Clockwise from left: Past President Jylla Moore Tearte and Grand Val present awards during the Founders’ Centennial gala; Past President Tearte celebrates with fellow Zetas after unveiling Centennial signage at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; Past Presidents Tearte and Mary Breaux Wright present the Trailblazer Award to Dr. Marjay Anderson at the 2018 Grand Boulé in New Orleans; Grand Val and Past President Tearte unveil the Arizona Cleaver Stemons Way sign in Philadelphia, PA; Past President Tearte takes a photo with Soror Chaka Khan and her models during the Founders’ Luncheon and Fashion Show; Past President Tearte takes a photo with her husband Curtis during the Founders’ Centennial celebration.
Centennial Perspectives
The Centennial Journey From the Eyes of the Centennial Commission Chair By Dr. Jylla Moore Tearte 20th International President
The Genesis of the Journey In September 2013, at the Capital Grille in Atlanta, Georgia, I had just finished a delicious lunch with Mary Breaux Wright, who was the International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, when she popped the question: Would I serve as the Centennial Chair? I had not expected the question and asked if I could have some time to think ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED
about it and also talk with Curtis, my husband. With his concurrence, my mind was then racing with the thought of creating a strategic plan and needing all the elements of a construct that would become a roadmap for the “Journey to Centennial” in 2020. Honestly, I was stuck on January 16, 2020, and the historical elements that needed to be interwoven into this massive undertaking. TO HONOR THE FOUNDERS became the singular most important goal on the roadmap that was developed. This vision drove the mission and purpose for all that was to be experienced on the journey because I personally knew three of the five Founders of the sorority and had the privilege of being in their presence on a number of occasions. When I joined Zeta (Continued on page 16) SPRING & SUMMER 2021 • THE ARCHON MAGAZINE
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