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Iota Phi Theta

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Iota Phi Theta
ΙΦΘ
File:Iotashield.gif
Founded (1963-09-19) September 19, 1963 (age 60)
Morgan State University
TypeSocial
ScopeInternational
 United States  Bahamas  South Korea
MottoBuilding A Tradition,
Not Resting Upon One!
ColorsCharcoal Brown █
Gilded Gold █
SymbolCentaur
FlowerYellow Rose
Chapters269
NicknameIotas
HeadquartersFounders Hall 1600 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, Maryland
USA
WebsiteIota Phi Theta Website

History

The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity (ΙΦΘ) was founded on September 19, 1963 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. A nationally incorporated, predominantly African-American social/service fraternity, Iota Phi Theta presently consists of 30,000 members. There are currently around 200 undergraduate and alumni chapters, as well as colonies located in over 40 US states, the District of Columbia, the Bahamas and South Korea.

The fraternity was founded by twelve men in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. Influenced by the times and by people and organizations such as the Black Panthers, SNCC, Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael. Iota initially was a militant organization in a time where militancy was not a popular stance. Iota brothers participated in various protests and sit-ins throughout the city of Baltimore. The founders of the fraternity were themselves not of the norm as they were all non-traditional students. They were older than their peers with many of them having served in the military, working full-time while attending classes, and having families.

The fraternity is a member of both the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), an umbrella organization comprised of nine (9) International Historically African-American Greek letter Sororities and Fraternities and the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Iota Phi Theta has a similar, non-Greek "little sister" organization known as the Iota Sweethearts.

Founders

  • Albert Hicks
  • Lonnie Spruill, Jr.
  • Charles Briscoe
  • Frank Coakley
  • John Slade
  • Barron Willis
  • Webster Lewis
  • Charles Brown
  • Louis Hudnell
  • Charles Gregory
  • Elias Dorsey, Jr.
  • Michael Williams

National Programs [1]

  • The National Iota Foundation - 501(c)3 non-profit organization utilized to obtain funding for charitable causes and philanthropic programming.
  • The I.O.T.A. Youth Alliance - Youth Mentoring Program
  • The Digital Heritage Initiative - African-American History Education Initiative.
  • The Afya (aah-fee-yah) Njema (j-ma) Program - Physical/Mental/Spiritual Health program.
  • The Developing Better Fatherhood Project - Initiative to combat the issue of the retention of fathers in the lives of their children.
  • The IOTA Political Mobilization Campaign - Political Action, Political Education, Voter Mobilization Program.
  • Community Reclamation Initiative - Program to address the breakdown of the African-American community.
  • Cultural Education Movement - Initiative to promote the historical value and the contributions of the African and African-American cultures to the world-at-large.

Notable Members [2]

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Business

Politics and Government

Academic

Athletics

Media and Entertainment

References

  1. <span class="citation wikicite" id="endnote_<service>">^ Iota Phi Theta Service Initiatives
  2. <span class="citation wikicite" id="endnote_<notable>">^ Iota Phi Theta Notable Iota Men
  • Ross, Lawrence, Jr. "The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities", 2000


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