Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The Founders, Honorable A. Langston Taylor, Honorable Leonard F. Morse, and Honorable Charles I. Brown, wanted to organize a Greek letter fraternity that would truly exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, and service.

The Founders deeply wished to create an organization that viewed itself as “a part of” the general community rather than “apart from” the general community. They believed that each potential member should be judged by his own merits, rather than his family background or affluence…without regard to race, nationality, skin tone or texture of hair. They desired for their fraternity to exist as part of an even greater brotherhood which would be devoted to the “inclusive we” rather than the “exclusive we”.

From its inception, the Founders also conceived Phi Beta Sigma as a mechanism to deliver services to the general community. Rather than gaining skills to be utilized exclusively for themselves and their immediate families, they held a deep conviction that they should return their newly acquired skills to the communities from which they had come. This deep conviction was mirrored in the Fraternity’s motto, “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity”.

Today, Phi Beta Sigma has blossomed into an international organization of leaders. No longer a single entity, members of the Fraternity have been instrumental in the establishment of the Phi Beta Sigma National Foundation, the Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union and The Sigma Beta Club Foundation. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, founded in 1920 with the assistance of Phi Beta Sigma, is the sister organization of the Fraternity.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Kappa Delta Sigma Alumni Chapter enjoys a unique place amongst Pan Hellenic chapters in Los Angeles. It is an established entity amongst Sigma chapters, but its humble beginnings show how a foundation is laid the building will grow. Time was the greatest factor and today it stands on its imprint in South Los Angeles.

The chapter founders Brothers Kelvin Tolbert, Anthony George, James Washington, Eric Thomas, Lavant Wooten and Vinson Boyce wanted to have a chapter that put community first and a different approach to Brothers coming back into the fold from being dormant in Sigma.  Meeting in Culver City, California they started to build programs and invest in returning Brothers.  1988 was the year of their founding and the programs took flight. Working in Education with Adopt a Classroom, Bigger & Better Business with entrepreneurial efforts, Social Action with canned food drives the overall message was clear. Build on the Fraternity Motto: Culture for Service and Service for Humanity. 

By the mid 2000’s the signature event Honor Thy Father was started from the Luther Vandross song Dance with My Father. This unique event drew raves as Fathers were honored for being a positive role model in their children’s lives. Now named Honor Our Father and held the Saturday before Father Day this annual signature event draws a wealth of Fathers from all walks of life. The honor shows the community that these men matter and their influence on young people’s lives is not in vain. 

By 2008 the chapter underwent another renaissance as Bro. Jeff Sneed was Chapter President and more influential Brothers arrived in the chapter. Bros. Kerry Williams, Ron Thornton and Woodrow Bailey would have an impact on the chapter as its growth and mission grew with a purpose. Bro. Williams was instrumental in a “Taste of KDS” a restaurant style cooking exhibition which showed off Brothers culinary skills in 2010. Bro. Thornton was the architect of “Cruising with KDS” a signature fellowship for Chapter Brothers and guest to enjoy a day on the water while dining and mingling also established in 2010. Bro. Bailey’s Healing 4 Hope & Homeless came with him and has become a staple of what Kappa Delta Sigma stands for. Social Action is base of all KDS programs. Every initiate has worked in Healing & Hope’s bi-monthly grocery give away since 2010. Most of those Brothers still serve as sense of ownership in the community. 

The late Bro. Kent Cordington introduced the IRS VITA program to the chapter in 2009. Being unsuccessful that year in establishing the program did not deter him and Bro. Woodrow Bailey from launching in 2010 with new initiates Bros. Lee McGill and Theodore Williams. Opening at the Normandie Church of Christ the first year over one hundred forty claims were completed. The program was formally named the KDS/KC VITA program upon Bro. Cordington’s death in 2013. In its tenth year now in Hawthorne, California Senior Citizen Center and now retuning to the Normandie Church of Christ the program remains one of the premier reasons why Kappa Delta Sigma continues to be a beacon in the community.

The chapter continues to build now having a Sigma Beta Club to mold young men minds becoming positive role models in their community. The program is led by Program Director Bro. Agha Ali Khan as the young men involved are truly fortunate. The Education Program has special relationship with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Boys Academic Learning Academy. Bro. Shawn Moorer is the Principal and from day one Kappa Delta Sigma has been there doing mentorship and providing positive male role models for these Middle School age young men at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Boys Academic Learning Academy in South Los Angeles. 

Chapter cornerstones Bros. Kerry Williams and Ron Thornton were lost in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Scholarships were named in their honor, but their impact will be missed along with their Brotherhood. Their signature events they created live on through the Brothers in the Chapter.     

The leader of Leaders is the Chapter President, Honorable Bro. Jeff Sneed followed by Bro. Clarence Espinosa’s six years of leadership and current Chapter President Bro. Woodrow Bailey continue to raise the level of commitment. Whether its collecting men’s clothing, helping other Pan Hellenic organizations, serving in Community Health Fairs, continuing the Fraternity’s National Programs or mounting up in the “Hat Squad” Kappa Delta Sigma is a part of a Brotherhood of Conscious Men Serving the Community.