The Beta Tau Zeta (BTZ) chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated — a historically Black Greek-letter organization — celebrated reaching 80 years of service to Miami-Dade County this past weekend. The sorority chapter commemorated the occasion with the Finer Womanhood Community Fellowship Awards Luncheon in Doral on March 21, honoring chapter members for their accomplishments and reflecting on the organization’s history of community action.
“Zetas have been in this community for 80 years. We have schools named after us, and we have given hundreds and thousands of dollars in scholarships to our youth. We are propelling forward to continue to make positive impacts in Miami-Dade County,” said Dr. Lulu Orange Tyson, executive board chair of BTZ’s Finer Womanhood Committee.
Founded on Jan. 16, 1920, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is a premier international service organization with more than 125,000 college-educated women, known for being the first to charter a chapter in Africa.
Beta Tau Zeta Chapter members at the 80th Annual Finer Womanhood Community Fellowship Awards Luncheon.
(Mark Hill Photography)
BTZ was chartered in Miami on Feb. 12, 1946, after 12 sorority members saw a need in the city for women’s support, youth education and community service. Since then, the chapter has provided scholarships to students and hosted an annual Debutante Cotillion for young women. The Stork’s Nest, one of the sorority’s national programs, also helps expecting mothers with necessary supplies and parental education.
Dorothy M. Wallace was named Woman of the Year.
(Mark Hill Photography)
Saturday’s Finer Womanhood Community Fellowship Awards Luncheon was held at the Fire Tower Miami in Doral, attracting 160 guests to the sold-out event. Among those honored were Dorothy M. Wallace, who received the award for Woman of the year; Ojus Elementary School teacher Sonya Gardner, who was named Education Advocate of the year; Senior Juvenile Probation Officer Michelle W. Johnson, named Zeta of the Year; and Michelle D. Johnson, Miami-Dade faith and community leadership liaison, named Citizen of the Year.
The honorees earned their awards in alignment with the theme for Women’s History Month, “Leading the change: Women Shaping a sustainable future.”
“This theme confronts a range of overlapping challenges that we are facing in the world. These women impacted our communities in areas like economic justice and health care disparities. I am honored to be the chair and celebrate them,” said Tyson.
Wallace received a second honor on Saturday for her more than 70-year commitment to the sorority, along with Dr. Dorothy Fields, Doris Harden and Lydia Richardson. Fields is also the last living descendant of one of the chapter’s charter members.
”We are thankful that we have a chapter member who is a legacy of the original 12 charter women. Our sorority was founded in 1920. Twenty-six years later, 12 women decided to bring that determination and zeal to Miami in the ‘40s. In spite of all the injustice and handicaps, they created a chapter that has sustained to this day,” said Ajinora Pascal Powell, BTZ chapter historian.
Beta Tau Zeta Executive Board Chair Dr. Lulu Orange Tyson and Beta Tau Zeta President Patricia Armbrister-Hill receive a Miami-Dade County proclamation from Citizen of the Year recipient Michelle D. Johnson.
(Mark Hill Photography)
BTZ functions primarily out of the Zeta Community Center, located at 1743 N.W. 54th St. in Miami. The building was purchased by members in 1992 and is still owned by the chapter.
“We are a beacon of hope there. One soror coined us as the miracle of 54th Street,” said Patricia Armbrister-Hill, BTZ president.
“It is tremendously rewarding that people know us from that corner. We’ve done tutoring, after-school programs, and all sorts of projects out of that building,” she added.
The 80-year milestone and celebration has now become a source of pride for members to remember for years to come.
“You do things not to be recognized. You do it because it matters,” said Dr. Lois Lee, BTZ’s 29th past president. “To understand we’ve contributed to this community for 80 years and what that has meant to the people we served has been an emotional journey for me.”