Written by Von C. Howard, Edited by Freddie Jones
“Bonded In Brotherhood, Rooted In UpLift”
When you think of names like Judge Thomas “TJ” Reddick, Dr. Dorsey C. Miller, Jr., Judge Zebedee Wright, Dr. Mack King Carter, Bishop Clarence E. Glover, Leonard “L.D.” Gainey, Joseph C. Carter, James C. Boyd, Broward Commissioner Robert McKinzie, Lauderhill Commissioners Lawrence “Jabbow” Martin, Sa’Rai Martin and Mayor Ken Thurston, Broward Public Defender Gordon Weekes, Jr., Brian C. Johnson and the owners and operators of this historical newspaper Levi and Bobby Henry, the common denominator between these distinguished gentlemen and many more is the Zeta Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
This local chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was established on Monday April 26, 1954 through the vision of seven Brothers: Bro. Dewitt H. Allen, Bro. Rev. Clarence R.A. Banks, Bro. Dr. Henry Brown, Bro. William J. Howard, Bro. Thomas “TJ” Reddick, Jr., Esq., and Bro. Henry W. Robinson, Bro. Joseph A. Smith under the Fraternity’s Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift by becoming one of the first Divine 9 (Black Greek Organizations) fraternities established in Broward County.
For over seven decades, members of the Zeta Chi chapter have been instrumental in ensuring that the Fraternity’s Cardinal Principle of Scholarship, has been a staple within Broward County and more specifically the city of Fort Lauderdale. For the last ten (10) years, over $150,000 in scholarship funds have been distributed to deserving high school seniors, with a record $33,000 distributed in 2023.
Not only has Zeta Chi been impactful from a Scholarship perspective, one of the most important tenets of our Fraternity is uplifting our community. Some of the community uplift projects that Zeta Chi has instituted over the years are hosting the annual Dr. Malcolm Black Talent Hunt Extravaganza showcasing students who excel in performing arts from Broward County Schools, and the annual Christmas Caroling to the widows of Brothers in the chapter is always memorable and inspiring every year.
Additionally, the Brothers anually participate in the Relay for Life Cancer Walk held at Joseph C. Carter Park bringing awareness towards a cure for cancer and partnered with the Ft. Lauderdale Black Police Officer’s Association to help distribute turkeys and sides during the Thanksgiving holiday. Along with numerous community uplift collaborations such as: quarterly repainting of homes of our elderly individuals, monthly Friendship Health Walk at Carter Park every 4th Saturday morning, monthly Adopt-A-Highway clean ups on adopted streets in Boulevard Gardens and Dorsey-Riverbend communities, distribution of books to the Department of Juvenile Justice and we provided over 300 books to school-aged children during the 2024 Sistrunk Festival.
The men of Zeta Chi have contributed over $8,000 annually by serving as “Secret Santas,” purchasing gifts for random customers at local department stores and delivering toys to neighboring preschools and elementary schools near the Sistrunk corridor.
Since 2003, the Zeta Chi chapter has had the Lamplighters program that mentors young Black males from grades 6-12 by having in-depth conversations, exposing them to positive experiences in the community and encouraging the young men to be (R)esponsible (I)ntelligent (C)omitted and (H)elpful. We also invite fathers who are striving to become better men to join our weekly virtual Fatherhood Mentoring conversations dealing with everyday issues they are faced with.
With everything that has been done over the course of the past 70 years, the main thing that has made the Zeta Chi chapter sustainable has been the bond of Friendship that they share. From the eldest brother to the youngest brother, there has always been a bond where the joys and sorrows of each brother is shared. From the conversations and cookouts under “the tree” at the Fraternity house to the intimate one-on-one conversations over the phone uplifting, inspiring, and even reprimanding when needed, the connection is and has forever been iron clad.
It is evident when a man of the Zeta Chi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is in one’s presence by the way we enter and commands the room, often without saying a word. However, when the words are spoken, one cannot help themselves but to be attentive and collaborative because this is what Omega demands and what is expected by each member of Zeta Chi.
Happy 70th Anniversary Zeta Chi, and even in our celebration, we know that there is MUCH work to do and that is something that a Zeta Chi Brother is built to do!!!!
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