MENTORING
The Fraternity's national programs are devoted to the uplifting of
the African American community. Alpha Phi Alpha today has formed national
mentoring partnerships with organizations dedicated to helping minority
youth, such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of
America, March of Dimes and the Head Start program. The Fraternity
also is involved with the Habitat for Humanity project to provide
decent and affordable housing to the needy.
WORLD
AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Alpha Phi Alpha has made its voice heard at the highest levels of
government. The Fraternity has made its position known to Congress
and the White House on issues such as the nomination of Dr. Henry
Foster as U.S. Surgeon General and the Republican attack on affirmative
action. Alpha Phi Alpha has aided victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.
The Fraternity leads an effort in Congress to establish a memorial
to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on federal land in Washington, D.C.
Alpha Phi Alpha's political presence is felt in the nation's capital
during Alpha Phi Alpha's annual reception for members of the Congressional
Black Caucus. The Fraternity's position on matters affecting people
of African origin around the world is represented through its ambassadors
to the African/African-American Summits.
EDUCATION
Education and scholarship remain major focuses in today's Alpha Phi
Alpha. The College Scholarship Bowl testing the intellect of Brothers
was introduced in the current era as a feature of General Conventions.
The Fraternity's "Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College" program,
first established in 1919, was reintroduced; and a General Presidents'
Scholarship was endowed as part of Alpha Phi Alpha's Education Foundation.
CONTINUING THE LEGACY
The Fraternity has established an Alpha Phi Alpha Archives at Howard
University in Washington so that the history of the organization-which
parallels the success of African-Americans-will be preserved. As African
Americans and underprivileged peoples around the world continue to
struggle for their God-given rights of freedom, justice, equality
and human dignity, the Fraternity continues to stand at the forefront
of efforts to win those rights. Alpha Phi Alpha today continues in
the spirit of leadership the Fraternity has demonstrated since 1906.
ALPHA AND THE NAACP
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity today continues to serve as a light to
the community. The Fraternity is involved in a campaign to assist
the financially-troubled NAACP. In assisting the country's oldest
civil rights organization, the Fraternity has renewed its long-standing
partnership with the NAACP and pledged to donate funds to the group.
Alpha Phi Alpha donated more than $30,000 to the NAACP during the
Fraternity's 89th Anniversary Convention in Orlando, Florida. In addition,
the Fraternity's chapters are giving financial support to the NAACP
by purchasing life memberships. Alpha Phi Alpha similarly aided the
NAACP in 1960 when Fraternity Brothers Thurgood Marshall and then-General
President Judge Myles A. Paige led an effort to restore the freedom-fighting
organization to leadership and power. In the early 1980s, Alpha Phi
Alpha again supported the NAACP and several other black organizations
with a $1 million fundraising campaign.
PROJECT ALPHA
Project Alpha is a collaborative effort between the March of Dimes
Foundation and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. This program was developed
to increase the knowledge of the African-American male of the consequences
of teenage pregnancy from the male perspective. This program seeks
to assist young men in developing an understanding of their role in
preventing untimely pregnancies through responsible attitudes and
behaviors.
The goals of Project Alpha are to: Reduce the rate of adolescent
sex and pregnancy; stress the concept of abstinence as a personal
choice while promoting the use of contraceptives to those that choose
to be sexually active; increase the knowledge of anatomy and physiology
of the human body and the awareness of sexually transmitted diseases;
clarify and emphasize the roles and responsibilities of fatherhood;
and reduce the rate of sexual abuse and violence among African-American
teens.
ALPHA ACADEMY
A program that helps prepare high school students for college study.
During an eight-week intensive program, high school seniors study
English, mathematics, history, science and computer science. They
are exposed to learning strategies and a wellness way of life involving
nutrition, exercise and stress management practices.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE
A program designed to teach leadership skills to high school juniors
and seniors. Alpha Phi Alpha provides a forum for men of all ages
to hone the skills necessary for leadership in the larger society.
With experience gained while serving as chapter officers, convention
delegates, committees members, etc., Alpha Phi Alpha members are able
to teach parliamentary procedure and public speaking skills vital
to success in the business world and society.
Leadership Training Institutes prepare outstanding high school students
in the vital skills of leadership. The leadership institute is committed
to:
· Enhancing organizational skills;
· Program development;
· Public presentations;
· Group dynamics;
· Self-actualization;
· Assertiveness training;
· Parliamentary procedures
These regional "academics" polish the raw talents of African-American
youth. Hosted primarily on the campuses of historically black colleges,
this initiative serves as a "greenhouse" for future generations
of African-American leaders.
GO TO HIGH SCHOOL, GO
TO COLLEGE
The "Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College" program, established
in 1922, concentrates on the importance of completing secondary and
collegiate education as a road to advancement. Statistics prove the
value of this extra impetus in making the difference in the success
of young African-American men, given that school completion is the
single best predictor of future economic success. Through the Go-to-High-School,
Go-to-College educational initiative, young men receive information
and learn strategies that facilitate success. Alpha men provide youth
participants with excellent role models to emulate. It is a program
counseling youth on the importance of post-secondary education while
introducing them to promising professions. Through the program, students
and their families are provided information about college entrance
and financial aid. The counseling thrust is augmented by a vigorous
scholarship program for college-bound youth.
ALPHA HEAD START
PROJECT (MALE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is committed to revitalizing the
African-American male and family through its efforts with the HeadStart
program. This collaborative effort assists fathers in their rebound
from the social forces which may have weakened their ability to function
self-sufficiently to achieve some desired goal in life.
The program seeks to foster initiatives which intervene in the lives
of African-American fathers to remedy the negative social factors
which tend to detract from success, thereby enhancing the ability
of African-American families to remain strong and overcome negative
social consequences. It is amentoring program designed to increase
the participation of fathers and other significant males in the lives
of their children who also participate in the program. The partnership
was influenced by a revelation that many fathers did not play necessary
and significant roles in the lives of their children. The lives of
more than 4,000 parents and children have been enhanced since the
partnership was created between Alpha Phi Alpha and the National Black
College Alumni Hall of Fame, Inc., the Department of Health and Human
Services and Region IV Head Start Programs.
This program focuses on:
· Increasing the participation
of fathers and other significant male family members in HeadStart
programs and the lives of their children;
· Developing effective strategies
for increasing the resiliency of African-Americans men through intervention
and prevention programs;
· Providing mentoring/counseling
services to facilitate grassroots communication and coordination on
issues related to male involvement;
· Sponsoring forums to alleviate some of the stereotypical
views held of African-American men.
NATIONAL MENTORING
PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS
OF AMERICA
The Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America program was implemented during
the fraternity's 1990 
General
Convention. The two organizations signed an agreement to assist each
other in reaching their goals of working toward the positive development
of African-American youth and empowering their families and communities.
The focus of this partnership is to:
· Increase minority representation
on local Big Brothers/Big Sisters' Board of Directors;
· Increase positive perceptions
of both organizations in the African-American community;
· Expose African-American boys
of Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs to positive Alpha role models
and the programs of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc;
· Increase the number of African-American children exposed
to positive African-American adult role models.
The work of Alpha Phi Alpha, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America
and Boy Scouting to prepare our children to be confident and responsible
adults is important to our future. Alpha Phi Alpha and Big Brothers/Big
Sisters formed a national partnership in 1990 to match youth with
Fraternity adult volunteers. Alpha Chapters use Scouting as a resource
for youth development while operating their own Scouting units and
providing Alumni Brothers to serve as council and district Scout leaders.
COMMISSION ON BUSINESS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Encourages collaboration with Fortune 500 companies for business and
economic training and development of our youth.
A VOTELESS PEOPLE
IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE
"A Voteless People is a Hopeless People" was initiated as
a National Program of Alpha during the 1930's when many African-Americans
had the right to vote but were prevented from voting because of poll
taxes, threats of reprisal, and lack of education about the voting
process. Voter education and registration has remained a dominant
focus of this outreach activity for over 65 years. In the 1990's,
the focus has shifted to include political awareness and empowerment,
delivered most frequently through town meetings and candidate forums.
The Fraternity continues its vigorous program to register and educate
voters and get them to the voting polls on election day. The voter
registration slogan developed by Alpha Phi Alpha in the 1930's continues
to serve as a battle cry for the Fraternity's voter registration and
education efforts.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The Boy Scouts
of America and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity have goals and objectives
which make for
a "natural alliance" between the two organizations. Through
this alliance, the two organizations areachieving
their goals by utilizing the Scouting program to its greatest potential
as a programming resource.
Alpha Chapters/Brothers have and continue to:
· Charter Scout units;
· Serve as district, council,
regional, and national leaders;
· Refer promising and credible
individuals for careers as volunteer and professional leaders in the
Scouting program;
· Develop special relationships
and programs in conjunction with established units and levels of leadership.
· Through the Scouts, Alpha men
get involved in their neighborhoods with young men and help form positive
character and leadership qualities in and for future generations.
COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS
The Alpha Phi Alpha General Organization and local chapters frequently
join with other non-profit organizations and social service agencies
to implement special projects. The NAACP, National Urban League, United
Negro College Fund, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association,
Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Operation PUSH, Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, Salvation Army and United Way are among the
many groups which benefit from donations of time, money and talent
from the thousands of Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers across the nation committed
to public service as a way of life.
