Biannual Newsletter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The Zeta Pi Lmabda Chapter The ALPHA Imprint - Winter 2020
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About The Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter Under the leadership of B. E. Squires of Seattle, WA the Alpha Xi Chapter was organized and re-chartered at the University of Washington on December 31, 1939 (originally Marquette University, 1923) and began the Greek Letter movement among college-trained African American men in the Pacific Northwest. This single chapter contained both undergraduates and alumni from Oregon and Washington. In 1950 Epsilon Zeta Lambda alumni chapter in Portland, OR was chartered. Alpha’s presence in Washington continued to grow, prompting the formulation of a second chapter in Washington state. Zeta Pi Lambda chapter was founded on October 12, 1956 in Seattle, Washington. Zeta Pi Lambda has a proud history of implementing the National Programs of the Fraternity at the local level, providing service and advocacy to the Greater Seattle community, promoting leadership of Brothers in vital community institutions including numerous Public and Civic endeavors, and partnering with various community organizations
by advancing their missions and objectives with frontline volunteers, financial support, and intellectual capital.
establish a new, comprehensive mentorship program, Club A.L.P.H.A.
The founding members of Zeta Pi Lambda are: John Browning , George Carroll, Jerry Crowder, Haskel Humes, Charles V. Johnson, Lee Lewis, Odell Lewis, Gordon McHenry, Sr., Cleophus W. Miller, Rolland Patterson, Alfred Petty, Charles Taylor, and Calvin Wallace, Sr. In addition to the fraternity’s National Programs - Project Alpha, Go to High School, Go to College and Voter Registration, Zeta Pi Lambda chapter has been deeply involved in the Seattle community past through other programs such as the Guiding Light mentorship program, Big Brothers, the C.P Johnson scholarship fund, the Herbert Starke Scholarship fund, and the Karl Holifield Scholarship fund, where we have awarded 10’s of thousands of dollars to deserving high school students. Many of the mentees and scholarship recipients have gone on to become Alpha Men and college graduates. The chapter is currently endeavoring to
Are You Looking to Get Active? Chapter Meetings are held every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:45pm except for the month of July and August.
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2020-2021 Executive Board
President: Bro. Thomas Brown Vice President: Bro. Rodney Moseley Treasurer: Bro. James Peterkin II Corresponding Secretary: Bro. Jay Cunningham Recording Secretary: Bro. Aaron Ruffin Financial Secretary: Bro. Duane Hill Sr. Chaplain: Bro. Ken Poston Historian: Bro. Clark LaPrelle Intake Coordinator: Bro. Daron Hill Director of Educational Activities: Bro. John German Associate Editor of the Sphinx: Charles Walker III Sergeant at Arms: Bro. Duane Hill, Sr. Parliamentarian: Bro. Donne Young
President: Bro. Thomas Brown
Vice President: Bro. Rodney Moseley
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Club A.L.P.H.A.
Bro. John Nelson - Committee Chair
The Club A.L.P.H.A mentoring program is currntly being held 100% virtually to comply with COVID protocals to ensure all participants safety. The program is still accepting young men into the program. All Brothers are requested to particpate and help recruit participants.
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Mission
The mission of Club ALPHA is to assist young men in our community to learn skills, concepts, and processes from an Afro-Centric Prospective to lead, mold, and shape members of our community for the growth, dignity/respect, and survival of our race in the future.
Vision
To aid our young men of the path of success by leading, teaching, and sharing with them our successes through life so that they may be the beneficiaries of our knowledge, wisdom, and experiences through life. Also, be a mentor and advisor, when they may face life’s challenges, problems, and opportunities for growth.
Goals
1. Provide positive African-American role models and re-define the student’s perception of the Black male image. 2. Build an environment that promotes socially positive behavior in the community. 3. Introduce a self-motivating and goal setting perspective to the students. 4. Develop an entertaining means to engage the students in brotherhood.
Target Demographic
Middle to High School Male Youth of Color (12-18years old) in the Seattle-Metro Area.
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C.M.Y. Tech Summit
Rodney Moseley Cyber Security Engineering Manager Microsoft
Jocelyn Moore Sr. Director Global D&I US HR Diversity Microsoft
College Minorities & Youth in Technology In seeing the lack of Black and Brown representation across The University of Washington's (U of W) campus, we identify this disparity grows even larger within the STEM fields. The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Xi Chapter seated at the U of W are preparing to help change this view by hosting the inaugural College Minorities and Youth Technology Summit (C.M.Y. Tech) held on September 25th and 26th in conjunction with the Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter. The event featured a virtual career fair with keynote speakers and STEM recruiters attesting to what drove them towards their respective fields within the technology industry. Participants had the unique opportunity to break into smaller groups to interact with experts and have in-depth conversations. These conversations focused on setting and navigating career goals and how to overcome career obstacles. The event was open to all high school and College students to gain exposure to careers that are not prevalent within our communities. One of the main objectives of the event was to create an atmosphere that promoted learning through conversation and observation by understanding what growing into a STEM position entails. Speakers throughout the event highlighted what fields are available and how to position your goals to obtain them. Sessions featured discussions on the DO's and Dont's of LinkedIn profiles, digital interview etiquette, and how to properly structure and redesign resumes to get noticed.
Corey Wilson Architect Amazon
Kelly Coleman Principal PM Manager Microsoft
Aaron Ruffin Microsoft Planning Manager City of Redmond, WA
Briana Shannon Engineering Program Manager Microsoft
The event was facilitated by a stellar lineup of amazing Black professionals highlighting their expertise from Microsoft and Amazon. As a bonus, registrants were also entered into raffle drawings. We look forward to hosting the 2nd annual event. If you would like to participate, please reach out to bro. Rodney Moseley for additional information as planning is currently underway.
Bryan Spence University Recruiter Microsoft
Mike Wilson Global Manager, Telecom Amazon
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JewelsScholarship Campaign
Thank you to everyone for your contribution to the Seattle Alphas Education Foundation (SAEF) in support of our mission to aid “downtrodden humanity” in its efforts to achieve social, economic and intellectual status by funding educational programs, social activities, seminars, and support groups who provide services to children, adult individuals and families. Due to your generosity we were able to exceed our goal of $3,000.00 and raised a total of $3,538.72. SAEF is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to organizations with 501(c)(3) status may be tax deductible.
Aaron Ruffin Anthony Metoyer Arthur Nelson Bobby Wooten Brian Surratt Carlton Miller Daron Hill Donne Young Dr. Charlie Walker III Duane Hill Duane Hill Sr. Elvis Stewart Eric Thomas
Horace Bailey Idrissa Binta Dr. John German Kareem Muhammad Kas J Kenneth Poston Perlum Toombs Quintard Taylor Robert Carter Rodney Moseley Salim Mayberry Samuel Cameron Thomas Brown
Thank You
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Brotherhood Service
The Brothers of ZPL and Alpha Xi had the opportunity to partner with Holgate Church over the Holiday Season to serve the community. The Thanksgiving and Christmas events featured serving those in need within the community with a hot holiday meal, coats, blankets and toiletries. The event was coordinated by Bro. Rodney Moseley and well attended by the Brothers. Holgate Church (2600 S Holgate St, Seattle, WA 98144) serves the community every Wednesday evening. If you would like to volunteer please contact Bro. Moseley.
Voteless People Hopeless People The Brothers of ZPL had the opportunity to partner with other community organizations to present the Black Candidates Forum during the month of October. Each forum featured candidates presenting their platforms and answering questions from the moderators. The events were streemed via social media platforms and radio. The October session was hosted by our very on Bro. Thomas Brown whom represented the Chapter very well. Thank you to Bro. Salim Mayberry and Bro. Donne Young in representing the Chapter on the committee.
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Brotherhood Secret Santa
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Brotherhood Spotlight Bro. Duane Hill Sr. Gamma Delta Fall 1974
Former Chapter President, Brother Duane Hill, has been elected as National Assistant Treasurer for Blacks in Government. He will serve on the Blacks In Government National Executive Committee during his two-year term. Duane become an Alpha on November 15, 1974 and is a Life Member #9071. Brother Hill has three sons who are Alpha Men (Duane II, Daron and Daniel). Blacks In Government® (BIG) was established in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 by a small group of African Americans working for the federal government. BIG has addressed a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG's goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans. Brother Duane Hill is a native of Flint, Michigan. He graduated from Central High School where he was a star athlete in football and track and field. Duane earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) and his master’s degree in Business Management at the University of Northern Iowa. Duane’s professional background reflects forty plus years of both operational management and consulting experience in the fields of accounting, internal auditing, business consulting, budgeting & financial analysis, payroll administration, and technology projects management. He has over 30 years of management experience in both private industry and government. He has held key roles such as Project Manager at King County Government, Senior Management Consultant at Griffin, Hill and Associates, Payroll Manager King County Government, Internal Auditor at Seattle Metro, Senior Financial Reporting Accountant at Damson Oil Company and his current role as Senior Accounting Manager for the Port of Seattle. Duane is a strong believer in community service and has served the Seattle community in many different capacities over the last 30 years. Duane has served in many leadership roles during his community service work. Those roles include the following: • • • • • • • • • •
President – Region X Blacks In Government (2020- 2022) Director Region X of Blacks in Government (2013-2017) National Board of Director’s Blacks In Government (2013 -2017) Treasurer Western Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (2013 to 2017) President Blacks In Government – Port Seattle Chapter (2011 to-2015) President Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (1992–1996 & 2008-2012) National Chair of Budget and Finance Committee Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (2002-2004) President Seattle Metro African American Employee Association (1994 to 1998) Treasurer of Washington State Self-Insured Association Board Member Finance and Administration Committee, Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA)
Brother Hill has been married to his college sweetheart, Erma Meekins Hill, for 43 years. They have raised four sons Duane II, Daron, Derek, and Daniel and have two grandsons. Duane and Erma love to cruise and have travelled to many parts of the world including many countries in Europe, Central and South American and the Caribbean.
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Brothers On The Move Bro. Jesse Johnson Alpha Xi Spr. 2011
Bro. Johnson was recently elected to the Washington State House of Representative for the 30th Legislative District. Prior to this role, Bro. Johnson served as a Councilmember for the City of Federal Way.
Bro. Bobby Alexander Zeta Pi Lambda Spr. 2015 Bro. Alexander recently relocated to Albuquerque, NM where he will be serving in the as the Assistant District Attorney for the City of Albuquerque, NM.
Bro. Aaron Ruffin Eta Phi Lambda Spr. 2006 Bro. Ruffin recently received a promotion where he will be serving as the Microsoft Planning Manager for the City of Redmond, WA.
Bro. Daytheon Sturges Eta Kappa Spr. 2003 Bro. Sturges was recently selected as a 2020 Breitman-Dorn Research Fellow. Bro. Sturges is an assistant professor at the University of washington - MEDEX Northwest PA program, also serving as the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion chair for the Department of Family Medicine.
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Upcomming Events
Register NOW! Join us in celebrating Black History Month with a Virtual Gala! Theme: MLK Jr - “If I Were Alive Today...” February 27th | 6-7:30pm | Via Zoom Meeting We’re proud to have an amazing agenda of topics to discuss such as Honoring Our Community and Uplifting Our Youth. We’re also very fortunate to have Dr. Joseph Gambrell, MD as the keynote speaker for this program. There will also be a Special Tribute to the late Judge Charles V. Johnson, Community Pillar and Advocate. Visit SeattleAlphas.com to access the event.
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Legislative Corner
Police accountability, community oversight, and reform This summer’s Black Lives Matter protests shined a bright light on the many problems this country has around racial equity, particularly when it comes to policing. Since then, I have been meeting with advocates, victims and their family members, and my colleagues to identify how we can increase accountability and community partnerships, expand access to information for communities, and end outdated tactics. I’m introducing and co-sponsoring a series of bills this year that work toward those goals. One bill I have introduced is around police tactics. Law enforcement’s fundamental value absolutely must be preserving and protecting life. But there are some tactics that don’t uphold that value and erode community trust in police. We have to end the use of these dangerous, harmful, and unnecessary tactics. My bill, HB 1054, sets a baseline for acceptable police tactics and equipment and bans chokeholds and neck restraints, no-knock warrants, tear gas, unleashed police dogs, and covering of badge numbers. It also restricts vehicular pursuits, firing at a moving vehicle, and certain military equipment. I know that there will be a lot of people who question and challenge this bill. But we have to end the cycle of violence against black, brown, indigenous, and other people of color. We must begin to address these issues before another person is unjustly harmed or killed. I'm also working on another bill, HB 1203, to require local jurisdictions to establish community oversight boards. A new tax break to help homeless youth and legal representation I have more bills to announce in the coming weeks, but a few have already been introduced. They include: HB 1175 – Host home property tax incentive: In our district, there are 1200 youth experiencing homelessness. I want to get more of these young people into homes and think one way we can do that is by offering a property tax reduction to homeowners who host youth experiencing homelessness. Working with communitybased organizations to identify youth in need, we can identify potential matches and get kids the support and housing they need to be successful. HB 1140 – Legal representation for youth: In Seattle and King County, as soon as a youth is arrested and read their rights, they are provided access to an attorney. For young people, they shouldn’t have to ask for a lawyer when they are in a confusing and frightening situation. Our nation is founded on the idea that you are innocent until proven guilty and I want to ensure that every youth is given access to an attorney as soon as possible. My bill will make that policy a reality statewide.
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Alpha Xi
Chapter Involvement This Year 1. CMY Tech summit 2. America moving forwards / Flaws in US Electoral politics 3. Partnering with the Holgate street Church of Christ to help hand out Food, Clothes and Sanitary products to those in need. 4. Winners of the NPHC Week Alphas Vs. Sigmas stroll off
Brother Jah’lil Frans Junior Real Estate Major In the process of obtaining my Brokers License UW athletics outreach and recruitment intern
Brother Emanuel Tesfaye Sophomore Assistant District Director Intending double major in Education communities and organization / communities Environment and planning UW Dream project intern UW BSU officer
Brother Calen Garrett Sophomore Intended Psychology Major NPHC President RA McCarty Hall OMAD SAB Chair of Campus Climate
Brother Ryan Skinner Sophomore Undeclared major Currently interested in studying the ways in which physical activities help with mental health.
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In Memoriam - Omega Chapter
Honorable Judge Brother Charles V. Johnson Gamma Delta Spr. 1954 The last surviving founder of the Zeta Pi Lambda (Seattle) chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha; a long time President of the Seattle chapter of the NAACP; a Presiding Judge on the King County Superior Court.
Photo Credit: Duane Hill Sr. Pictured L to R: Duane Hill Sr., Honorable Judge Charles V. Johnson
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In Memoriam - Omega Chapter
THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE BROTHER CHARLES V. JOHNSON
The Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter in Seattle Washington is One of the Flag Ships of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. The Honorable Brother Charles V. Johnson was The Last Founder or Chartered Member of this Great Alumni Chapter. Let us glimpse into a representative small sample of the essence of this Legal Minded Giant. Charles Vernon Johnson grew up in Arkansas in the 1930s and 1940s. After serving in the U.S. Army for four years, he finished college in Arkansas. He moved to Seattle in 1954 to attend law school at the University of Washington. He was one of only a handful of African American graduate students on the campus at that time. Upon graduating in 1957, Johnson was recruited by Jack Tanner, a law school colleague, and President of the Northwest Branches of the NAACP, to revive the NAACP’s Seattle Chapter. Following a hugely successful membership drive, Brother Johnson served a long and distinguished career with the NAACP: as president of the Seattle Chapter from 1959 to 1964, then president of the NAACP’s Northwest Area Conference from 1965 until the early 1970s, and finally as a member of the national NAACP’s Board of Directors from 1968 to 1995. Brother Johnson also served as Chair of the Board, which oversaw Model Cities in the late 1960s. Brother Johnson had served as a Municipal Court Judge from 1969 to 1980, and he served as a Superior Court Judge from 1981 until his retirement in 1998. Honorable Brother Judge Charles V. Johnson agreed to share memories of a lifetime of activism in a videotaped interview conducted by Trevor Griffey and Brooke Clark on March 3, 2005. Click here for the interview summary. SEATTLE IMPACT Honorable Brother Judge Charles Vernon Johnson was an influential member of the Seattle African American community from the moment he moved out west in 1954 to attend law school at the University of Washington. Brother Johnson was originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and he was one of a few black graduate students at the University of Washington when he completed his law degree three years later. In 1957, Johnson joined the leadership of the Seattle Chapter of the NAACP. He quickly demonstrated his abilities to bring in new membership and was a respected leader in the organization. By 1959 he had been named president of the branch. Johnson served as the president of the Seattle NAACP until 1964. For several of these years, he was also active in the Central Area Civil Rights Committee, a coalition of civil rights leaders in the area. One of his projects, a demonstration for open housing in the city, resulted in the passing of the Open Housing Ordinance in 1968. Johnson’s distinguished career continued when in 1969 he was appointed Seattle Municipal Court Judge, a position he held until 1980. In 1981, Johnson was appointed to the King County Superior Court by Governor Dixie Lee Ray. He served as a Superior Court Justice until his retirement in 1998 and was instrumental in the reorganization of the court and the clearing up of a backlog of over 68,000 cases. Almighty God, by His Grace and Mercy, gave us the Free Will to Choose. Today, God gave us the Laws of Moses. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated gave us the Legal Contents of IMDP. The world gave You, My Brother. Yesterday, The Honorable Brother Superior Court Judge Charles Z. Smith of Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter mentored The Honorable Brother Charles V. Johnson. The Honorable Brother Charles V. Johnson mentored The Honorable Brother LeRoy McCullough of Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter is mentoring A Brother from the Large Pool of Legal Minds in Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter. Our Honorable Brother Charles V. Johnson has entered into the Omega Chapter, which is not made of hands, but is eternal in the Heaven. Farewell, My Brother until we meet again. Written by Brother Dr. Charlie Walker III of The Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter in Seattle, Washington
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In Memoriam - Omega Chapter Brother Thaddas Alston Sigma Spr. 1965
Brother Terrence Christian Jr. Beta Epsilon Spr. 2019
Brother Nesby Glasgow Alpha Xi Spr. 1978
“Farewell, dear brother Transcendent are thou Thy spirit shall dwell with us now. We cherish thy mem'ry Thy good name we'll revere To thy glory, thy honor, brother dear.”
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter PO BOX 21125 Seattle, Washington 98111 www.seattlealphas.com