Commissioner McGhee’s resolution recognizes Nov. 17 as Omega Psi Phi Day in Miami-Dade County
Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee sponsored legislation to recognize November 17, 2022, and each year thereafter, as Omega Psi Phi Day in Miami-Dade County.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., also known as Omega Psi Phi, was founded by three undergraduate students with the assistance of their faculty advisor at Howard University in Washington, DC, on November 17, 1911. It was the first international fraternal organization founded on the campus of a historically Black college. The fraternity adopted the four cardinal principles of manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift. The name of the organization was derived from the initials of the Greek phrase meaning, “friendship is essential to the soul.” Today, there are more than 100,000 living brothers, over 700 chapters, and the fraternity operates in 20 countries across the world.
“The men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., have contributed to the economy, the social aspect, but more than anything, to our spiritual being. We have seen great men wear the purple and gold with grace and honor, teach our kids, serve as mentors, and provide scholarships throughout this great nation. This week is very important to us. We call this our Achievement Week. It is an opportunity for us to give back, show the world how to move forward, and how to place humanity at the front of everything that we do,” said Commissioner McGhee.
Commissioner McGhee and Vice Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, are both members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Miami-Dade County is home to three undergraduate and three graduate chapters, which include Sigma Alpha (North Dade), Kappa Gamma (Florida Memorial University), Pi Nu (South Dade), Omicron Delta (The University of Miami), Alpha Delta Eta (Florida International University), and Zeta Nu Nu (Downtown Miami).