Beginning in 1963 with the establishment of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated at Morgan State College (now Morgan State University), the creation of african-american based Greek letter organizations independent of the established organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council has been on the rise. With a boom of new organization being created in the last decade of the Twentieth Century, many have opted to create or become a part of these new organizations out of a desire to be different from the mainstream. This desire is many times sparked by dissatisfaction with the established black Greek system due to living stereotypes, the ever-present danger of hazing, or many other personal reasons. Also, some of these recently established organizations have been created to focus on purposes that are either not touched upon, or just touched upon briefly by existing organizations (such as literary organizations, Christian organizations, etc.).

However with the creation of these organizations come many hardships and struggles that for some are too much to overcome. In 1996, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated proved that an independent could triumph over its hardships and struggles by gaining membership into the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the governing council for the nation’s eight largest african-american based Greek letter organizations (at the time). Unlike Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Incorporated, many of the more recently established organizations have no desire to become a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council if the opportunity presented itself.

Due to this desire or lack there of and years of being relegated to being members of various Councils of Independent Organizations (usually containing NPHC auxiliary groups, and other non-Greek letter organizations), many individual members of these independent organizations have sought to form their own councils. These ideas for councils are usually shot down, sighting the fact that many of these independents do not want to be governed by anyone but themselves. To combat the idea of forming a council similar to that of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, some have suggested forming an alliance. This alliance would not create doctrine to rule or govern individual member organizations, but would serve as a statement of unity and a collective voice among these independent organizations. Member organizations would benefit by establishing a network of support that would facilitate the exchange of ideas, camaraderie, and prosperity among the alliance’s various members across the country. This idea of unity, is the soul and driving force behind the Umoja Alliance. It is a hope that if established, the Umoja Alliance would come to represent not only independent african-american based Greek letter organizations, but also all african-american Greek letter organizations.

Membership in the Umoja Alliance would not be based on the number of chapters an organization has, nor the number of members that is has. For an organization to obtain affiliation in the alliance, an organization must demonstrate that they are living up to the purpose and principles in which they were founded upon. This can be done by submitting a copy of an organization’s purpose and /or principles, along with documented proof of how an organization is accomplishing them. The purpose of an organization (being that it is worth while) is not a determining factor in obtaining membership. Meaning that whether your organization is a Christian, service, or social oriented one, it can obtain membership. Also, organizations must have an established non-hazing policy as regards to the individual organization’s membership induction process. Organizations wishing to become affiliated with the Umoja Alliance will need to show a desire for the basic principle that the alliance is based upon: unity.

3. Proposed Charter Organizations

1. Phi Omicron Psi Fraternity, Inc. (FOY)
2. Phi Alpha Psi Sorority, Inc. (FAY)
3. Phi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc. (FDY)
4. Delta Psi Epsilon Sorority, Inc. (DYE)
5. Gamma Phi Eta Fraternity, Inc. (GFH)
6. Alpha Beta Sigma Sorority, Inc. (ABS)
7. Pi Psi Fraternity, Inc. (PY)
8. Lambda Fe Uson Sorority, Inc. (LFU)
9. Beta Phi Pi Fraternity, Inc. (BFP)
10. Alpha Nu Omega, Inc. (ANW)
11. Kappa Phi Iota Sorority, Inc. (KFI)
12. Iota Epsilon Rho (IER)

1. Campus Alliance

1. Alliance support of individual organizations.
2. Cross promotion of organizational events.
3. Co-sponsorship of events, activities, and/or fund-raisers by Alliance member organization present on campus.
4. Using the Umoja Alliance logo on individual organization’s ads and flyers.

1. National Alliance

1. The creation of a national Umoja Alliance website.
2. Creating a national awareness of the Umoja Alliance.
3. The creation and implementation of a national budget.
4. The creation and implementation of a national Convention

6. Timeline

1. The review of the proposal by all proposed charter member organizations.
2. Submission of changes to this proposal but the aforementioned organizations.
3. The creation of a committee (preferably the national committee) to deal with implementing the changes suggested by each individual organization.
4. From these changes a final written statement or "bible" of what the Umoja Alliance is will be created by the committee.
5. This "bible" will be voted on and accepted by Umoja Alliance charter organizations.

1. If it hasn’t already been established, a national committee will be formed. From this a chairperson will be elected.
2. The national committee will facilitate the creation of campus alliances by encouraging individual organizational chapters to proceed with developing a campus plan of unity.
3. Campus committees will form where there are two or more charter organizations present. From this a chairperson will be elected.
4. The campus committee will proceed in completing the necessary steps for obtaining permission for the Umoja Alliance to become a legitimate organization on that campus.
5. The National Committee is to start working on a national budget.

1. The national committee will finalize the national budget.
2. The national committee will start planing for the national convention.
3. Campus committees will be fully entrenched in their campus unity plans.
4. The foundation for the national website should be completed.

1. Completion of the national website.
2. National convention

6. Conclusion