THEY HEAR THE VOICE OF JEWEL CALLIS

When the now late Brother C. Perry Halstead, one of the founders of the Omicron Phi Lambda chapter, which serves

South Fulton, outside of Atlanta, came upon a box of old vinyl records at his home, one stood out so much that he yelled to his wife.

Alarmed, she ran into the room, expecting to call 9-1-1. Instead, she found her husband in a moment of shock and awe.

He had discovered a recording owned by his late father, Brother Clarence Perry Halstead, Sr., of Jewel Founder Henry Arthur Callis speaking at the Theta Rho Lambda chartering service on January 30, 1965 in Arlington, Virginia.

It was a rare find, so rare that it is perhaps the only known audio recording of a Jewel’s voice. Anywhere.

“The record was in pristine condition,” Brother Halstead says. “I hooked up my turntable—yes I still have a turntable—and listened.”

Jewel Callis delivered a 15-minute speech that “was still relevant today,” he says. At the time, Jewel Callis was 78.

This discovery marks one of Brother Halstead’s greatest gifts to the fraternity since he entered Omega chapter on March 14.

Brother Halstead loved telling the story of this rare discovery, including how he excitedly called Brothers Sam Daniel, Donald Wheat, and Jim Christian from his OPL chapter with the news. Then he called Past General President Brother Darryl Matthews, who suggested he have the vinyl record converted into CDs.

As part of the Atlanta-area Founders’ Day Banquet on December 4, 2021, the recording was played for the nearly 200 Brothers in attendance. There was complete silence. When Brother Dan A. Sims, who chaired the week of events, asked if anyone had ever heard a Jewel’s voice, not one hand was raised—including from Brother Bob Willis and Brother Howard Kennedy, both in attendance, who had 72 and 71 years, respectively, in Alpha.

It turned out that it was the last speech for Jewel Callis, who had asked to not to be called

“Jewel.” He started the speech, delivered in a low and raspy voice, by saying: “If I could add just a little oil to the torch that has been burning for over a half century, I would be much satisfied.”

Some of the highlights of his speech:

• “We must be recognized because of our good work. Because things in this country and the world are getting a little better does not allow us to let up on forwarding our objectives. . . There’ve been two main objectives since the founding, since 1906 . . . Students were dropping out of school in the fifth and sixth grade. We put stay in school, go to high school, go to college in our program because we knew that without schooling there was not much of a future, regardless of color. . . The only avenue of success is still through thorough training.”

• “Our second purpose was to train leaders through our organization to make our young men sure of themselves, to become associated with young men in other colleges and to continue that association after our graduation. . . If we go through the rosters of those men scattered across the country, they are influential in making America better. . . You will find Alpha men have done it.”

• “We have changed America, but that change isn’t complete. Alpha Phi Alpha has work to do as civic leaders. . . political leaders, to see that America is not only the land of the brave, but also the land of the free.”

Brother Halstead was astonished when he later learned the recording could be the only one that captures a Jewel’s voice talking about the fraternity and its responsibility. He had copies made and sent to all the Past General Presidents, “as a tribute of my father,” he says. A copy was provided for the Alpha archives at Cornell University, Howard University, and the General Office.

“I received letters, emails, and phone calls acknowledging how this treasure will be a permanent part of their Alpha materials,” he says. “And mine, too.”

Brother Curtis Bunn [Epsilon Pi ’82], a member of Omicron Phi Lambda chapter is an awardwinning journalist at NBC News, is the best-selling author of 10 novels and the founder of both the national

Alabama

| DELTA PHI LAMBDA CHAPTER committed members of St. Timothy Community Church and community partners.

Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, in conjunction with the Tuscaloosa Emergency Service, Whatley Health Services, 105.1 radio station, and 14 on Wheels, offered free COVID-19 vaccination shots.

Lady Cheville initiated this event four years ago after St. Timothy Community Church assessed the surrounding communities and determined there was a great need for food, clothing, toiletries, employment, and other community resources. Lady Cheville commented, “St. Timothy Community Church’s mission is “Serving God while serving and helping to reach our community.

In addition, the chapter also collaborated with 14 on Wheels to provide 100 free boxed-lunches to individuals on a first come-first serve basis, and in the fall, welcomed Oakdale Elementary School students back to school. The chapter’s focus is on doing service and providing learning and involvement opportunities for people in the community and beyond.

California

| MU XI LAMBDA CHAPTER

Mu Xi Lambda Chapter in Inland Empire, CA recently support St. Timothy Community Church’s 4th Annual Christmas Toy Drive to support less fortunate families in San Bernardino, Muscoy, and Rialto with toys for the children up to 16-years-old.

“As families grapple with the new normal, they continue to be faced with a range of challenges,” says Brother Joseph Williams, a chapter member and trustee for the San Bernardino Community College District. “We continue to support St. Timothy Churches efforts because they are at the pulse of the needs of the community.”

Brother Williams believes it is essential to engage in partnerships with community organizations and leaders like San Bernardino County Board Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta Sororities who also provided toys and volunteers for the event.

Founder and coordinator for the event, First Lady Cheville McKenzie credits God for event success and for allowing her to carry out His plan. Lady Cheville also credits her husband, Pastor David McKenzie, for his leadership and guidance as well as the faithful,

“The Mu Xi Lambda Chapter has served the Inland Empire since 1977, ever since the organization was founded in the City of Rialto,” says Chapter President Ed McMillon, who is also the assistant principal at

Bonita High School. We see this effort as part of our civic duty. It’s our mission to develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.”

GEORGIA | ZETA PI CHAPTER

The Zeta Pi Alumni Association, including current members of Zeta Pi, recognized the legacy of the Pearls of the Zeta Pi Chapter—1st of Firsts: The Legacy of Zeta Pi at the University of Georgia on Friday, October 15th, 2021.

Zeta Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. represents the University of Georgia’s first Black student organization and first Black Greek-Letter Organization on the campus. The chapter’s original seven charter members are known as The Pearls.

in solidarity to the Tate Northwest Lawn to attend the ribbon-cutting and commemoration for the newly installed NPHC Markers at the University of Georgia.

These markers, with the Fraternity’s marker placed at the head of all the markers, were recommended by the UGA Presidential Task Force on Race, Ethnicity, and Community, signed for by chapter representatives, and approved by President Jere Morehead.

The Pearls, who were in attendance,were given frontrow seats to witness history and further recognize their determination as trailblazers. Brother Brandon Mahone, Zeta Pi Chapter president, along with presidents from other NPHC organizations, and university officials cut the ribbon to dedicate the grounds and markers.

MICHIGAN | EPSILON UPSILON LAMBDA CHAPTER

The Alpha Esquires, a key mentoring program in Flint, Michigan, is preparing to celebrate its 25th Anniversary. In 1997, Fraternity members recognized the rapid decline of the manufacturing base in Flint as well as the need to develop and implement a youth program. The city, which has been home to two “Alpha” Chapters for many years – an alumni chapter since 1953 and a city-wide college chapter since 1973.

The alumni association’s event, which was held at UGA’s Richard B. Russell Special Collections Library, commemorated the chapter’s founding in 1969 as well as the 25th anniversary of the alumni association

On display were various pieces of Alpha paraphernalia from the Pearls – the chapter’s charter members, including, letters written to the national organization in the 1960s, photographs of the Pearls while on campus, and various other Alpha artifacts.

Current and past Alpha leadership, chapter members, and university officials also offered remarks, including Brother Jaquarius Raglin, the chapter’s recording and corresponding secretary, Brother Chester Wheeler (21st Southern Regional Vice President and 6th Georgia District Director), Brother Don Weston (Southern Region Associate Executive Director and 10th South Carolina District Director), and 3rd General President Brother Rev. Herman Skip Mason, Jr.

Following the event, all brothers in attendance walked

“Part of the success is that we have never treated the Esquire program as a drive-by,” says Brother Sam Wells, an Alpha Esquires lead advisor coordinator, who has served as a program mentor for 24 years. “It’s not the program of the month. We’ve committed within our DNA to want to be involved and engaged and make a difference

Since its founding, the program has grown and evolved, but continues to challenge Esquires to defy stereotypes and negative statistics and provide positive peer pressure and examples for one another and our community. The purpose is to teach and learn what it means to be a man and build a path for future success. The group’s name infers its outgrowth of the Alpha Phi

Alpha Fraternity as well as communicates its purpose: “Esquires” referring to a class of young noblemen groomed for knighthood.

Says Alpha Esquire Founder and Brother Omar Smith: “We grew up in Flint, stayed at the frat house, and talked about what can we do to help this next generation. Any success I achieved personally or professionally is the result of my mentors in my life.”

Brother Robert Matthews, also a founding program member who joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, said he realized that fraternity members could teach some of what they learned—and benefited from—in college to the next generation by mentoring local high school students.

"I'm a little brown boy from Flint, Michigan," he says. "I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother was a teen mom, and I vividly recall things that she did to go above and beyond to help me with. (There are) certain things, people, and places she tried to introduce me to. But I also recall vividly a point in my life where I felt like having a male role model or mentor was critically important."

Reflects Brother Wells on the program: “It’s just mind-blowing. You look at these young guys, when they were 14, 15, 16, 17, and (now) they’re in their 30s, and they’ve started families, they have careers or running businesses, you know, it’s hard to comprehend at times.”

“It’s our legacy,” says Brother Sims. “The impact of our obedience has been felt around the world.” We saw a need; did we know it was going to be 25 years, no.”

As the group gets ready to celebrate the 25th Anniversary, on June 25th, 2022, Brothers Matthews, Wells, and Sims hope that the program continues for another 25 years.

“We represent Flint,’ says Brother Sims. “We’re the best of what Flint has to offer. One thing Mr. Wells let his mentees know is that this is a mentoring program sponsored by the fraternity. It doesn’t mean you have to become a member of the fraternity. We’re not advocating fraternity membership. But the fact that they see the positive that fraternity provides and brings home. So, 45 of them decided, once they graduated high school went off to college. They wanted to become men of Alpha, Phi Alpha, and that is beyond gratifying.”

North Carolina

| EPSILON RHO LAMBDA CHAPTER

On Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, Epsilon Rho Lambda Chapter joined the Chisholm Foundation, AKAs, Mary Kay beauty consultants and local citizens to deliver more than 2,500 Chemo Care packages to the Cape Fear Valley Health Cancer Center.

Chemo Care packages were delivered to cancer patients in the Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, and surrounding areas. Brothers volunteered more than 30 hours packing and delivering packages to the center. Brothers also donated $1,500 to purchase 50 care packages for 50 cancer patients. Always striving to live up to fraternity’s Aim of “Love for All Mankind,” the Chapter was truly blessed to be part of such a wonderful, important, and much needed support in their community. S

There Goes An Alpha Man

BY BROTHER PETER CLARKE

There goes a man of high impulse

Of princely mien and grace

There goes a man of humble faith

A credit to his race

There goes a man of conscience vast with will to reach his goal

There goes a man of lordly rank

Of heroes’ stock and soul

There goes a man of noble caste

Whom hardship cannot break

There goes a man in merit clad

Whom duty won’t forsake

There goes a man in cultured verse

Who hold a sportsman’s creed

There goes a man too vigilant

To bow to lust or greed

There goes a man whose life is spent in service not in scorn

There goes a man whose majesty

Shines like a May time morn.

Brother Cobb Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award For Mentoring

Brother Daryle Cobb, a 1993 Alpha Rho Lambda initiate, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of MENTOR’s 2022 Honorees of the Annual Excellence in Mentoring Awards on Jan. 27 during the National Mentoring Summit bringing together more than 2,000 experts, practitioners, advocates, and philanthropic partners to advance mentoring nationwide.

MENTOR is the nation’s unifying champion of the mentoring movement in the United States, and its Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has dedicated their life’s work to supporting youth through mentoring.

“The outstanding breadth and variety of this year’s nominees and honorees illustrate just how central mentoring is for both young people and their mentors,” said David Shapiro, MENTOR’s CEO. “As we celebrate (Brother Cobb and) these exemplars of the mentoring movement and work together to expand opportunities for our nation’s youth, we are motivated by their commitment and action to ensure our young people have the relationships they need to thrive.”

For three decades, Brother Cobb has demonstrated profound dedication to supporting youth with opportunities and connections.

Brother Cobb’s career has been centered on ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of Franklin County Ohio’s most vulnerable youth as a caseworker, kinship care worker, and director of the Simba Mentoring program.

The Simba Mentoring is a mentoring program with culturally focused and enriching programming that matches Black boys involved with the child welfare system with Black male mentors. He has also been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio for three mentees over 25 years. Even after these matches formally ended, the mentees have continued to call on Brother Cobb for advice and support and to celebrate successes that were sometimes only possible because he taught them to believe in themselves. S

There goes a man who is a friend

To love and duty truth

There goes a man to help uplift

The lives of wholesome youth

There goes a man with industry and faith at his command

There goes the best man in and out

For he is an Alpha Man.