By Amelia Orjuela Da Silva, Miami Times Staff Writer | Street renamed to honor 110-year legacy of Black fraternity | On Dec. 19 at 4 p.m., the City of Miami Gardens will host a street renaming ceremony to honor the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and its Rho Sigma Chapter, marking a significant moment in the fraternity’s history. The event, set to take place at Dr. Lester Brown Park, follows a resolution passed by the city council on Oct. 23, 2024, sponsored by Councilmember Reggie Leon.
A portion of Northwest 191st Street, from Northwest 29th Avenue to 32nd Avenue, will officially be renamed “Phi Beta Sigma Way” as a permanent tribute to the fraternity’s dedication to service, leadership and community development.
Marcelin Fils-Aime, president of the Rho Sigma Chapter, stressed the significance of the street renaming.
“We’re making history right now,” he said. “We’re documenting this moment so that 40 years from now, when somebody arrives by that street and wonders why it was named ‘Phi Beta Sigma Way,’ they will know the impact we had on the community.”
Marcus Parramore, a Rho Sigma Chapter historian, echoed this sentiment.
“It reassures me that people value our fraternity’s contributions to society and want to ensure its legacy endures,” he said.
The Founding Vision
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded on Jan. 9, 1914, at Howard University by A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse and Charles I. Brown. Built upon principles of brotherhood, scholarship, community service, and civic duty, it was instilled with the motto “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.”
“Phi Beta Sigma has consistently led by example, setting the standard for inclusivity and service,” Parramore said. “The fraternity’s work in civil rights, education, and economic empowerment has inspired many.”
The Rho Sigma Chapter was established in 1927 during the Jim Crow era by community leaders like Dr. Kelsey L. Pharr, an activist and businessman who founded Lincoln Memorial and served as Rho Sigma’s first chapter president, along with Henry Reeves, the founder of The Miami Times, among others. They fought for justice and improved living conditions for Black communities, particularly in Overtown, becoming leading voices for advocacy and change.
Though based in the City of Miami, the chapter’s impact has extended throughout Miami-Dade County. Miami Gardens, in particular, has benefitted from the chapter’s focus on mentorship, education and community service, shaping the lives of local youth.
Michael Horne, education chair and history committee member, said that it was the City of Miami Gardens’ celebrations of the “Divine Nine” fraternities that sparked his research into Rho Sigma’s founding.
He explained how in the 1920s, South Florida had no Black fraternities, making Rho Sigma’s creation by eight prominent leaders even more significant.
“We wanted to share this history because many young members of our community today, myself included, didn’t know these stories,” Horne said. “Our fraternity’s deep-rooted history should inspire the next generation of Black men.”
Community impact
Through various programs, the Rho Sigma Chapter has made significant strides in Miami Gardens and the broader Miami-Dade community. The fraternity’s national programs include Bigger and Better Business, education, social action, and Sigma Beta clubs. Initiatives like Senior Fitness Day at the Miami Gardens Senior Center and the Sigma Day of Giving, which provides groceries to residents, are just a few examples of the chapter’s community work. The chapter also participates in road cleanups, highlighting its ongoing efforts to improve the local environment.
“There’s no boundary to help,” Fils-Aime said. “Wherever the work is needed, we’ll cross that boundary to be able to assist.”
Martin “Roy” Edmonds is an inducted member of the Distinguished Service Chapter (DSC), the highest honor in Phi Beta Sigma. Since the fraternity’s founding in 1914, only 205 members have received this honor. Serving as a member since 1980, Edmonds played a crucial role in expanding the chapter’s educational initiatives. Under his leadership in the 1990s and early 2000s, the chapter distributed college scholarships and re-chartered the Sigma Beta Club, which remains one of the fraternity’s flagship mentorship programs for boys aged 8-18, focusing on academics and leadership. The club aims to guide young men towards higher education and career success.
The scholarships are offered to high school seniors across Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties to ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent students from pursuing their academic goals.
Source:
https://www.miamitimesonline.com/news/local/culture-for-service-and-service-for-humanity-phi-beta-sigma-way-touches-down-in-miami/article_f6582be6-bcc3-11ef-9752-ff2c61f72e18.html?block_id=501774
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