Rashad Beard - 18th NC State Director, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

09/03/2026

I feel compelled to share this after listening to the entire 1 hour and 35 minute conversation between Stephen A. Smith, Cari Champion, and Jemele Hill.

Regardless of how you feel about Stephen A., his opinions, or the way he moves, I believe he deserves credit for one thing:

He stood in the fire and LISTENED.

There were uncomfortable moments. There was disagreement. There was criticism. But instead of avoiding the conversation, he showed up and stayed in it.

There’s a leadership lesson in that.

One of the greatest responsibilities of leadership is having the courage to engage in the conversations others would rather avoid. You don’t have to agree with everything being said. You don’t even have to leave the conversation with everyone seeing things the same way.

But you should be willing to listen.

Too many relationships are damaged because we assume instead of asking, respond instead of listening, or allow pride to prevent a conversation that desperately needs to happen.

Life is too short to hold grudges, assume the worst, or allow pride to divide us.

Reach out to that Brother you haven’t spoken to for some time due to disagreement. Have the conversation AND LISTEN.

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08/30/2026

Another busy Saturday in the Great State of North Carolina!

First, I had the pleasure of returning HOME to Fayetteville to attend the Zeta Beta Sigma / Pi Chapter Retreat. Huge shoutout to Bro. President Theron Bennekin for the invitation and allowing me to participate.

Phi Beta Sigma - Zeta Beta Sigma Chapter, what right looks like! These Brothers are positioned to finish 2026 strong and have an even greater 2027. It was also great connecting with our collegiate Brothers of Pi Chapter. Expectations are high, and I have full confidence these young men will rise to meet them!

Then to Kannapolis, NC, I had the honor of bringing greetings on behalf of the State at the Distinguished Service Chapter Reception honoring Hon. Bro. Keith Smith.

The who’s who of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in North Carolina showed up to celebrate this momentous occasion. From Hon. Bro. Dudley Flood, Hon. Bro. Chris V. Rey to International First Vice President Bro. Malwan Johnson, and so many Brothers whose lives and leadership have been impacted by Hon. Bro. Smith.

The Distinguished Service Chapter represents the highest honor our Fraternity can bestow upon a Brother, and this recognition was certainly well deserved.

Congratulations to DSC #212, Hon. Bro. Keith Smith! Continue to challenge us all to .

08/23/2026

On the road again!!! A full day in Eastern North Carolina!

Started the day in Jacksonville with the Brothers of the
Eta Theta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc for their formal meeting. Special thanks to Bro. President Robert Wilder Jr. for extending the invitation to surrounding chapters to join them—great to see Brothers from Upsilon Tau Sigma Chapter The Sigmas of New Bern, North Carolina attend, coming together in the spirit of BROTHERHOOD. Before leaving, I asked Hon. Bro. McLean if he needed anything. His response was simple: “I need $1,000.” 😂 I told him, “I’ll see what I can do!”

Then made my way to Greenville to support the Xi Nu Chapter at East Carolina University and their Fish Fry Fundraiser.

I’m always grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Brothers across our GREAT STATE, support the work happening at the local level, and strengthen the connections between our Alumni and Collegiate chapters.

Thank you to both chapters for the hospitality and fellowship today. Eastern NC represented well!

08/15/2026

Great time with the Durham Alumni Chapter Of Phi Beta Sigma! 🤘🏾

Thank you, Brothers, for welcoming me into your chapter meeting and giving me the opportunity to present the State of the State Report and share our vision for moving North Carolina forward.

More importantly, I appreciated the fellowship and the fantastic display of BROTHERHOOD throughout the evening.

Special shoutout to Bro. Devin Scott for his leadership and commitment to moving the chapter forward. I’m excited about what the Bull City Sigmas have in store and look forward to seeing their continued impact in Durham and beyond.

08/02/2026

First half of the day was business, 2nd half was a party! Shout out to Sigmas of Charlotte for putting together a great event!

It was great to reconnect with Brothers from across the state and region.

08/02/2026

History has been made in North Carolina!

Congratulations to the Brothers of the newly chartered Phi Epsilon Sigma Chapter, now proudly serving Johnston County, North Carolina!

The chartering of a new alumni chapter is more than the addition of a name, it is the expansion of our reach, our service, and our impact. As Phi Epsilon Sigma begins its journey, you carry with you the responsibility of advancing the ideals of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service while making a lasting difference in the communities you serve.

Thank you to every Brother whose vision, dedication, and perseverance made this milestone possible. Your hard work has laid the foundation for generations of Sigmas to come.

Welcome to the North Carolina & Southeastern Region family, Brothers. We look forward to witnessing your growth and celebrating your future successes.

Congratulations, Phi Epsilon Sigma!

07/31/2026

It was an honor to join Bro. President Toby Powell and the Sigmas of Charlotte at the South Atlantic Regional Conference of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Thank you for the invitation and warm hospitality.

The Public Meeting featured an outstanding panel discussion highlighting several remarkable women who are leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the region. It was an inspiring conversation on leadership, education, and the future of our institutions.

A special shoutout to our 36th International President, Hon. Bro. Chris V. Rey, JD, for not only serving as the panel moderator, but also proudly representing Barber-Scotia College and its continued mission to educate and empower future generations.

07/26/2026

Almost impossible to find the words to summarize last night! A time was had!

Vine & Vibes ‘26 was one for the books! Thank you to Southeastern Regional Director Bro. Patricke Ward & Dr. Veronica Sills - NC State Director for your attendance and kind words.

Congratulations to all the Bridge Award Recipients. Thank you all for what you have done in your respective communities!

The performance by Soror Syleena Johnson (Official) was AMAZING! Shout out to your team! Soror Syleecia Thompson and Bro. Gionni Carr were a pleasure to work with!

And to every Brother, Soror, family member, and supporter who came out, thank you for making it unforgettable.

None of this happens without the people behind it:

⭐️Sharita of Party of 5 Eventz — The décor was AMAZING, but more than that, you kept the entire evening seamless and organized, which let us actually enjoy our own event. That’s a gift. We can’t thank you enough!

⭐️ Bro. Vendell D. Brooks, Chapter President — thank you for your leadership. This night was a reflection of it.

⭐️ Our Partners: Midrex Technologies, Bryant Mosiac Group, The Pattersons, Krystal Williams Realty, Smoke & Oak, Luxe & Leisure Custom Hats, Harbor One Seafood & Chicken

07/21/2026

This past weekend, it was great to see Brothers, Sorors, families, and friends come together for an afternoon filled with food & fun.

A special thank you to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc - Delta Sigma Chapter for hosting another first-class event and for incorporating a school supply drive to help local students prepare for the upcoming school year!

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to another successful community gathering.

Note: The Shirt I’m wearing is available to purchase via our State Conference registration link.

07/15/2026

On Saturday, Aug 29, Honorable Judge Bro. Keith Smith will be formally inducted into the Distinguished Service Chapter - the highest honor in Phi Beta Sigma. The entire community will be there to support Bro. Smith.

The last day for early bird tickets is TODAY, Wednesday, July 15. Go get them ASAP. Proceeds support OUR Sigma Beta Club.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/honorable-brother-judge-keith-smith-distinguished-service-chapter-event