RIVERVIEW, Fla. — Days after announcing her candidacy for the presidency, Vice President Harris delivered the keynote speech at the biennial gathering of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta in Indianapolis.

Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated from around the country, including Tampa, Riverview and St. Petersburg traveled to Indy for the event, known as Boulé.

What You Need To Know

  • Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated from around the country, including Tampa, Riverview and St. Petersburg traveled to Indianapolis for Boulé

  • Today, the historically Black sorority became the first to host a presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, at Boulé

  • Zeta Phi Beta is a non-partisan sisterhood that engages the community in voter education and registration

  • Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also a member of the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, spoke to women of color whom she hopes will turn out for her in November, just as they did for President Joe Biden in 2020

Zeta Phi Beta is a non-partisan sisterhood that engages the community in voter education and registration.

“We do a lot of voter education drives and make sure our members are educated voters so that way they are knowledgeable when they go to the polls,” said Perchell Jackson.

Jackson is the Social Action Chair of the Tau Pi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in Riverview.

She has been preparing and packing for the sorority’s Indianapolis Boulé for months.

“Just want to ensure I’ll have everything I need,” she said.

During the week-long gathering and business meeting, she will meet and greet sorority sisters from around the globe. All had a front-row seat to Vice President Harris’s speech.

“I’m hoping to hear from her what she will do for the American people and ensure the average everyday American is taken care of,” said Perchell.

Wednesday, Vice President Harris, who is also a member of the first historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, spoke to women of color whom she hopes will turn out for her in November, just as they did for President Joe Biden in 2020.

“There’s so much at stake. And again, then in this moment, our nation, as it always has, is counting on you to energize, to organize and to mobilize, to register folks to vote, to get them to the polls, and to continue to fight for the future our nation and her people deserve,” Harris told members of the sorority.

During the 2020 election, AP Votecast revealed that although Black women made up just 7% of the voters, 93% of them voted for Biden. This significantly contributed to his narrow victories in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

“It was amazing to see how many people came out to support her, so I hope she delivers,” said Perchell.

Zeta Phi Beta is one of nine historically Black sororities and fraternities known as the Divine Nine.

They launched an initiative called “Stroll to the Polls” to help people without transportation get to the polls. They have partnered with the NAACP Hillsborough Chapter to host a political forum on August 12th to engage Tampa residents in local elections.