1.0Destination Newarkhttp://devenrobinson.com/destinationnewark2Destination Newark Staff Writerhttp://devenrobinson.com/destinationnewark2/author/dnewark2017/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="BOQvrcUDB6"><a href="http://devenrobinson.com/destinationnewark2/business/top-9-of-the-divine-nine/">Top 9 of Newark’s Divine Nine</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="http://devenrobinson.com/destinationnewark2/business/top-9-of-the-divine-nine/embed/#?secret=BOQvrcUDB6" width="600" height="338" title="“Top 9 of Newark’s Divine Nine” — Destination Newark" data-secret="BOQvrcUDB6" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=http://devenrobinson.com/destinationnewark2/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script> http://devenrobinson.com/destinationnewark2/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Top-9-Cover3-1280x640-1.jpg1280640For those who may not be familiar–The Divine Nine roots began on college campuses to unify African American students back in 1906, when Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. formed as the first Black Greek lettered fraternity at Cornell University. By the 1960s, there were nine Black Greek letter organizations, collectively known as the National Pan-Hellenic Council—and affectionately known as the Divine Nine. Interest in joining these organizations has grown far beyond college campuses. Today, it is more a sisterhood and brotherhood of professionals, politicians and movers and shakers, as evidenced by Newark’s Mayor Ras Baraka, who joined Alpha Phi Alpha just two years ago. There are also three members of the fraternity on the Newark Municipal Council, and former Council President Mildred Crump is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. This spring, the recent initiation of 83 new members to the North Jersey Alumnae Chapter (NJAC) of Delta Sigma Theta, many of whom live or work in Newark, proves there is great interest to join this coveted group of nine organizations. Destination Newark researched and interviewed several members of the Divine Nine to find those who are doing big things in Newark– either as small business owners, nonprofit leaders or educators. Here’s who made our Top 9 of the Divine Nine: