NFA North Campus Plays Host to Panel Discussion on HBCUs & Greek Life

On Friday, October 20, 2023, the students of Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) (Main, North and West Campuses), NFA Black History Club, and PTECH hosted a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) & Greek Life event at NFA North Campus Auditorium. This event was a celebration of culture paired with education and served as an opportunity to learn about the rich history of HBCUs. It also highlighted the works of African-American Greek lettered sororities and fraternities, their contributions to society, social movements in America, and the Black experience. The event featured a panel discussion including leaders and professionals from our community. Each of the panelists is a member of one of the Divine Nine Greek organizations. The Divine Nine consists of Alpha Phi Alpha Sorority (1906), Alpha Kappa Alpha Fraternity (1908), Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (1911), Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (1911), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (1913), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (1914), Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (1920), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (1922), and Iota Phi Theta (1963). The panelists discussed Greek life at HBCUs as well as predominately White institutions (PWI). They each shared, in great detail, the benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority and their experiences in their respective universities. 

Student leaders from all NFA campuses helped lead the planning of the panel session. The event began with the singing of the Black National Anthem led by the Black History Club students. Prior to the start of the panel discussion, student leaders shared pertinent information about HBCUs, Greek Life organizations and showed a video presentation of “Homecoming Celebrations” from various HBCUs. The Newburgh Drum Circle from Safe Harbors and Mayor Torrance Harvey added the arts component to the evening's cultural celebration. The Newburgh Drum Circle played a brief drum medley and Mayor Harvey stepped off the stage from his spot as a panelist to share a powerful poem.  The evening concluded with members of the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellows Program introducing the closing speaker, Board Member and MBK Mentor, Mr. Philip Howard, who shared a powerful message of his personal experience as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and the importance of getting an education.

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THANK YOU

THANK YOU TO THE PANELISTS:
Mayor Torrance Harvey | Alpha Phi Alpha |Morehouse College
Ms. Carol Johnson-Cromer | Delta Sigma Theta
Ms. Arreda Cotten | Zeta Phi Beta | Delaware State University
Mr. Derek Kenan | Omega Psi Phi | Howard University
Ms. Belinda Anthony | Delta Sigma Theta | Tuskegee University
Ms. Pam Woodard | Alpha Kappa Alpha | Spellman College
Ms. Alita McCoy-Zuber | Alpha Kappa Alpha
Mr. Aaron Jackson | Kappa Alpha Psi 

A Special Thank You to: 

NFA Co-Principals, Mr. Matteo Doddo and Ms. Susan Valentino for their support of this event. Thank you to Mr. Anthony Williams, House Principal for the PTECH Program, Ms. Lakeya Stukes, School Counselor at NFA West and Mrs. Ada Freeman, School Social Worker at NFA Main for taking the lead in coordinating this event and the Black History Club student leaders from all campuses. Another huge thank you to Mrs. Pamela Peterson, Director of Family and Community Engagement and Mr. William Morgan for supporting and preparing for this event.

DJ RP Beats | Musical Mixologist
NECSD Communications Team
Safe Harbors Drumming Circle
Bro. Julani Ghana | Admissions Director Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Ms. Sharon Spencer, House Principal at Arlington High School and her students who accompanied her
Mr. Ray Harvey | President of the NAACP
Mr. Mark Levinstein | NECSD Board Member 

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!