent: For each of you, what was your individual motivation to create a fashion brand at the beginning? J. Alexander Martin: You know, it’s funny. My motivation more so was, I just really wanted to be in the business. So, hook or crook, if I could convince these guys that there is a business in fashion or there’s money in fashion, then I can get these guys to piggyback and build something. Actually, I went to the military, trying to be in fashion -- I don’t know what the hell I was thinking -- but I got out and I was able to use my money that I got out with and I was able to use the G.I. Bill to go to school and I pursued what I wanted to do. Keith Perrin: The funny thing is back when we first started, we couldn’t buy fabric, they wouldn’t sell us fabric because we dressed a certain way -- we didn’t have on suits. So, this guy right here used to go out and buy $600 Gucci pants J. Alexander: You know I got them on sale, right? (laughter) They didn’t cost me $600! Perrin: Yeah, he got them on sale, but still this is how he envisioned fashion and he more or less breathed it, like, we can turn this into something that’s bigger than just hats and t-shirts. So I had a vision and Daymond had his vision and we just stuck together and came out with what you guys know today as FUBU. Brown: The slogan I always say now is “dress how you want to be addressed,” and back then they weren’t accepting young guys from the ‘hood walking in places and asking questions because they’d probably think we’re trying to rob them. 44 The Crescent Magazine
Perrin: But you know the flip side to that is once we made it and we had on all this hiphop gear, we never dressed up. We’d even go to black tie events with jeans, hooded FUBU stuff on. We’d do that on purpose because we could and then they started to complain and say ‘listen, could you tell your guys...you know they’ve got enough money to buy a suit and that’s when we started FUBU suits and tuxedos. The Crescent: Right, but essentially FUBU became sort of a celebration of black men and it made it so that it was okay to be dressed up or dressed down, as long as you were clean with it. Was that your intent early on? Was the strategy to have a way to have brothers and sisters dress in a way that would allow them to be themselves and not apologize for it. J. Alexander: There was definitely an acceptance. Instead of people looking at us as some young knuckleheads, they looked at us as businessmen, regardless of what we looked like. But then again there’s a hierarchical standard. When you go in certain places, you dress appropriately. Perrin: When you see me know, this is how I dress (he is dressed in a jean outfit and FUBU cap). If I need to put on a suit, I can. I do a little better now than I did back then, but this is comfortable for me. Brown: When we were coming up, the environment we were in and the people we saw excelling in life were people like Russell Simmons and LL Cool J and they didn’t have to dress up to go to work. And we said, you know what? We’re going to build a business where we’re in a position where we don’t have to dress up to go to work. But like Keith and J said, there’s a hierarchy and you have to kind of dress for the occasion and there’s certain times in business, certain events you have to go to that it demanded that we wear suits so we were lucky and blessed enough to create FUBU suits to go to those occasions with our gear on.
But at the end of the day, we evolved. I think now, I wear more suits than ever because of the different businesses that I’m getting into, so you kind of evolve and you kind of deal with each situation accordingly. The Crescent: Back in the day, early 90s’, even late 80s, there was a lot of competition from a lot of different brands that were trying to get hold of the urban market. There was Pelle Pelle, Marc Buchanan, Cross Colors, Giribaud, there were a lot trying to take over. How did your group crack the urban code so that you could take over the niche? J. Alexander: The companies that you named are companies that were creating whatever they were creating and we adopted them. So, you can’t adopt something that you birth. We birthed this. This is what we do. This is who we are. So, there’s a certain authenticity about it. We know a thing intrinsically because we were raised that way. Not creating something and saying hopefully they’ll like it. They like it because it’s inside them to like it, that’s what they live. Perrin: Also, we were the consumers. We were making it trendy, we were taking these ski jackets and twisting them up and Timberlands and doing all this stuff. It’s just the way we did it in the ‘hood and so when we heard that certain companies didn’t want the urban kids wearing their clothes or their products, we were like what are you talking about? We’re the ones who are making you rich. We’re the ones who are putting money in your pocket. If we buy a pair of boots, we buy two or three pairs of boots a month. So, when all of this came about, we just felt really frustrated. All of these companies were making money off our backs and they’re not even giving back to us or putting anything back in the ‘hood. They’re just taking, taking, taking and now they say they don’t want us wearing their stuff after they made a gazillion dollars. So that’s how the whole FUBU thing was birthed.
The Crescent: Well, that actually leads me to my next question, what share of the market did you take when this thing hit big? Brown: If you’re talking about hard numbers we have to go back and do the research but I think we controlled the market as far as what was going to be hot and what trends were going to be hot for the next season. But as far as numbers, I think we probably held at one time as much as a 30 percent share of the men’s markets as far as sportswear goes. It was actually a level of arrogance. When people said what makes us think we could go beyond everyone else, it wasn’t that we thought we could or couldn’t, we just did what came natural, so we had that arrogance about us that losing wasn’t even an option. We just felt like what we did was hot, everything we made was what we liked and it just so happened that it was what another 100 million other black guys in urban communities liked as well.
J. Alexander: Carl and I were talking about this once. The thing about why we were so successful I think is because, one, you have four different personalities and with four different personalities you have four different kinds of flavors of what people like or dislike. The second part is me going into the military and meeting all different types of people and going overseas and learning that the world is bigger than your block. So with all that combined it was like a perfect storm. You had so many intricate things from zippers to colors to all these different things that came together in one garment that you would think that Fall/Winter 2018 45
fine, they just sewed it up and put it together, but no there’s a lot that went into it; a lot of thought that we kind of just did. So when someone saw it and they lived in Detroit, they liked it. If they saw it in Milwaukee, they liked it. Back then, I had never been to Milwaukee in my life. Milwaukee was beer. Idaho was potatoes, but all these people like it because we had that thought pattern of all the masses. Perrin: It was also seeing four young black men doing something positive, sticking together and starting a business and not really walking around with our hands out trying to ask a bunch of people could they invest in our stuff. We just went out, did what we had to do and made it happen. By the time everybody else was able to see it, we were on a run already. We designed what we liked, so it wasn’t like ‘hey, I want to design something so that you’ll like it.’ It was I’m going to design what I like and if we like it, you’ll like it. The Crescent: Talk to me about your individual visions within the Fraternity and the things you’d like to achieve as Sigma men. What are some of the things you’d like to accomplish? Perrin: I’m more into educating and uplifting the kids. I like going to chapter meetings and sitting with the young brothers coming up in the fraternity and just chopping it up with them and letting them know that I’m there for whatever they need as far as mentorship or guidance or whatever I can help with. But I love speaking to the kids and I see it as a vital area for me to be in with the Fraternity because it’s a bunch of young black brothers trying to come up and trying to figure it out. I’ve somewhat figured it out already, I mean, I don’t know everything but I got a little figured out so if I can spread that word to them and just uplift them or give them the help that they need to get to the next level. I used to manage apartments up in Harlem back in the days and at 20 years old I got
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promoted to property manager, so I was running this big 200-unit complex and when my boss promoted me he said: “Never be afraid to reach back and lift the next black man up the ladder.” That’s always been my motivation. Plus, I like the camaraderie of it; I don’t have any older brothers so when I’m sitting down talking to a lot of older Frat and the knowledge that they’re spitting to me, it brings me back to a time where we had the OGs in the neighborhood and they would sit down and give you that knowledge that you would need to further yourself. J. Alexander: I’m president of the New York State Black Chamber of Commerce, I’m spokesperson for the [National] Urban League Young Professionals...I tour around the states and I speak about entrepreneurship. I just wrote a book called “Money Makes Me Crazy,” so my main focus is entrepreneurship. I know that when I first started, learning this on the fly and having the support of three people telling me that I’ve gotta come with the right answer or I look crazy, I want to help all the Frats in that respect. So when they have that kind of problem or when they want to do something on their own, per se. Don’t quit your day job, but there’s other things on the side. Entrepreneurship is big and that’s the only way -- collectively together -- that we’re going to grow as a people. Brown: Well I want to point out a couple things. FIrst, the bottom line is, there’s never been another black-owned brand like this since we started it and FUBU has unlimited potential when it comes to things like the [FUBU Radio] platform Keith is building or J with the television or myself with the commercial development, I believe FUBU will be a billion-dollar company within the next five years either on the public market or private. That’s what I think we’re set up to do and I want the people in our Fraternity to know that if they can offer anything or assist us with anything or any expertise that they may have, we’re all theirs, we need the help. We have a
huge platform and the potential of the brand is unlimited and I want that to be known. As far as what I what I want to do in the future, I guess it’s giving people the knowledge that we all have potential. Whatever we want to do, we have it. A lot of times we get caught up in our daily routines, our jobs and our families and different issues we have personally. But we just need that push to let someone know that they can do whatever they want to do and you’ve just got to put your mind to it. I just want to spread that word to everybody because we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe that ourselves. Hopefully I get the chance to spread that word as much as possible. The Crescent: 2019 is going to be big year for Sigma and you all are getting involved through engagement with the Bigger and Better Business Program, so are there initiatives that you are looking to focus on? Perrin: Just being more involved in what’s going on with the Fraternity as well as the Conclave. We spoke with International Director of Honorary Membership Committee, Bro. Craig Collins, International Director of Bigger & Better Business, Bro. Reggie Sluch, Deputy Executive Director Steve Ballard and a few other Frat. We talked about being more involved, speaking to the kids and the brothers during the Conclave this year and just trying to do more together. The message was sometimes honorary members can get brought in and they can get lost in the sauce, and they don’t want us to get lost in the sauce so we’re trying to make a commitment to do much more with the Fraternity. The Crescent: I also understand that you may be presenting entrepreneurial workshops at the Conclave. Can you give us a preview of what we might see? Perrin: Well they just want us to bring our expertise down there [to Las Vegas] and basically tell our story. Some people know our press story, some people know our real story
(laughter), so they want us to tell what’s the real behind what we’re doing and how we’re doing and launching all these things we’re working on. J. Alexander: We’ll have some stuff, not necessarily just conversation but stuff they can download digitally and tests...let me tell you, a lot of times people want to be an entrepreneur, some people aren’t set to be an entrepreneur. So I created a digital test that you can go through so that you can see if you’re acclimated or you’re built really to be an entrepreneur, so there’s a lot of things we’ll include in that when we get there. The Crescent: I never thought about a test to see if you have the aptitude to be an entrepreneur. J. Alexander: Yes. There are so many books out there about do this, or do that. No, you have to have the mindset and if you can’t build the mindset or the drive you cannot be an entrepreneur. So that’s what I’ve developed and it will be ready by then. Perrin: I know a couple of people who are so-called entrepreneurs who are still trying to figure it out after 20 years and they’re no further from when they first started than they are now. And it’s because they don’t have the mindset. They want to be a boss, they don’t want to work for anybody, but they don’t want to pick up a book and figure how to educate themselves to not work for anybody. J. Alexander: To give you a preview, you go through the test and it will show you if you’re more acclimated for this type of job or that type of job and then it will tell you that you may be skewed more to this side or that side, so let’s start you slow and give you an insurance business and give you all the things you need to know for the insurance business. Or you may be into retail, so we help you start an online retail business.
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The Crescent: Is that the key? Because I don’t think they teach things like that in business schools.
-- I can go down the line -- every time you turn around, it’s going to come back to time. So time is very significant.
J. Alexander: No they don’t. Everything is a cookie cutter situation and we weren’t cookie cutter. Although yes, I was going to school and I do promote education but there are some things that you will not learn in a book. So the best teachers are those that can do both. Because if you teach just the street, the stuff you’re going to be missing will be with corporate because there are certain rules and regulations with corporate so that’s not going to work. You have to be able to zig and zag and be able to put your foot in both. That way you don’t just see the goal straight up, you see the vision.
Perrin: I’d say the knowledge I have to spread to other Sigma men. I’ve been down this road before. I’ve seen a lot of trials and tribulations and over the years. I grew up in a single mother household, I was a wild boy. I was that rough kid in the neighborhood and I used to get into a lot of stuff and I was hanging out with the wrong crowd. At 15 or 16, I started traveling with these guys and going different places in different places in different states and I’d say wow, this is what it’s like to travel. But hanging with some of the older guys I was hanging out with, they were getting arrested or killed, just doing all kinds of crazy mess and I wound up getting sucked into that. I wound up getting into an accident when I stole a car when I was 17. I wound up crashing on New Year’s Eve drunk out of my mind, I cut a blood vessel. A doctor told me I could have died. My mother told me I would be dead by 21 if I didn’t stop all this crazy stuff. After that, I switched my whole life around and started hanging with these guys 100 percent because they were actually doing something and going places and then a couple of years later, we started FUBU.
The Crescent: Lastly, what are the things that Sigma men can learn from your experiences? J. Alexander: The start, meaning we would never be where we are if we just didn’t start. And a lot of times, people just don’t start. They’ll sit there and listen to what everybody else is doing and they go, ‘wow I want to be that and I want to do that and I wish I was there,’ but they don’t start. Second to that is time. You need to start at the right time, if you’re put in the right place at the right time
Join Brothers J. Alexander Martin, Keith Perrin and Carl Brown at Conclave 2019 in Las Vegas. REGISTER TODAY
https://thebluprint.phibetasigma1914.org/
By: MADISON J. GRAY
Bro. Madison J. Gray is a New York City-based writer and digital editor who has worked for TIME magazine, the Associated Press, the New York Times, theGrio.com and Ebony. Follow him on Twitter @madisonjgray
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AROUND THE
REGIONS
EASTERN REGION NU SIGMA SIGMA Brothers of the Nu Sigma Sigma, Chapter Harford County/ Baltimore Metro, MD served Thanksgiving dinner to families in the Coldstream Homestead Montebello Community on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. Special thank you to Brother Nigel Ward for spearheading this effort.
RHO EPSILON SIGMA The Brothers of Rho Epsilon Sigma - NYC have made a commitment to ensure the underserved communities in NYC Lower East Side community have the opportunity to enjoy a hot and hearty meal during the Thanksgiving season. For the third year in a row, Rho Epsilon Sigma collaborated with Society of Soles for their 5th Annual Turkey Drive. The money raised online from numerous supporters not only exceeded the fundraising goal, but also resulted in a turkey and other meal essentials being provided to each of the 335 families that were present. The Girls Club of Lower Eastside hosted the event and the energy and festive atmosphere made everyone feel at home. The DJ's playlist of holiday music put smiles on everyone's faces. Bro. Danny Sutton, Bro. Cirilo Miller, Bro. Ray Lewis, Bro. Adrien Percy Jr, Bro. Jay Corbin and Bro. Jean Cherfils were joined by neighborhood volunteers who assisted in preparing the bags with various canned goods and other food items. Rho Epsilon Sigma Chapter President, Danny Sutton stated, "I am truly humbled and grateful to serve those who need a hand; particularly those families who live with financial constraints thus making the holiday season feel more like a burden then a blessing.� 50 The Crescent Magazine
SIGMA BETA CLUB PRESENTS THE SIGMEE AWARDS Answering the call to change the narrative for young men of color, the Sigma Beta Club (SBC) of the Beta Psi Sigma Chapter held their first Louis Gatling, III Sigma Beta Brunch on December 8, 2018, on the campus of Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. During this inaugural event, the young members of the SBC presented the first-ever Sigmee Awards to individuals who have been instrumental in the club’s development.
The well-attended program was excellently executed by members of the SBC and gathered a community of parents and representatives of several local organizations to witness the following recipients being recognized: DR. NIKKI JOSEPHS
REV. BRO. LAMONT GRANBY
DR. BRO. KEVIN TUDOR
BRO. ANTHONY ASH
BRO. DERYK HAMMETT
BRO. TIM UMSTEAD
BRO. FERMIN ESPINOSA
BRO. DAVE ROPER
The Heart Maker Award
The Real O. G. (Outstanding Generosity) Award The Optimist Award
The Peacekeeper Award
The Keep It Pushing Award
6th Man Award
The Piggy Banker Award
The Compassion Award
Preceding each award, a SBC member read the significance of the award’s name and why the respective recipient was chosen. The brunch is named to honor the legacy of the late Bro. Louis Gatling, III who truly exemplified the fraternity’s ideals for over 30 years before his recent passing in November. The SBC motto is “The Next Generation of Leaders: Accepting the Responsibility and Embracing the Challenge.” In addition to learning about Phi Beta Sigma’s three
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international programs: Bigger and Better Business, Education and Social Action, the mentoring program focuses on culture, athletics and a host of social and educational activities. The SBC provides young men with well-rounded character development and informed perspectives necessary to thrive in society. By investing in our youth today, Phi Beta Sigma believes it will produce the transcendent leaders of tomorrow. The advisors to the Beta Psi Sigma Chapter’s SBC are Brothers David Vandiver, John Campbell, Astroon Robinson, Richard Peay, Porterfield Davis, Ornie Reader and Vaughn Hamlet. The chapter was founded in New Rochelle, NY in 1952 and has continuously and dedicatedly served the Westchester/Bronx counties for 66 years.
GREAT LAKES REGION BETA OMICRON SIGMA
Beta Omicron Sigma Columbus, OH hosted their 4th annual Blue Salute Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on November 10th. The event served as an opportunity to honor area veterans for their sacrifice in serving our great nation. In addition, veterans, as well as community members throughout the city of Columbus, OH, enjoyed a free breakfast, as well as keynote remarks from Lt. Col. Samuel Hall, US Army, and Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. Mayor Ginther specifically noted the work that Phi Beta Sigma has been doing in the city during his remarks. It should be noted that our sisters of Zeta Phi Beta showed up in big numbers to support this worthy cause.
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ALPHA ALPHA CHI The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma are making some major moves at Duke University. In light of recent racially charged incidents of hate directed towards students in black spaces on campus at Duke University, the Alpha Alpha Chi chapter made a donation of $10,000 to the Mary Lou Williams Center. According to the chapter the donation was made “as a sign of good faith and our continued support of students across all of the African diaspora here at Duke University.”
“The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture strives to promote racial understanding, build community, and foster an appreciation for and increase knowledge of Black people, Black history, Black culture, and the vast contributions of people of the African Diaspora,” the center’s website states. “Established in 1983, The Center remains a safe, welcoming and supportive space that reflects the core values, culture, mission and perspectives of Duke’s Black community.”
GULF COAST REGION REGIONAL BOARD MEETING
On November 10th, the Gulf Coast Regional Board Meeting was held in Baton Rouge, LA on the campus of Louisiana State University. It was hosted by the Iota Tau and Omicron Beta Sigma chapters and called to order by Bro. Edwin K. Miles, Regional Director. After receiving greetings from the Louisiana State Director and host chapter presidents, brothers in attendance were pleased to receive a greeting from the new Zeta Phi Beta Southern Regional Director Soror Keisha Beasley, who traveled from Houston.
Brother Miles covered a plethora of topics covering the region’s business, such as the successful 2018 Gulf Coast Regional Conference, held in Austin. The conference boasts the highest attendance under his leadership, which offered dynamic workshops, a unique excursion to the Hill Country for a tour of Treaty Oak Distillery that included free samples, good fellowship, and Texas barbeque. Another conference highlight was the Awards Luncheon with keynote speaker Soror Mary Breaux Wright, 24th Grand Basileus, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. This was her farewell address to the Gulf Coast Region and she delivered a powerful message. Fall/Winter 2018 53
Continuing with his address at the Board Meeting, Regional Director Miles also discussed operations and key successes with the Membership Intake Process. One specific accomplishment mentioned is the Gulf Coast is the only region to have chapter submitted MIP packets entered on time by IHQ for seven consecutive semesters. Along with recognizing the good, Bro. Miles pointed out areas of improvement and that chapters are poised to continue their progress. Bro. Howard Redmond, 1st Vice Regional Director, presented a membership report highlighting that the Gulf Coast Region has 1,361 financial members and is on pace to break the prior year’s total. Other regional board members gave reports throughout the day with a special impromptu presentation given by Honorable Bro. Arthur R. Thomas, Esq., 31st International President, who spoke on the importance of the Sigma Beta Club. He encouraged all chapters to activate a club, if not already, and to pour into the lives of our youth.
SIGMA BETA CLUB In July, the Sigma Beta Club National Leadership Conference was hosted by the Gulf Coast Region at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA and it is reported that the overall experience was remarkable. Bro. Jon Hawkins, Theta Delta Sigma Chapter SBC Advisor, shares these comments from two of their SBC members: “I met people from across the nation of different ages, with one unified mindset. We came together, learned together, and grew together. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity,” said Frederick Hicks. “What I enjoyed about the National Sigma Beta Club Leadership Conference was the connections I made with other club members and people I met from all over the nation. I thought the conference would be just classes but, it was a life experience which I will never forget,” Jordan Davis, SBC President, Theta Delta Sigma chapter.
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It is a blessing--nothing short of a miracle to receive this recent quote from Jordan because he was involved in a near fatal car wreck in September 2018 after the conference. Many across the nation have been praying because the accident caused him to remain in ICU for nearly 40 days followed by rehab. His parents are Frater Kevin and Soror Eugenia Davis and we are all thankful that after much prayer, intense medical care, and the fight within this young man, he made it home a few days before Thanksgiving to continue his recovery. There is still a fight ahead to get back to 100% so prayers and support will continue.
REACTIVATED CHAPTERS Mu Rho Chapter has returned to the campus of University of Texas in Austin. Many are excited to have Sigma returned to UT, which will make a strong comeback. On Saturday, November 17th several Mu Rho alumni attended the Induction Ceremony of five UT students into the Psi Beta Sigma Chapter, who will be transferred to Mu Rho January 2019. They are Zane Freeman, Giovanni Johnson, Christopher Ray, Medric Roberson and Aston Welch. Their memorable ritual was conducted by Regional Director Miles. Zeta Xi Sigma Chapter in Greater Houston's Fort Bend County returned to the active rolls in 2018. Efforts were led by Bro. Clifford McBean, Chapter President, and they have been busy laying a strong foundation and connecting with the community. On November 17th the chapter hosted their Inaugural Thanksgiving Giveaway in partnership with the Fort Bend Family Promise. FBFP is a faith-based organization that provides shelter, meals and
members to return them to the fold. It is reported that they each chapter have a waiting list of prospects to consider for membership in Phi Beta Sigma.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES The Lone Star State (Texas) Conference, led by Bro. Ramsey Cooper, State Director, is scheduled for February 8 - 9, 2019 at the University of Houston - Downtown. UHD is home to Xi Kappa chapter which was itself reactivated in 2017. It was the first DivineNine chapter chartered at UHD in 1982 and will be the first to host a state conference at the university-- continuing their legacy as trailblazer. The Louisiana State Conference will be held March 8 - 9, 2019 at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Led by Bro. Joseph Sias, State Director, this will be the first time in several years their conference is held on a college campus. This change is targeted to increase exposure for Sigma at the university and will yield savings in the overall conference expense for the state. The New Mexico State Director is Bro. Carlos Larribas and they are mainly focusing on chapter growth.
GULF COAST REGIONAL CONFERENCE, 2019
comprehensive support to families without homes. In their inaugural event, Zeta Xi Sigma provided 10 less fortunate families with fullystocked turkey boxes. Additional chapters slated for return in 2019 are Alpha Gamma Sigma in Marshall, Texas and Gamma Tau Sigma in Amarillo, Texas. Brothers in those towns have gathered together and are communicating with inactive
The 45th Annual Gulf Coast Regional Conference will be held at the Hilton San Antonio - Airport from April 25 – 28, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. Hosted by Beta Beta Sigma Chapter, the planning committee is hard at work preparing for a productive and enjoyable time. One of several nicknames for San Antonio is Military City, USA so a session of the conference will pay tribute to Sigma Men who have admirably served or who are currently serving our nation in the Armed Forces. The city is also known for Fiesta de San Antonio, a month-long celebration which will Fall/Winter 2018 55
occur during the conference dates. After business is handled, attendees will have an opportunity to enjoy the festival and the conference will conclude with an Old School 70's Soul Party on Saturday night. This will be the final regional conference for Bro. Edwin Miles as Director, as he completes four good years as the 15th RD of the Gulf Coast Region. We will celebrate his success, welcome in the 16th Regional Director, then get set to represent in strong numbers at Conclave – Las Vegas.
SOUTHEASTERN REGION RHO GAMMA CHAPTER BUILDING STRONGER FATHERS The brothers of the Rho Gamma Chapter at University of North Carolina-Charlotte spread more awareness of premature babies, in alignment with the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign, by “adopting” a baby doll. We were expected to visibly carry around the dolls for the duration of an entire week. The babies were given a personality profile similar to many babies throughout the country who are born premature. It was the brothers’ job to spread awareness for their babies through their daily social interactions as well as by the use of social media.
The goals of the project were to spread awareness of premature babies to the community of UNCC and Charlotte; educate students on the severity of premature birth; raise money for the March of Dimes and show support to families of premature babies. The week was kicked off on Friday, Nov. 2nd with a program called #JoinTheMarch. The point of the presentation was to explain the importance of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign and the partnership Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has had with March of Dimes for the past 30+ years. We also explained what the ‘Marching with Babies’ philanthropy week would entail, and introduced our babies to the audience. Afterwards, two guest speakers presented to the audience: one being our own chapter brother, Kevin Mercer, a recent graduate of UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. He currently works as a nurse at the Levine Children’s Hospital in uptown Charlotte, in the Neonatal Progressive Unit. He shared his experiences in the NPU and NICU, as well as shared his life story on being born premature himself.
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Our second speaker was our Tia Simmons, currently the March of Dimes Ambassador for the Eastern Region of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She spoke on her experiences as a mother of two premature babies, with one being a very special “million-dollar-baby” whose complications, and specialist treatments led to a very pricey bill.
Throughout the week we interacted with different campus professionals, campus offices, faculty, staff, student organizations as well as visitors. We introduced our babies and gave the amount of weeks they were born and their short term complication. We asked people to take pictures with the babies and post on their social media using the hashtags #JoinTheMarch and #MarchingWithBabies. We used social media to interact with people who aren’t on campus and for everyone watch updates.
On Wednesday we pre-observed World Prematurity day, where we created a big purple banner and asked students to write notes of positivity for families who were dealing with a premature infant. We plan to donate this banner to the Levine Children’s Hospital in Uptown Charlotte.
We started off the next week with a MAB Monday, which is where brothers dress in business professional attire. We wanted our debut of ‘Marching with Babies’ to be a head turner and it did exactly that. The contrast of wearing business professional while holding a baby doll definitely provoked a lot of looks and questions. We also had a table of our presentation from Friday and gave out awareness ribbons and buttons.
On Thursday, to showcase that not every baby makes it and to emphasize the severity of infant prematurity, we announced that one of the babies passed away due to their complications. We had a table on pregnancy and infant loss awareness and explained ways of how to support people who are bereaving. After the event was over, we counted over $300 that was donated to the cause of infant prematurity, which we submitted to the chapter’s March for Babies fundraising account.
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SOUTHERN REGION BETA BETA LAMBDA The Beta Beta Lambda Chapter at The University of The Bahamas, with major funding from the U.S. Embassy, recently held a seminar to promote entrepreneurship among young people. The chapter brought in an entrepreneur from Tampa, Florida who is also a retired U.S. Airforce Staff Sergeant. Daniel Smith, the owner and CEO of Awkward Media in Tampa, was the lead panelist for the seminar. Also on the panel: social media personality Alex Smith from Beauty Bunny, Yohancy Kemp from 31 Cambridge a business strategy firm, and Shanaye Smith from UnSeen Media, a boutique media company that specializes in video, photography and media management. Each panelist is either a part time or full time entrepreneur. The seminar was made possible by a Public Affairs Section (PAS) grant from the U.S. Embassy in Nassau. really pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and really make my goals become reality. It really encouraged me and motivated me to see my goals through and stay on top of my game."
Panelists discussed the joys and challenges of not only opening a business but sustaining a business. The panelists told the students in the RBC Auditorium at the Franklyn Wilson Graduate Center that even though it is tough, the joys of being your own boss, most times, outweighs the challenges. Retired Staff Sergeant Daniel Smith told the participants to take the leap of faith and believe in themselves. Media personality Alex Missick said she felt as if she was able to get through to the students."I think I was very honest in letting them know how things really work out there in the digital media space and how they can get into it," she said. Many of the participants said they were encouraged by the seminar as they look to start their own businesses. "The seminar was very interesting for me," participant Drexel Gomez said. "As an aspiring entrepreneur it 58 The Crescent Magazine
Entrepreneurship is a part of the fraternity's international Bigger Better Business program and is one of the oldest programs for the more than century-old organization. "The mission of the International Bigger & Better Business Program is to promote and support minority and small businesses along with encouraging sound financial practices," Burnside added. "The promotion of entrepreneurship is a big part of this program and it has become a staple of the chapter to push this type of financial independence". The Beta Beta Lambda chapter of Phi Beta Sigma was the first Black Greek Lettered Organization chartered on the UB Campus and is celebrating 14 years of existence. The chapter was chartered November 5, 2004
SOUTHWESTERN REGION PI ETA SIGMA CHAPTER – WILLIAMSON COUNTY SIGMAS Although young in years, the Pi Eta Sigma Chapter has excelled in fundraising and truly committed to the Trilogy of Change. Since its inception in 2014, the chapter’s philanthropic efforts have raised over
$60,000 for the March of Dimes, college scholarships, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and The Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee. From supporting the youth through a partnership with Franktown Open Hearts to funding talented women to in support of their college education, this alumni chapter truly exemplifies the motto: Culture for Service, Service for Humanity. This year, we raised almost $17K for the March of Dimes’ March for Babies. The highest grossing contribution by any chapter within the Fraternity. The chapter also participated in the MOD, March for Babies Kickoff, the only fraternity invited to this event. The Salute to Women Scholarship & Awards Gala is Pi Eta Sigma’s signature event. The annual event recognizes the accomplishments of five women in the areas of Business NonProfit, Business For-Profit, Community Service, Education, and Philanthropy. Recognizing the importance of supporting education, three (3) $1000 scholarships are awarded, based on a criteria which requires the recipient to be Female, a High-School Senior, have a minimum 3.5 GPA and an A-list Athlete In an effort to show Greek unity, raise money for scholarships and help fund other community service endeavors, their flagship event, 5th Annual Cookout and Kickball Challenge accomplishes all of the above. This event includes the participation of area undergrads and alumni members together. This year’s event featured Sickle Cell screenings, food and family fun, and competitive Fall/Winter 2018 59
kickball with divisions for sororities, fraternities, and non-Greeks. Every area on Phi Beta Sigma’s international programmatic focus is covered by Pi Eta Sigma. The chapter participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and raised $1,000; the American Heart Association’s Nashville Heart Walk and raised $600; the Sickle Cell Foundation of Tennessee’s 5K Walk/ Run, and supported Vege-licious, a vegan and vegetarian home style cuisine restaurant, by encouraging everyone to patronize via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Unique to Pi Eta Sigma is their partnership with Franktown Open Hearts, a non-profit organization committed to the success of Franklin’s (Williamson County) inner-city youth. They provide Christ-centered mentoring through weekly vocational education and experiences that prepare the underserved youth for the future. The chapter’s role is to teach the at-risk youth how to navigate their way from middle and high school on to college.
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SIGMA MEN LEAD AT FISK UNIVERSITY by Brother Derrick Smith
Academic achievement has been at the forefront of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s mission since its inception in 1914. Fisk University, and its academic leadership, is a shining example of the fraternity’s ideas of brotherhood, scholarship, and service. The small, private historically black university was founded in 1866 and is led by several members of Eta Beta Sigma Chapter of Nashville, TN.
BRO. DR. KEVIN D. ROME, SR. On July 1, 2017, Dr. Kevin D. Rome, Sr. (Xi Chapter, 1988) became the 16th President of Fisk University. Prior to, Rome served as the 19th President of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri from June 2013 to June 2017. “As the president of Fisk University, I am able to live and actualize the high ideals of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.,” shares Brother Rome. A Life Member of the Fraternity, Rome earned the Bachelor of Art degree in English from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1989, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel with an emphasis in counseling from the University of Georgia, Athens in 1991, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001.
BRO. DR. EMMANUEL ROWE Even though it is coincidental that Sigma Men have emerged as leaders of one of our nation’s most impactful HBCUs, it’s not coincidental that Sigma Men rise to such positions. Bro. Dr. Emmanuel Rowe, Southwestern Regional Director of Education and Eta Beta Sigma Chapter President, serves as a Research Assistant Professor at Fisk. The Morehouse graduate also holds a B.S. from North Carolina A&T and a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. “HBCUs like Fisk provide a high-quality education but just as important, a nurturing atmosphere which well-prepares our students unlike many other universities,” said the 1999 initiate of Chi Chapter.
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BRO. DR. VANN R. NEWKIRK In October of 2018, Bro. Dr. Vann R. Newkirk (Eta Chapter 1981) was named Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fisk, after serving as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and professor of History at Elizabeth City State University. He previously served as Associate Provost/Dean of the Graduate School at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (Alabama A&M). Newkirk believes he has found the right place for him at this point in his career. “After meeting with some of the faculty at Fisk, I knew it was the right fit for me,” Dr. Newkirk said. “I always knew Fisk was a special place with such a rich legacy of academic excellence. Fisk University is not only a great HBCU but has the potential to be a leading university in the U.S.” A product of HBCUs, Dr. Newkirk began his education at North Carolina A&T and earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Barber-Scotia College. He received his master’s degrees from Winthrop University and North Carolina Central University and a doctoral degree in History from Howard University.
BRO. WILLIE L. JUDE II Bro. Willie L. Jude II serves as the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Washington State University, Jude joined the Pi Upsilon Chapter in 2001.
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Other members of Phi Beta Sigma serving as faculty/staff at Fisk include: Bro. Duwon Clark, Dean of Global Initiatives, B.S., Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU); pursing masters from University of Missouri; initiated Eta Beta Sigma Chapter 2017
Bro. Xuam Lawson, Program Director WFSK, A.S., Draughons Junior College (Now Daymar Institute); B.S., American Baptist College in Pastoral Studies; initiated Mu Gamma Chapter 2007
Nathaniel Perry III, Coordinator of Student Activities, B.S., Tennessee State University; initiated Zeta Alpha Chapter 2013
Bro. Vincent PremDas, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement, B.S., University of Florida; Northwestern University, MBA; initiated Epsilon Omicron Sigma Chapter 1995
Brothers of historical measures with Fisk University connections include Bro. James Weldon Johnson, who was a faculty member and Congressman Hon. Bro. John Lewis, a graduate of the university. A fraternity created by college men, Phi Beta Sigma continues to focus on the promotion of high-quality training with one of its international programs, Education.
WESTERN REGION EPSILON PSI SIGMA
Epsilon Psi Sigma Chapter in Las Vegas, NV inducted its newest members in the Sigma Beta Club. This is the 29th year the club has been active in the Las Vegas community.
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WESTERN REGION NW AREA The Western Region's newly appointed NW Area Director, Bro. Keith Moore held his first Membership Development Institute (M.D.I.) earlier this month at the Bethaday Community Learning Space in Seattle, WA. The NW Area is comprised of all chapters in states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The M.D.I. opened with a group discussion between the brothers about the general direction of the fraternity in the Pacific Northwest, as well as opportunities for growth within area chapters.
The first half of the day was aimed primarily at the collegians, with Regional Director of Collegiate Affairs, Bro. Richard Johnson, 2nd Regional Vice Director, Bro. Trenton Joiner, and Regional Director of Publicity, Bro. Everett Bond, leading workshops on MIP training, realigning collegian focus, and effective recruitment, respectively. Epsilon Epsilon Sigma Chapter President, Bro. Julian Heyward, and NW Area Director, Bro. Moore then led the charge addressing reclamation, reactivation, and fostering relationships with the inactive brothers in the area. They both heavily emphasized the importance of reaching out to brothers who have been out of the fold for whatever reason, and bringing them back through brotherhood first and foremost. 33rd Western Regional Director, Bro. Mark Armstrong, delivered a powerful message about the current state of the Western Region, as well as congratulating EES on being the 2nd largest graduate chapter in the region, Kappa Lambda's dominant resurgence in the Seattle area and the upcoming chapter chartering at Oregon State University. The meeting concluded with the NW Area chapter presidents delivering reports on the work their respective chapters have done since the last MDI in March of this year. The meeting closed with announcements and the singing of the Fraternity Hymn, followed by group photos.
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THE CRESCENT MAGAZINE Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 145 Kennedy Street NW Washington, DC 20011-5294