A Chapter Grows In Brooklyn
Early beginnings
On June 30, 1928, the Kappa Beta Sigma Chapter charter was signed by Bro. Roger L. Hinkson, President; Bro. St. Clair Critchlow, Vice President; Bro. Benot Gibbs, Secretary; Bro. Pierce McNeil Thompson, Treasurer; Bro. George T. Bynoe, Bro. Courtney Wiltshire, Bro. John P. Lee and Bro. Charles M. Gibbs. As the only Brooklyn alumni chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated, Kappa Beta Sigma has nurtured and inspired many young men at the early stages of their professional careers.
The brothers of Kappa beta sigma
Several have achieved the stature of public recognition such as Rev. John Milton Coleman, Wesley “Mc D.” Holder, and U.S. Congressman Edolphus Towns, to name a few. Rev. (Bro.) Coleman, born in Virginia in 1902, who was the 2rd Rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, was the first African-American member of the New York City Board of Higher Education in 1948, and then the first African American member of the Board of Education. A junior high school, #JHS271, located at Herkimer and Saratoga Avenues, was named for Rev. Coleman and later became a meeting and rallying site for forces engaged in the 1950’s school boycott.
Bro. Holder, a former editor of the Amsterdam News and staff member of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, later engaged in politics on a full-time basis and became the driving force behind the political ascension of Congressional member and Presidential Candidate Shirley Chisholm. Bro. Holder was later regarded as the dean of Brooklyn legislative leaders. Schenectady Avenue which runs through Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights was renamed for this skilled political tactician.
Bro. Edolphus “Ed” Towns, a former member of the United States Congress representing the 10th Congressional District., is also the father of Bro. Darryl Towns (former NY State Assemblyman, former Chair of the House Oversight and Government reform and currently Commissioner/CEO NYS Homes and Community Renewal).
BROOKLYN SIGMAS INFLUENCE
Kappa Beta Sigma also has the honor of having three past International Presidents, Honorable Bro. Hutson L. Lovell, Esq. our 16th Past, Honorable Bro. Peter M. Adams, Esq. our 30th Past and Honorable Bro. Jonathan A. Mason, Sr. our and 34th International President. Past distinguished members include Honorable Bro. William E. Doar, Jr., Past National Executive Director, Honorable Bro. Dr. Gilbert H. Francis, Past Distinguished Service Chapter President and Past President of National Pan-Hellenic Council, Honorable Bro. Richard E. Alleyne, National Auditor and Honorable Bro. Sydney Moshette Jr., 2005 Distinguished Service Chapter inductee, just to name a few. Kappa Beta Sigma has had countless brothers that have held various State, Regional and International positions throughout our 90 years of existence including our current New York State Director, Bro. Ben Alston, Regional Mentor Coordinator, Bro. Clifford Mondesir and International Chairman of Honorary Membership, Bro. Craig Collins.
The Kappa Beta Sigma Chapter has been and will continue to be very active in numerous charitable, social and community endeavors most notably our work with our 501(c)(3) charity, The K B S Foundation Limited. It was through this partnership that we have given over $20,000in scholarship in just the last two years. We have a long standing record of supporting the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, “Drop the Rock” Campaign (repeal of Rockerfeller Drug Laws,The YMCA of Greater New York, the Alzheimer's Association, Sickle Cell Thalassemia Patients Network (SCTPN), God’s Love We Deliver, The Brooklyn Public Library, as well as many other community based programs.