The 'Divine 9': Chicago's Black Greek organizations rally to support those in need

CHICAGO - There are a lot of movers and shakers in Chicago working to make our neighborhoods better. While we recognize many of their names right away, there are a few that not all of us know.

In a Fox 32 Black History Month special report, Dawn Hasbrouck introduces us to one of those groups.

The "Divine 9"

What we know:

Together, a group of Black sororities and fraternities make up what’s called the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) of Chicago. They are also known as the "Divine 9."

For decades, they have been combining their resources and manpower to make Chicago a better place.

One of their current projects is collecting hats, coats and gloves for The Salvation Army so they can be given to those in need this winter.

A Legacy of Service in Chicago

What they're saying:

"A lot of people look for us," said Renee Byrd, vice president of the NPHC of Chicago. "They want to partner with us. They know our impact."

"Part of all of our goals is to service individuals, and communities and families," said NPHC of Chicago president Reginald Summerrise.

Summerrise said service was a big part of each organization's original mission, especially in Black communities that did not have access to a lot of resources, which is why he said working with Cook County to be a part of the national U.S. Census campaign a few years was so important.

"We had billboards throughout African American and people of color communities. And we were going door-to-door setting up census rallies and registering people, giving out information throughout Cook County, all spearheaded by NPHCC," Summerrise said.

"One of the most impactful things we can do to help is make sure the census is being correctly tallied in our communities," Summerise said.

Why you should care:

When it’s not census time, the Divine 9 turn their attention to more immediate needs in our neighborhoods, like blood drives.

"We also are big on feeding those that are in food deserts, those that are less fortunate," Byrd said.

They spend hours volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository helping pack up food donations so they can be distributed to the community, no matter the need for service.

"We have people that will call us and say ‘We need this done. Can the Divine 9 come and help us?’," Byrd said.

The Divine 9 seem to be ready to try and answer the call.

"We have individual partnerships with some big entities. March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, and American Red Cross. They know our work and that’s across the nation," Byrd said.

"We have members that are attorneys, judges. We have members that are masons, carpenters, HVAC repair, teachers from all across the board. What makes us so powerful is we have access to these individuals if we need their assistance," Summerise said.

Shaping the Next Generation

What's next:

There was a lot of interest in Black sororities last year when Kamala Harris became a candidate for president.

Despite that time in the spotlight, both Byrd and Summerise said most people still don’t really know much about the Divine 9.

Other Black Greeks who also made their mark in history include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his wife Coretta and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

"It is this world that if it’s opened up and really looked into people will say ‘Wow, they got representation of everything possible that every community would need,’" Summerrise said.

Mentoring teens and young adults is also a big focus for the Divine 9.