History

The National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Incorporated (NPHC GBR), is a nonprofit service organization composed of representatives from nine international Greek-letter Organizations. Chapters from these organizations utilize their collective resources, talents, and services to enhance the educational, social, spiritual, and economic life in the Greater Baton Rouge Community. 

 The council provides programs and forums addressing matters of mutual concern to the sororities and fraternities. The NPHC GBR was reactivated in 1988 under the leadership of the late Dr. Raymond Floyd, a former member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., who became the council’s first president. Other officers were the late Isabel Herson, First Vice-President; the late Dr. Edward Ellois, Second Vice-President; Joycelyn Ward-Green, Recording/Financial Secretary; Dorothy Stepteau, Corresponding Secretary; Earl Darby (deceased), Treasurer; Reverend Mary Moody (deceased), Chaplain; Dr. Thomas Wilcox (Deceased), Parliamentarian; Dorothy Davis, Historian; and Arthur Thomas, Legal Adviser.

Later Presidents of the Council in the order of their service were Dorothy Stepteau, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 1990-1995; Shirley Henderson, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 1996 to 1998; Geraldine Simms, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 1998 to 2000; John Smith, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., 2000 to 2002; Brenda Smith, Sigma Gamma Pho Sorority, Inc., 2002 to 2004; Dr. Adell Brown, Jr., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 2004 to 2006; and the late Calvin Beal, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., 2006-2008. Mary Alice Darby (Deceased) Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 2008-2010; Jermaine Watson, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 2010-2012; Tawana Malveaux, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2012-2014; Corine Wiggins, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, inc., 2014-2016; Kenneth Wright, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., 2016-2018; Shannon Magee, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., 2018-2020; Shirl Gilbert (Resigned), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 2020-2021; Charles Dotson (Deceased) Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 2020-2021, and Ryan Harris, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., 2021-2023. Our current President is Cortny Jarrell (2024-2025).

Our first public activity was an ecumenical service held at Southern University on October 12, 1989. We made our first public financial contribution to Southern University and offered a resolution of support to the university. On October 12, 1989, we were officially chartered by the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. In 1991, we held our Chartering Ceremony at Camphor Memorial United Church. Soror Daisy Wood, president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. served as the keynote speaker.

The NPHC GBR sponsored three premier charity balls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 at Southern University. Citizens who had made significant contributions to the betterment of our local society were given awards. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds were donated to Southern University. Other charities received donations from the remaining twenty-five percent. We made a sizable donation to the Martin Luther King Memorial Fund. Our Pan Council president served as one of the five jurors that selected the artist who constructed the monument, and our legal adviser was a member of the steering committee for the entire project.

We continued to make donations to charity to charitable pursuits; to interact with Louisiana State University as well as Southern University undergraduates in various activities, including forums on hazing, the graduate/undergraduate picnic; and the collegiate summit. Our Greek Variety Show held at Southern University has become our primary source of financial support for our council’s community and internal projects.

Dorothy M. Stepteau (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.) served from 1990-95. This administration focused on support for Southern University and the strengthening of bond among the local Greek-Letter organizations via cooperative efforts. Shirley G. Henderson (Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) presided from 1995-97. During this administration, the 1996 Southwest Regional Conference was hosted by the local group. Henderson and Stepteau served as co-chairs for this successful conference.

Under the leadership of Geraldine A. Simms (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.), 1998-2000 the NPHC GBR moved ahead forging new areas of concentration while maintaining some of the more viable programs of the past. The Council’s Community Service Project (Toys for Tots) with the Delmont Center was initiated under the administration of Soror Geraldine Simms and coordinated by Kim Causey in 1999. The Greek Summit participation, financial contributions to the Inter-faith Pilgrimage, March of Dimes, Sickle Cell; plus, the nomination of two outstanding women for their work in the Pan-Hellenic and the larger community couples with the successful “All Greek Variety Show” marked this administration’s corporate through thrusts as a success story.

John F. Smith (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.) assumed the presidency of the council from 2000-2002 and continued numerous community service activities. Additionally, donations were made to the Baranco-Clark (YMCA) “Kinds Under Construction Program” as a team sponsor. Frater Smith was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the partnership with Cox Communications.

 The council has made a viable imprint on the community during its decades of active status in the community. It has engaged in various corporate thrusts; they include two Southern University Charity Balls, Inter-Greek Forum: Hazing Seminars at two local universities, scholarship donations, the S.U., Radiothon, Toys for the Needy Project, S.U. Founders Day Activities, S.U. Infirmary Fund Drive, Thanksgiving Foods Baskets, Scotlandville Library Projects, Tutoring Programs, S.U. Recruitment Activities, Literacy Funding Exploration, Monitoring activities involving the S.U Board of Supervisors, the East Baton Rouge School Board, the Metro Council, the Martin Luther King Memorial Fund, the American Red Cross, the Psychological Health Center, and the Sickle Cell Telethon. 

We received our first award as the Outstanding Council of the Year at the Southern Western Region in 2000. Terral Jackson was selected as Frater of the Year and Geraldine Simms was selected as Soror of the Year at Southwestern Regional Conference in Oklahoma City in 2000. In 2002, our Council was again selected as Outstanding Council. John Smith was selected as Frater of the Year and Dorothy Stepteau was chosen as Soror of the Year at the Southwestern Regional Conference in Dallas. Geraldine Simms was selected as 2002 Adviser of the Year.

In 2002 we held a special one-year anniversary in memory of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on our country on 9/11. Also, we instituted the annual planning summit involving all the graduate Greek letter presidents and representatives from the member chapters.

In a partnership with Cox Communications and 100 Black Men, the Council presented the first annual Polaris Award at the 100 Black Men Gala on February 15, 2003. Awards were given to five people, four adults, and one youth, who have made significant strides in promoting the development of a diverse and unified community. The council presented the first annual Polaris Award Program in 2003. The Polaris Award Banquet became the signature project of the Pan and is held annually in mid-June as a Juneteenth Celebration. The Juvenile Justice Program became immensely popular in the 4th and 5^th-grade classes in specific inner-city elementary schools. The personalized program consisted of workshops that focus on personal development, academic growth, and career planning.

The NPHC GBR’s first regional officers were elected in 2006. Dr. Adell Brown was elected as the Regional Director; Jermaine Watson was elected as the Regional Treasurer, and Christopher Rogers was elected as Historian. The NPHC GBR was selected Regional Council of the Year in 2006. Frater Terral Jackson was named Advisor of the Year in 2006

         The NPHC GBR has the honor of having four members that were international officers and one distinguished award recipient in their respective sororities and fraternities. Those include former basilei, the late Isabel Herson and Dr. Barbara West Carpenter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.; Julia Brogdon Purnell of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Attorney Arthur Thomas of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Edward Ellois (deceased), of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was the recipient of the Laurel Wreath. The Book Scholarship Award was initiated in 2009 and named in memory of the late Soror Isabel M. Herson of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority in 2011.

The council has engaged in significant activities over the past 32 years including the Polaris Award, the signature project of the Pan, which honors unsung heroes, Juvenile Justice focusing on the personal development, academic growth, and career planning implemented in three inner-city elementary schools, Toys for Tots in conjunction with the Delmont Service Center, focusing on Christmas tokens for underprivileged children; voter registration for unregistered citizens; and the Greek variety show, which has served as the primary fundraiser for the NPHC GBR since 2000.

The NPHC GBR is continuing the vision of Greekdom through its unified quest to shape the future. We look forward to continuing our journey for excellence through serving our local community. The Council will continue to promote community awareness through educating and providing resources to the underserved community.