U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson descended upon Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens this week to present a check of more than $1 million to the Divine Nine organizations of Miami-Dade County.
Wilson, herself a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., earmarked the federal dollars from her Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional appropriations to allow the nine Black Greek-letter organizations to upgrade, renovate and build spaces to teach and preserve African American history and culture. In order to draw down funding, the charitable foundations must prove that they are purchasing, building, upgrading or refurbishing properties.
“I am especially concerned about preserving our history, which is being whitewashed across our nation,” said Wilson. “African-American history is American history, and we have a responsibility to protect it from erasure, extinction and exploitation. We must leave a legacy for our children that must endure for generations.”
The Divine Nine are a group of historically Black fraternities and sororities which includes Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity.
Derek Lightfoot, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, said his fraternity will be able to use the funds to improve its existing house and community center with a new roof, hurricane windows and doors, in addition to helping provide youth mentoring services.
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