THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC
June 2009
Vol. 2, No. 5
THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC
June 2009
Vol. 2, No. 5
SIP returns to NYC By Bro. Richard Bates, SIP Committee Chairman On May 29, 2009, The Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation (WSACF) hosted their 5th Annual Wine Tasting Event known as SIP! at the Greenberg Lounge. There were approximately 300 people in attendance and this year's event raised over $8100 to provide ongoing financial support for the WSACF programs and most notably for the Alpha GENTS (Gaining Essential Networking Tools for Success) program. This years event was sponsored in part by Jones Lang LaSalle. Guests dined on hors d'oeuvres while sampling red and white wines from Carolina Brands, Premium Liqueur and Sake from TY KU, Delpech Fougerat Pineau des Continued on page 9
The Grio brings you the news By Bro. Brian Pruitt KXL Bro. Barion Grant recently announced that an internet project that he had been working on had gone live. TheGrio.com is promoted to be the first video-centric news community site providing African Americans with stories and perspectives that appeal to them but are generally underrepresented in traditional news outlets. The site is through the cooperation of NBC News and the production team that created the documentary film “Meeting David Wilson.” Be sure to check it out the next time you’re surfing the net.
Inside this Edition 9 9 9 9
President’s Letter Editor’s Report SIP 5 Alpha GENTS
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President’s Letter Dear Brothers and Guests, What a year! With only a few weeks remaining in this fraternal year, its time we look back and take inventory of all we’ve accomplished and witnessed over the last year. We started off with a bang as we participated in, not one, but two A Voteless People Is A Hopeless People campaigns partnering with Alpha Gamma Lambda and Gamma Iota Lambda chapter. We helped organize our community to participate in the most historic and memorable Presidential Election of our lifetime. On November 4th, we witnessed the culmination of 2 years on the campaign trail with the election of our very first African-American President Barack Obama. The campaign, election, weeks leading up to and including the Inauguration and his first few months in office will be a time none of us will be able to forget. Recognizing that our most important work is paving the way for our young men and women, we had an extraordinary Fall formal. In our second year of hosting Think Black!, Bros. Lino Solis and Shawn Curwen led the chapter’s effort to raise money for our Alpha G.E.N.T.S. programming and scholarship initiative. For Black History Month, we reflected on the historic election and asked ourselves what does it all mean? The Future of Black History: Have We Reached the Promised Land? was an extraordinary program led by Bros. Mark Anthony Thomas and Jay Williams. Community leaders Jineea Butler, Mark Winston Griffith, Bro. Dr. Frederick C. Harris and Newark City Councilman Bro. Ron Rice engaged our audience in a discussion of Black History and the future of the Black Community in light of the election of President Barack Obama.
WSANews@gmail.com Continued on Page 3
President’s Letter Continued from Page 2
This year’s Alpha G.E.N.T.S. calendar was certainly a busy one hosting one high-quality program after another. Led by Bros. Plemmie Lawson and Malik Simmonds, the GENTS program grew to 20 mentees as we welcomed a partnership with High School of Graphics Communication. Throughout the year, they participated in engaging programs such as Ronald McDonald House’s Monday Night Football with the NY GIANTS, Goal Setting, the New York Urban League’s 22nd Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities Fair, SAT Prep & College Selection, Grooming / Dressing for Success, Project Alpha Educational Workshop and Basketball Tournament, Web Design Class, and an overnight College Tour that took our mentees to the University of Maryland and Howard University.
Our 5th year of SIP may have been the best ever as guests came out in numbers to support the mentoring programs and scholarships for the Alpha GENTS. Education Chair Bro. Plemmie Lawson and his fiancé were on hand to enjoy the festivities.
Capping off an eventful year, the chapter divided into two fundraising teams for March for Babies (4th year) and AIDS Walk New York (2nd Year). During a time of recession, the chapter raised a combined $8,000 dollars while numerous Brothers, along with friends and family, participated in the April and May walkathons. Finally, on May 28th we hosted our longest running event, Sip, our 5th Annual Wine Tasting. An extremely popular event, we had a record number of guests, with proceeds helping to fund our Alpha G.E.N.T.S. mentorship program. The Wall Street Alphas remain a premier chapter within this great Fraternity adding to the amazing work done by Brothers here in New York City. I anxiously look forward to our next fraternal year, as we continue to march Onward and Upward.
Mark your Calendar! Fraternally, Jioha Amatokwu President, KXL Chapter “Wall Street Alphas”
6/20: 6/26: 7/15: 7/18:
GENTS Year-End Closing Workshop AGL Yacht Cruise National Convention KXL Planning Meeting
Visit the “Wall Street Alphas” on Facebook or My Space or at www.wallstreetalphas.com
AIDS Walk 2009
Coming together for a great cause‌..the AIDS walk was truly a Phamily event this year as KXL came together with other bruhs, sorors, and youth to make it a truly memorable day.
Congratulations to the newly elected 2009-2010 Executive Board! Continue to hold the light up high. President: Jioha Amatokwu Vice President: Damon Culcleasure Recording Secretary: Chris Hunt Corresponding Secretary: Jamel Maloney Financial Secretary: Mel Myrie Treasurer: Keith Harvey Chaplain: Dwight Tindall Coordinator of Membership & Intake: Nicolas Rosello, Jr. Parliamentarian: Lino Solis Director of Educational Activities: Ted Ingram Associate Editor to The Sphinx: Tony Thompson Historian: Jesse Owens Sergeant-At-Arms: Lael Chappell
If you have any comments on the Newsletter or would like to submit content, reply to WSANews@gmail.com Visit us at www.wallstreetalphas.com and www.wsacf.org 4
THE EDITOR’S REPORT Greetings Brothers, We’ve made it through another busy fraternal year and while it’s great to get a few months off to recharge the batteries and enjoy a few cookouts, I’m already anxious to see what next year will bring to KXL. Our returning President and V.P. are already outlining the Executive Board’s planning meeting next month that will lay the foundation for next year’s objectives. This year saw some of the newer brothers take on leadership opportunities and excel. Think Black Chairman Lino Solis, SIP Chairman Richard Bates, March for Babies Captain Seth Langley, and AIDS walk Captain Ted Ingram all drove their respective teams raising substantial dollars and conducting outstanding events for brothers and participants. With the election of the new Executive Board, its great to see another wave of brothers ready and willing to accept key leadership positions to help KXL ascend to that next level. Summertime is here and that means change and exciting announcements. Wedding bells recently rang for Bro. David Jones and Christian Robinson who happily took the plunge and said goodbye to the single life. But that life altering event wasn’t enough for them as Bro. Jones recently announced that he has accepted a new position in Massachusetts and Bro. Robinson will soon be entering Graduate School at UNC in the Fall. We also must unfortunately say farewell to former two term KXL President Antonio Johnson who will soon be relocating his law practice to
Atlanta, Georgia. Bro. Johnson who is currently the Director of Human Resources for Bro. General President Skip Mason has decided to give up the frigid winters of NYC for some southern hospitality, Can you blame him? Congratulations brothers! This time last year I had just been voted the KXL Brother of the Year for 2007-08, a great personal honor given that the award is named after Bro. Samuel Parker, an unforgettable brother to all who knew him. I was happy to hear that this year’s recipient was Bro. Tony Thompson. Tony just completed his second year as Chairman of the Communications Committee which is easily among the most challenging ongoing committee positions in the chapter. Overseeing all incoming and outgoing communications is a crazy job, but Tony had the perfect temperament to help smooth out the bumps in the road and keep everyone on track. During his tenure we saw the development of the new Chapter website, a Foundation website, the Chapter newsletter, and the use of other media to publicize KXL and its many events and programs. Thanks for a tremendous job Tony! Finally, I wanted to be sure to acknowledge the great work of Bro. Plemmie Lawson who has guided the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. through yet another INCREDIBLE year. Brothers, let’s continue to support the Educational Committee and never forget our responsibility “to the youths who march onward and upward toward the light”.
AP
‘06, Brian Pruitt Newsletter Editor in Chief Wall St. Alphas
I hope all the dads had a tremendous Father’s Day!
Note: The Editor’s report reflects thoughts or opinions of the Editor and are not necessarily shared by the chapter or the Fraternity as a whole. 5
2008-2009 Chapter Officers and Board Members Executive Board President:
Brother Jioha Amatokwu
Vice President:
Brother Damon Culcleasure
Recording Secretary:
Brother Christopher Hunt
Corresponding Secretary:
Brother Tony Thompson
Treasurer:
Brother Brandon Ray
Financial Secretary:
Brother Allen Moton
Chaplain:
Brother Wiky Toussaint
Historian:
Brother Sean Gayle
Coordinator of Intake:
Brother Nicolas Rosello, Jr.
Sergeant-at-Arms:
Brother David Williams
Parliamentarian:
Brother Esu Ma’at
Dir. of Educational Activity:
Brother Plemmie Lawson
Assoc. Editor to the Sphinx:
Brother Corey A. McDougle
Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation Board of Directors President & Chairman:
Brother Shawn A. Curwen
Secretary:
Brother Tony Johnson
Treasurer:
Brother Roy A. Williams
Assistant Treasurer:
Brother Brent Cohen
Fundraising/Sponsorship Chair: Brother Brandon V. Ray Board Member:
Brother Gerard Brogdon
Board Member:
Brother Derrick Crawford
Board Member:
Brother Elvin Dowling
Board Member:
Brother Samuel Parker
Newsletter Committee Editor in Chief:
Brother Brian Pruitt
Assistant Editor:
Brother Chris Hunt
Contributors:
Brother Corey A. McDougle Brother Lino Solis Brother Jay Williams
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Brothers Walk for Babies by Bro. Seth R. Langley, Ph.D. Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. joined nearly 1,700 people on April 26 for the 2009 March of Dimes, March for Babies Walkathon, at the Lincoln Center in New York City; a special thank you to all of the Brother participants. Every year, 7 million compassionate people, including Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha join in, raising more than $1.7 billion to bring the March of Dimes closer in research and to the day when all babies are born healthy and full term. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. has been a national WalkAmerica team since 1998, and has contributed nearly $1 million including over $5 thousand contributed by the Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter this year. Seventy-six (76) cents of every dollar raised in the March for Babies is spent on research and programs to help prevent premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Every year, more than half a million babies are born prematurely and more than one hundred twenty (120) thousand are born with serious birth defects in the United States. This year’s fundraising participants were: Kelso Anderson, Eric Dickens, Sean Gayle, Jonathan Joyce, Seth Langley, Kenneth Martin Jr., Ozias Moore, Jesse Owens, Brandon Ray, Garvin Reid, John Schuk, Lino Solis, Omari Wallace, and our Chapter President Jioha Amatokwu, who stated, “The March for Babies walkathon is very important to the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Many of us are fathers or future fathers and we understand the health of our babies is in our hands. The work that the March of Dimes is doing helps us to ensure that we’re giving them a healthy start in life.”
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The Alpha GENTS finish out the year strong
In what can only be described as an incredible year, the young men finished their programming with a college tour to the University of Massachusetts in April, a Web Design workshop in May led by Bro. Eric Hamilton, and a trip to Hot 97 Summer Jam in June. As always, the Educational Committee did an outstanding job in extending the time and effort to try to make a difference and provide guidance to our young men. The Wall Street Alphas salute outgoing Educational Committee Chairman Bro. Plemmie Lawson in providing the vision, commitment, and leadership to ensure that our programs both challenged and inspired our GENTS to push forward and excel.
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SIP Continued from page 2 Charentes (Red & White wines) and Pour Moi Cognac VSOP from JTE Spirits, and Bulldog Gin. The musical entertainment for the evening was provided by Allgood and Company. Additionally, all guests had the opportunity to purchase items in the silent auction led by Triple Crown Sports and cigars from Cigar Smokers Paradise. At the conclusion of the evening, guests were given a gift bag that included a small bottle of wine, cheese & crackers, Black Enterprise magazine, and other information.
Special thanks to the committee: Bros Damon Culcleasure, Eric Hamilton, Ted Ingram, Jamel Maloney, Mel Myrie, Jesse Owens, Brandon Ray, Lino Solis, Tony Thompson, Dwight Tindall, and Derrick Weatherspoon. Bros. Kenneth Martin, Mark Anthony Thomas, and Keith Harvey donated toys to Graham Windham's Finest Care Day Care Center on behalf of the Chapter.
"Though I wasn't at the event, I heard VERY good things about the people there, the ambience, and the quality of the gin (ha!ha!) We felt privileged to be a part of it. Let's keep in touch for future events." Anshuman Vohra, CEO Bulldog Gin Company
KXL and ZH brothers come together in fellowship for Founder’s Day.
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SIP Continued from page 9
In what has become an eagerly anticipated kick off to the summer, guests flocked to the Greenberg Lounge at NYU to wind down after work. Wine, cognac, sake, and gin set the mood for good conversation and a party atmosphere.
Bro. Shawn Curwen, President of the Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation, offered his appreciation for the tremendous turnout and support.
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SIP Continued from page 10
For the latest news on the Alpha GENTS and our mentoring programs be sure to visit www.wsacf.org.
Bro. Shawn Curwen, President of the Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation offered his appreciation for the tremendous turnout and support.
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ΑΦΑ - A Century of Leadership - ΑΦΑ
Brothers recently worshipped together at Trinity Church near Wall Street as part of a reclamation event. Services by the Rev. Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones were followed by Sunday brunch at a local spot downtown. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter P.O. Box 5382 New York, NY 10185-5382
Contact us at WSANews@gmail.com
Visit us at www.wallstreetalphas.com and www.wsacf.org