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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Highlights Activism, Commitment to Improving Community at 102nd Anniversary Convention in Kansas City, MO
CNN's Soledad O'Brien, Actor Hill Harper and "The Apprentice" Winner, Dr. Randal Pinkett Among Convention Participants and Award Recipients
Darryl R. Matthews, Sr.,
32nd General President,
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. |
CNN Sr. Correspondent Soledad
O'Brien |
Alpha Brother Dr. Randal
Pinkett |
Baltimore, MD (BlackNews.com) - For more than 100 years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has been committed to serving communities -- and it is during its largest yearly gathering where members from across the nation converge upon a city to make a difference. The nation's first and largest African-American intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity will host its 102nd Anniversary Convention from July 17 - 21, 2008 in Kansas City, MO, and will feature several major community service initiatives focusing on national and local issues.
The convention, "Developing Leaders for Service and Advocacy," will also have workshops, business sessions and appearances by some of today's recognized individuals and elected officials, including Soledad O'Brien, Hill Harper, Dr. Randal Pinkett, and Honorary Convention Chair and Alpha Brother Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).
More than 5,000 participants are expected to attend the convention, hosted at the Kansas City Convention Center and Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The convention is expected to generate from $2-3 million, with 15,000 people passing through the venues.
"This year's convention is certainly going to be an experience in history in terms of the bold political, social and economic initiatives we will be conducting in Kansas City," said the fraternity's 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. "In keeping with the tradition of the fraternity, Alpha will leave a positive mark on Kansas City, as we have been doing for the rest of the nation for more than a century."
The five-day convention will kick-off with a Housing Development Mini-Conference on July 17th. The conference will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, and will focus on community and housing development. Kim Kendrick, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will deliver the keynote address.
With the 2008 Presidential election quickly approaching, the fraternity is hosting their "Voteless People is a Hopeless People" Town Hall Forum on Saturday, July 19th. The forum will discuss a variety of political issues, to include: voter education, voter registration and basic civic participation. Baltimore TV newscaster and Alpha Brother Vic Carter will serve as the forum's moderator. Panelists will include: Alpha Brother Kevin Powell, and representatives from National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, Democratic Political Party, Republican Political Party, and Author Keli Goff.
Dr. Randal Pinkett, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners will headline the Public Program on Sunday, July 20. Pinkett, a fraternity brother, is widely recognized as the first African-American winner of NBC's The Apprentice (Season 4). The entrepreneur and speaker will discuss entrepreneurial opportunities, while also commenting on civic and social justice work that is needed in today's society.
Also, during the Public Program the fraternity will honor Soledad O'Brien with the Alpha Award of Honor, the highest recognition for a non-member, for her tremendous work with media coverage of issues affecting the African-American community. O'Brien is a senior correspondent for CNN and has received numerous journalism awards. CNN will also hold a special screening at the convention of the highly anticipated series and year-long investigation "Black in America," hosted by O'Brien.
Scholar, Actor and Author Hill Harper will also receive the Alpha Award of Honor. Harper wrote two bestselling books: Letters to a Young Brother, and most recently Letters to a Young Sister. Harper's books served as motivation to young people for making good life decisions. He also starred in CSI: NY, and is appearing in the movie Mama, I Want to Sing! this Fall.
Brother Dr. Joseph Heyward and Brother Dr. Sylvester Shannon will receive the Alpha Award of Merit, the highest recognition for an Alpha Brother. These brothers have served the fraternity in various official capacities for several decades.
Nearly 20 Kansas City high school students will receive recognition from the fraternity at the Public Program for outstanding academic achievement and community participation.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) will serve as the keynote speaker during the Life Membership Luncheon on Monday, July 21st. Cleaver is a second-term Congressman in the House of Representatives, and sits on the Financial Services Committee and the Select Committee on Global Warming.
Also, on July 21st, the fraternity will host their Project Alpha initiative (Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Seminar) at a local school. Project Alpha, sponsored by the fraternity and the March of Dimes, is a youth-oriented initiative focused on safe-sex education and responsibility. The brothers will also perform several renovations to the school at the conclusion of the event.
Other festivities, including the College Life to Corporate Life Career Fair and annual Belford V Lawson Oratorical Contest addressing the important question, "Is the N-word Really Buried?" will take place on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th. The oratorical competition will showcase finalists from the regions as they compete for the national title. Individual recognition for the academic and service achievements of various chapters, including the Brother and Chapter of the Year Awards and the Alpha Spirit Awards, will be presented at the Black and Gold Banquet on Monday, July 21st.
Under the leadership of Matthews, over the past 4 years, the fraternity has strengthened its presence in the communities they represent through their implementing their various community efforts as well as supporting and partnering with others. These efforts include supporting State Farms' and Dr. Ian Smith's 50 Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge. Alpha Phi Alpha was the first national Black Greek letter organization to sign on as a Challenge Champion. As a Challenge Champion, Alpha's commitment and support is highly recognized for improving the good health of and generating good will across, the entire community.
Matthews shares, "Alpha Phi Alpha is making history as we unite to 'give up the pounds, not the fight.' I encourage you to register for the Challenge at 50millionpounds.com or visit the exhibit at our convention in Kansas City."
As General President, he called for 10,000 Alpha Brothers to become mentors, to assist in fund-raising efforts, to serve on local BBBS Agency Boards of Directors. He has served for three years as a member of the BBBS African-American Task Force and has been instrumental in creating new partnerships and alliances for BBBS.
This life-long commitment will be recognized by Judy Vrendenburgh, President/CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She will make a special presentation to Matthews, for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the efforts to provide one-to-one mentoring services to the youth of America.
"During my tenure, I strived to continue in the tradition of which we were founded, to elevate the conversation, mentality and consciousness of our Alpha Brothers. We need to continue to spark intellectual discourse and be intentional in our efforts to create, commit and contribute to the positive well-being of the communities in which we represent," Matthews reflected.
Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Retired Senator Edward Brooke and Cornel West. Others include members of the 110th Congress including: Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO), Charles B. Rangel (NY), Danny K. Davis (IL), Chaka Fattah (PA), Al Green (TX), Gregory Meeks (NY), David Scott (GA), Robert C. Scott (VA). The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.
To learn more visit www.apa1906.net
CONTACT:
Monica Wood | MWPR, Inc.
mwood@mwprinc.com
704-430-6300
Kia Green | MWPR, Inc.
443-691-6764
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