Happy Founders' Day and Joy to New Adventures

 It is Finer Friday and what better day to celebrate the Founding of my Illustrious Sorority!

On Friday, January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University in Miner Hall, Five young women, the "praying band" let their vision, faith, and drive lead them to do something new in the still fairly young Black sorority movement. 

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was formed not to be elitist or another social club, bur truly a "Community Conscious, Action Oriented" sorority of college educated women led by the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood. We formed in times not unlike the challenging times we are in today. In the frightening times after 1919 when Black people were terrorized in this nation, these young, collegiate women believed there was a possibility for something impactful.

After forming, we became a sorority of many firsts, all of them focused on service.

We made a beeline to the south to organize more chapters, were involved in the civil rights and women's rights movements, and utilized all our talents in writing, music, education, health care, and politics to envision better for all people.

Our Triumphant Honorable Founders - Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neale, Myrtle Tyler Faith, Viola Tyler, Goings, and Fannie Pettie Watts - knew there was possibilities in being an organization that was intentional about being a friend to man, setting our hands to do all we could do, and above all, holding onto our faith as we moved forward.

These 106 years later, I am thrilled to walk in the path they created.

Today, I get to celebrate Founders' Day with Sorors in my new state of Vermont as I prepare to take a new position as an Interfaith Chaplain. The beauty of our sisterhood is that we are always near a Finer Woman.

I'm also honored to be one of the chief strategists and charter member of Epsilon Alpha Upsilon Zeta Chapter in Waterbury/Greater Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut. This historic charter continues the vision of our Triumphant Founders to expand the vision of our sorority to be present, different, and intentional.

Every time I travel, I usually have one something related to my Sorority because inevitably, I meet a Soror and we instantly connect in Sisterly Love.

To close out this beautiful week of historically Black sororities celebrating the vision of our respective founders, I hope with great hope into the future.

©2026 from Burlington, Vermont celebrating in The Green Mountain State