Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and its Rho Sigma Chapter made history on December 19 at a street renaming ceremony hosted by the City of Miami Gardens. The event took place at Dr. Lester Brown Park and officially renamed a portion of Northwest 191st Street, from Northwest 29th Avenue to 32nd Avenue, as “Phi Beta Sigma Way.” The renaming marked a permanent tribute to the fraternity’s dedication to service, leadership, and community efforts.
President of the Rho Sigma Chapter, Marcelin Fils-Aime, shared the significance of the street being renamed, stating, “We’re making history right now. We’re documenting this moment so that 40 years from now, when somebody arrives by that street and wonders why it was named ‘Phi Beta Sigma Way,’ they will know the impact we had on the community.”
Echoing the same attitude was Marcus Parramore, a Rho Sigma historian.
“It reassures me that people value our fraternity’s contributions to society and want to ensure its legacy endures,” he said.
Founded with a Vision
Founded on January 9, 1914, at Howard University by A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity was built upon the principles of brotherhood, scholarship, community service, and civic duty, which were instilled in members through the motto “Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.”
“Phi Beta Sigma has consistently led by example, setting the standard for inclusivity and service,” Parramore said. “The fraternity’s work in civil rights, education, and economic empowerment has inspired many.”
Established in 1927 during the Jim Crow era by community leaders like Dr. Kelsey L. Pharr, an activist and businessman who founded Lincoln Memorial, and Henry Reeves, the founder of The Miami Times, the Rho Sigma Chapter’s impact on the City of Miami today has extended throughout Miami-Dade County. In particular, Miami Gardens has benefitted from its focus on mentorship, education, and community service—efforts made to help shape the lives of local youth.
Bring Big Benefits to Miami
The Rho Sigma Chapter has made significant strides in Miami Gardens and the broader Miami-Dade community through various programs, which include the fraternity’s national programs, such as Bigger and Better Business, education, social action, and Sigma Beta clubs. The chapter’s initiatives, like Senior Fitness Day at the Miami Gardens Senior Center and the Sigma Day of Giving, which provides groceries to residents in need, are just some examples of the community work the Rho Sigma Chapter does.
“There’s no boundary to help,” Fils-Aime said. “Wherever the work is needed, we’ll cross that boundary to be able to assist.”
Under the leadership of Martin “Roy” Edmonds, who is an inducted member of the Distinguished Service Chapter (DSC)—the highest honor in Phi Beta Sigma—the chapter began distributing college scholarships and re-chartered the Sigma Beta Club, which is still one of the fraternity’s flagship mentorship programs for boys aged 8 to 18. The scholarships are offered to high school seniors through Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties, ensuring financial barriers don’t stop students from pursuing their dreams.
Fils-Aime mentioned that since the Phi Beta Sigma Way signage will be in front of Brentwood Elementary School, the fraternity is looking to partner with it to continue raising awareness and engaging with families about their community efforts.
Looking to the Future
The brothers of the Rho Sigma Chapter state that street renaming is just the beginning of their ongoing efforts to improve the community.
“This means that Phi Beta Sigma fraternity is cemented within the history of Miami-Dade County in a positive way,” said Edmonds.
He continues, “The future is extremely bright for Phi Beta Sigma, as long as we know that we should move toward the area the community is moving toward.”
