About Us
United in Legacy, Leading Through Service, Impacting Our Community
The Tampa NPHC serves as the local council representing the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine. Comprising 15 active chapters across Tampa and Hillsborough County, our council works to unite these organizations in service, leadership, and advocacy.
Through collaborative programs, cultural events, and community initiatives, we carry forward the mission of the National Pan-Hellenic Council while addressing the unique needs of our local community. We remain committed to strengthening Tampa through unity, service, and a shared legacy of excellence.
How It All Started
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was founded on May 10, 1930, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., during a time when African Americans were denied many of the rights and privileges afforded to others. The Council was created to provide a unifying voice and a space for collaboration among historically Black fraternities and sororities. Its founding organizations included Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Shortly after, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. joined in 1931, followed by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in 1937. The Council formally incorporated that same year, and in 1997 welcomed Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., completing the nine-member body we know today as the Divine Nine.
This Council, known as the National Pan-Hellenic Inc. of Tampa, was chartered on December 12, 1989.
Since its inception, the NPHC has been dedicated to fostering unity, leadership, and service within the African American community. Its mission is to promote the well-being of its member organizations, strengthen local councils across the country, and provide leadership development opportunities for its members. Through collaborative initiatives, workshops, and national conventions, NPHC equips leaders to create positive change while also partnering with organizations such as the NAACP, Urban League, United Negro College Fund, and Congressional Black Caucus. The Council’s work remains rooted in a legacy of resilience and progress.
The tradition of the NPHC is more than a collegiate experience—it is a lifelong commitment to service, advocacy, and community impact. Each of the Divine Nine organizations was founded to serve as a haven of brotherhood and sisterhood, while advancing social change through education, cultural enrichment, and economic empowerment. Nearly a century later, the NPHC continues to stand as a vital force in uniting communities, cultivating leaders, and carrying forward a proud legacy of excellence and action.