BLACK MEN MATTER SERIES┃ Sigma Omega ┃ Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: The Men of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 Sigma Omega Alumni Chapter New Orleans, Louisiana Chartered in 1980 This episode of "The Male Perspective" features Bro. Walter Dixson IV and Bro. Jamaal Jackson, the Polaris and Vice Polaris of the Sigma Omega chapter. As leadership for their chapter, they discuss the notable expansion of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. membership in their area in recent years, along with highlighting several community partnerships in New Orleans that offer vital services, including back-to-school supply drives, youth storytime programs, and food collection efforts for local food banks. For more information on Sigma Omega: https://www.facebook.com/SigmaOmegaAlumni https://www.instagram.com/neworleansiota . . . On September 19, 1963, at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), 12 students founded what is now the nation's fifth largest, predominately African-American social service fraternity: The Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated. The Honorable Founders of Iota Phi Theta were: Albert Hicks, Lonnie Spruill, Jr., Charles Briscoe, Frank Coakley, John Slade, Barron Willis, Webster Lewis, Charles Brown, Lewis Hudnell, Charles Gregory, Elias Dorsey, Jr., and Michael Williams. …many of these men were what are now referred to as "Non-Traditional Students" and were 3-5 years older than the average college student. Gregory, Willis, and Brown were all service veterans, and Brown, Hicks, and Briscoe were married with small children. Of this group of 12, several were also working full-time jobs and all were full-time students.   Based upon their ages, heightened responsibilities, and increased level of maturity, this group had a slightly different perspective than the norm for college students. It was this perspective from which they established the Fraternity's purpose, “The development and perpetuation of Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Fidelity, and Brotherhood among Men.” Additionally, they conceived the Fraternity's motto, "Building a Tradition, Not Resting Upon One!” (https://iotaphitheta.org) #BlackMenMatter #BlackMenAreDope #BlackCulture #DopeBlackness #IotaPhiThetaFraternityInc #IotaPhiTheta #Iotas #IPT1963 #IotaMen"The Male Perspective" is hosted by Lana Reid, the founder of ⁠Conversations in Color⁠, a nonprofit 501(c)3 grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.