THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC
December / January 2010
Fall 09 – The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte
Vol. 3, No. 2
THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter, Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC
The REASON for the Season by Bro. Brian Pruitt
By far my favorite time of year is the holiday season, kicking off with Thanksgiving, moving through Christmas and Kwanzaa, and culminating in the biggest party of the year on New Year‘s Eve. This is a time to be thankful for what we have, remember those less fortunate than us, and rededicate ourselves to making the next year a better one. This is also the time of year when you have an opportunity to support two of the biggest Alpha community service events in the city. Bro. Kevin Powell‘s 9th Annual Holiday Party and Clothing Drive will be held on Friday, December 11th at Tribeca Cinemas. The following week on Friday, December 18th at Bogart's on Park, the Wall Street Alphas will be hosting the STOCK-ing Exchange Holiday party. Toy donations will be accepted to benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree program which provides toys to less fortunate children in NYC during the holiday season. Come out and celebrate the holiday season AND support two great causes. Bring friends, bring family, and let‘s finish the year off right.
The Wall St. Alphas would like to thank our Promotional Sponsor Grae Enterprises for their support of the STOCK-ing Exchange. Please log on to their website for upcoming events as well as their online publication GraeGram.
December / January 2010
Vol. 3, No. 2
President’s Letter Dear Brothers and Guests,
The holiday season is upon us. During this time, millions of Americans crisscross the country to share these special times with their families and friends and renew their kindred spirit. For the Wall Street Alphas, this has been an extraordinary year and we have much to be thankful for. We are thankful that seven (7) years ago, Kappa Xi Lambda chapter came out of retirement and was re-chartered by nine Brothers (Bro. Andre Allen, Bro. Frantz JeanBaptiste, Bro. Marcus Broadhead, Bro. Shawn Curwen, Bro. Roy Anthony Williams, Bro. Nicolas Rosello, Bro. Leeroy Miller, Bro. Michael T. Smith and Bro. Serge Devilme, Jr. with Bro. Darren Morton serving as rechartering officer) and provided the Fraternity with a strong presence in Lower Manhattan. Since then, Kappa Xi Lambda has grown to roughly 70 members and has joined other Alpha chapters to provide extraordinary service to New York City. We are thankful that the Brothers of Eta chapter introduced Greek Life to New York City 100 years on June 5, 1909. Since then Alpha, as well as our fellow Brothers and Sisters in the Divine Nine have provided leadership and vision to our local, national and worldwide communities. We are thankful for the privilege of working with the young men of our Alpha G.E.N.T.S. (Gaining Essential Networking Tools for Successful) mentorship program who inspire Continued on Page 3
President’s Letter Continued from Page 2
and challenge us more each day. We are extremely grateful for those that support this program with their time, teamwork and treasury. Without their contributions, we could not begin to prepare these young men to become tomorrow‘s leaders. We are thankful to have welcomed 5 outstanding Brothers into this great Fraternity of ours: Bro. Geshawn Williams, Bro. Thomas Mabry, Bro. NaQuinton Gainous, Bro. Matthew Montgomery and Bro. Imonitie Okhiria. Goodwill is the monarch of this House, Men unacquainted, enter, shake hands, exchange greetings and depart friends. It is always a joy to welcome new Brothers into the House of Alpha.
Fall „09, “The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte” is here! Check out the article on page 13 to learn more about our new bruhs!
We are thankful to all the support we receive throughout the year with our programs; without it the chapter would not be nearly as successful as we are. I pray that you and your family celebrate the holidays safely. Happy Holidays! Fraternally, Jioha Amatokwu President, KXL Chapter ―Wall Street Alphas‖
Mark your Calendar! Inside this Edition
President‟s Letter Editor‟s Report G.E.N.T.S. College Tour Miles 4 Mentorship ….Toward the Light The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte Brother of the Year
12/04: 12/08: 12/11: 12/18: 12/25: 1/12: 1/17: 1/18: 2/15:
Founder‟s Day Chapter Meeting Bro. Powell‟s Holiday Party The STOCK-ing Exchange Christmas Chapter Meeting The 17h Annual Alpha Affair - ZZL Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Chapter Meeting
Visit the “Wall Street Alphas” on Facebook or My Space or at www.wallstreetalphas.com
THE EDITOR’S REPORT Brothers and Friends, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a safe Black Friday. December is here and that means it‟s a sprint to the end of the year as we all try to get in some shopping, take a little vacation, and hopefully try to brighten someone else‟s day who might need a hand especially during the holiday season. Our neo‟s got right to work, joining ZH, Eta Chapter, and other Alpha‟s and NY Greeks in participating in the annual Project Homeless on Thanksgiving Day. Hot meals and warm smiles were in abundant supply as Brothers spent a little time serving the homeless on Thanksgiving morning. But before I get ahead of myself, I want to welcome our third line, “The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte” into the House of Alpha. Bros Geshawn “Lou” Williams, Thomas Mabry, Jr., NaQuinton Gainous, Matthew Montgomery, and Imonitie Okhiria came over on Halloween night. These Brothers worked extremely hard to get to where they are and should be proud of their accomplishment. That being said, the real work begins now. Bros Gainous and Williams have joined the newsletter committee and the other neos will soon find themselves with plenty to keep themselves occupied. Be sure to check out their background and bios in this newsletter and reach out to them if you have not already. Intake wasn‟t the only thing going down October 31. Bro. Ingram and several Brothers were finishing up this year‟s college tour with the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. This year‟s destination was the University of Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut
State University. Taking a slightly different approach this year, the young men were exposed to a large university and a smaller state college, enabling them to compare and contrast and get a better feel for what level of higher education might fit them best. Congrats go out to Bro. Ingram, Simmonds, and all of the other Brothers who dedicate so much of their time to working with the young men. And speaking of congratulations, I can‟t forget to shout out Bro. Shawn Curwen for besting his previous time in the NY Marathon AND representing the Miles 4 Mentorship initiative. If you don‟t know what Miles 4 Mentorship is all about, be sure to read all about it and visit the website for the Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation at www.wsacf.org to make a donation today! You can also support the Foundation by visiting the Chase Community Giving page on Facebook and supporting the WSACF. Finally, the Samuel C. Parker, III Brother of the Year Award is an annual Chapter award bestowed on the Brother who has represented the Chapter in service and dedication and as a result is recognized by his peers at the end of the fraternal year. I was fortunate enough to win the award in 2008 and Bro. Tony Thompson recently won the award for 2009. We recently posed a few questions to one another to give Brothers an opportunity to have more insight into our backgrounds, our thoughts on the fraternity, and our interests and future aspirations. „06, Brian Pruitt Newsletter Ed. in Chief Wall St. Alphas
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College days may swiftly pass….but at least I got to marry my college sweetheart. 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. 4
Halloween with the G.E.N.T.S. By Education Committee Chairman, Bro. Ted Ingram
The 4th annual “Go to High School, go to College” tour was a success as they traveled to Storrs, Connecticut to visit the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU). The weekend of Halloween was far from boo-tiful, but educational, as 8 Kappa Xi Lambda brothers and 18 high school students stayed overnight and experienced a little bit of college life. Team building activities during the bus ride helped the G.E.N.T.S. foster stronger relationships with one another and Alpha brothers. When they arrived on campus they were greeted with the University‟s version of Halloween on campus. There was karaoke, pictures taken with creatures, and an open game room. Saturday started off with a guided tour of UCONN by the admissions department where students were informed about admissions requirements and all the university‟s offerings. Students had the opportunity to meet UCONN forward, Ater Majok, who is from Australia. He captivated the G.E.N.T.S. attention as he shared his experience of being a student athlete at a Division 1 school. Shortly thereafter, the G.E.N.T.S. had an interactive panel discussion with the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity who are currently enrolled at UCONN and ECSU. The discussions covered, but were not limited, to choosing a major, time management, campus life, and post graduation plans.
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Halloween with the G.E.N.T.S. Continued from page 5
UCONN basketball player Ater Majok provided some real life insight into the life of a student athlete at a major academic institution.
Following the session, G.E.N.T.S. and Alpha chaperones ventured 20 minutes to the ECSU campus. Brothers of the Kappa Delta Chapter (University of Connecticut, Trinity College, Eastern Connecticut State University) gave the group a guided tour of the campus. This allowed the G.E.N.T.S. an opportunity to note the differences between the two institutions. From our post-tour discussion, we found that most G.E.N.T.S. were clearly able to identify several differences between a large private institution and a smaller state university. It is our anticipation that the G.E.N.T.S. who are with the program during their entire high school tenure will benefit significantly from the program as they will be able to gain exposure to the various types of colleges and universities that we will visit in the coming years. Special thanks to Brother Malik Simmonds for organizing the entire trip and recognition to Bros Aaron Allen, Damon Culcleasure, Amir Figueroa, Sean Henry, Ted Ingram, and Steven Messam who led as chaperones.
Meet the Alpha G.E.N.T.S.! Get involved with the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. programming. Visit the foundation website to view a video and slideshow on the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. program. Support the G.E.N.T.S. by making a donation at www.wsacf.org.
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2009-2010 Chapter Officers and Board Members Kappa Xi Lambda Executive Board President:
Brother Jioha Amatokwu
Vice President:
Brother Damon Culcleasure
Recording Secretary:
Brother Christopher Hunt
Corresponding Secretary:
Brother Jamel Maloney
Treasurer:
Brother Keith Harvey
Financial Secretary:
Brother Mel Myrie
Chaplain:
Brother Dwight Tindall
Historian:
Brother Jesse Owens
Coordinator of Intake:
Brother Nicolas Rosello, Jr.
Sergeant-at-Arms:
Brother Lael Chappell
Parliamentarian:
Brother Lino Solis
Dir. of Educational Activity:
Brother Ted Ingram
Assoc. Editor to the Sphinx:
Brother Tony Thompson
Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation Board of Directors President & Chairman:
Brother Shawn A. Curwen
Secretary:
Brother Tony Johnson
Treasurer:
Brother Roy A. Williams
Board Member:
Brother Derrick Crawford
Board Member:
Brother Samuel Parker
Newsletter Committee Editor in Chief:
Brother Brian Pruitt
Assistant Editor:
Brother Tony Thompson
Contributors:
Brother Lino Solis Brother NaQuinton Gainous Brother Geshawn Williams
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…Toward the Light by Bros. Brian Pruitt and Bro. Rev. Jay Williams In this holiday season as we prepare to close out another tough year and get ready for a new year and a better tomorrow, Bro. Jay Williams, a KXL Spr 08 Brother and the current Pastor of the Glendale United Methodist Church in Everett, Massachusetts , has prepared a special message on ―hope.‖
Keep on Pressin‟ If we are honest with ourselves, we all might admit that, at times, we want to give up. Throw in the towel…stick a fork in me, I‘m done. The job is stressing you out beyond belief. Or you still can‘t find a job. The marriage or relationship is not all that you expected it to be; the honeymoon is a distant memory. The money situation is…well, enough said. You expected to be much better off than you are…the five-year plan has turned into the tenyear plan. So on and so forth. And then you look around, and things do not appear much better. Despite all the volunteer hours and rallies and government promises, our communities and cities—yes, even our world—still are pretty screwed up. Or perhaps, when you look around it seems like everyone else is light years ahead of you. Whatever the case, life is not what you thought it would be. So you ask: what‘s the point?
Well, if we all will not admit to these bouts of despair, then I will. Even as a pastor, I have had those periods of pain and questioning, of disappointment and frustration. I have experienced countless days when there was nothing but ―dark nights of the soul‖. But I have come to know that whatever my circumstance I still must hope. In a way it is not an option, I have to—I am compelled to—hope. I have learned to believe that the situation will change, and that tomorrow will get better. Yeah, it must get better. Hope is believing…trusting…striving…and praying. Why hope? Because we have no other choice. We are ―prisoners of hope,‖ says Brother Dr. Cornel West. We live not for our sake alone, but for the brothers and sisters with whom we struggle. Even if we do not always realize it, someone is depending on you to make it. A sibling or a parent, a friend or a Brother needs you to succeed. In our Continued on page 9 8
….Toward the Light
www.glendaleumchurch.org
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living we honor all those who came before us and paved the way—the mothers and fathers, the Jewels (the founder‘s of Alpha Phi Alpha or our fraternity) and ancestors without whom today‘s light would be much dimmer. And we fight for the future of those whose story is yet unwritten. Look, I am the last one to deny that life sometimes seems unbearable. We have all heard enough empty words of so-called encouragement. But when others‘ seem shallow, hope teaches us to ―encourage ourselves‖ and ―to speak words of life‖ in the midst of death, to borrow Donald Lawrence‘s lyrics. The thing is: true hope does not ignore life‘s realities. It does not pretend that all is well or that things will be better in the ―sweet by and by‖. Instead hope wrestles with all the things that try to defeat us. True hope confronts them and struggles against the heartbreak. It reminds us that though ―weeping may endure for a night, joy does come in the morning.‖ And when the night is long and the morning is too far away, hope compels us to seek help. We do not live by or for ourselves alone, so we ought not to struggle alone either. Counseling and mental health is not just a white thing…black folk should turn to professionals and pastors during their times of need. In fact, with all that‘s stacked against us, we may need them even more. And men have emotions too. Just because many of us have been taught not to cry does not mean that we do not hurt. As Brothers let us support each other and stop pretending. Many churches have men‘s only groups where we can be honest and talk stuff through. Bro. Williams was part of the distinguished “Eternal Reflection of Djoser” line. Perhaps we might do the same within the brotherhood? The bottom line is this: let‘s start giving ourselves permission to keep dreaming and believing. And when we have to, give ourselves permission to cry and to lean on the Shield in a spiritual way. Jesse Jackson got some things wrong, but he‘s right about one thing: we must keep hope alive. It is up to us. We can make it….we can, because we must. ―Brothers, this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind, and straining to what is ahead, I press toward the mark…‖ (Philippians 3:14).
In the next newsletter, a special message from Bro. Reverend David Jackson, Senior Pastor and Founder of High Place Assembly of Christ in Atlanta, GA 9
Miles 4 Mentorship debuts at the NYC Marathon by Bro. NaQuinton Gainous Miles 4 Mentorship is a charitable runner program which raises money through donations and sponsorship to provide educational programming and scholarships for the ALPHA G.E.N.T.S. mentorship program. On November 1, 2009 Brother Shawn Curwen completed the marathon in 3hrs 41 minutes, crushing his time of 4hrs 17 minutes in 2008. The committee ―Miles 4 Mentorship‖, which consisted of the Fall 2009 neophytes, who wore their ―Miles 4 Mentorship‖ tee shirts to raise awareness for the fundraiser by handing out beverages to runners as they passed mile 19 as volunteers at the Marathon. As of November 16, 2009 we have raised $2,500. The goal is to exceed $5,000 worth of donations by reaching out to Brothers, friends, family, and co workers utilizing FaceBook, Twitter (http://twitter.com/mile4mentorship), and our blog site (http://miles4mentorship.blogspot.com). Please note we are still accepting donations and your generosity is greatly appreciated. We have time to make a difference in advancing an inner city youth‘s educational progression. Please use the link below to donate online quickly and securely (http://www.wsacf.org/miles4mentorship. php). We are also recruiting volunteers who have experience in blogging for track and field events, website designers and photographers and videographers. Going forward we plan to continue to raise money by having membership/charity runner drives, in which we will collect donations and recruit volunteers and charity runners. Tentatively, we are looking at the half marathon in Miami, FL for our next Miles 4 Mentorship event. There are currently 4 runners interested, but we‘d love to have more. Come join us in Miami and help support Miles 4 Mentorship as we raise money for our G.E.N.T.S.!
Bro. Curwen posted a personal best time while representing Miles 4 Mentorship in this his second NYC Marathon.
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THE THIRD RESURRECTION OF SANAKHTE The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte. ―Third‖ illustrates the third intake line for the Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. ―Resurrection‖ symbolizes the history that each of the members of the line had with regard to their consistent pursuit of membership into The House of Alpha. ―Sanakhte‖ was the first Pharaoh of the third Dynastic Period in Egypt whose name means ―strong protector.‖
#1 - *A-Train* Geshawn Williams
There is significant historical evidence connecting Sanakhte to the Pharaoh, Djoser. Historians have concluded that they were brothers or blood related in some capacity. Djoser succeeded Sanakhte and was the most famous Pharaoh of the third Dynasty who commissioned Imhotep to build the first step pyramid in Saqqara. Our Kappa Xi Lambda‘s prophytes‘ line name was the Eternal Reflection of Djoser. We see our place as part of a continuous link that follows the great lines of Kappa Xi Lambda from The Seven Sons of Sobek to The Eternal Reflections of Djoser and now The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte.
#3 - *Roc Steady* NaQuinton Gainous
#2 - *3 The Hard Way* Thomas Mabry
#4 - *LockDown* Matthew Montgomery
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#6 - *Mos Def* Imonitie Okhiria 13
THE THIRD RESURRECTION OF SANAKHTE Biographies Geshawn “Lou” Williams graduated from the University at Albany, State University of New York with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management Information Systems from the School of Business in 2000. While at the University at Albany, he was on the Dean‘s list, maintained a Resident Assistant position and was the VP of the Resident Assistant Association. In addition, he was the Treasurer of the National Association of Black Accountants (student chapter). He is currently a Financial Operations Specialist with the Department of Health and Human Services and specifically within the Administration for Children and Families agency where he has fiscal responsibilities for child custody enforcement in New Jersey.
Thomas Mabry Jr. graduated from Long Island University – C.W. Post in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Biology with a specialization in Clinical Laboratory Science. While at C.W. Post he was a Residence Hall Director and a Faculty Director for Black Students United. He is currently working at New York Presbyterian – Columbia Hospital as a licensed Medical Technologist providing highly accurate and reliable test results for use in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease.
NaQuinton Gainous graduated from Fordham University‘s College of Business Administration in 2005 with a degree in Management of Information and Communication Systems. While at Fordham University, he received academic and athletic honors as a member and captain of the football team. He works for Viacom as an Application Support Specialist for the legal department. His desire to become an Alpha began at a young age, as a student of the Alpha Leadership Program for Higher Achievement (A.L.P.H.A.) back in Florida. Matthew Montgomery graduated from Old Westbury University, State University of New York in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology. While at SUNY Old Westbury, he worked for the Police Athletic League as a Site Director. He works for the City of New York Department of Corrections as a Corrections Officer.
Imonitie Okhiria graduated from University at Buffalo, The State University of New York in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Science: Health and Human Service, Community Mental Health. He is currently AP working on his Masters in Public Health and works at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center as the Manager for the Department of Medicine and Hospital Administrator. He aspires to attend medical school and become a medical doctor in the near future.
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THE THIRD RESURRECTION OF SANAKHTE
The crossing celebration Halloween night (above) was done in true KXL style……and then the work began the very next day as the neos represented Miles 4 Mentorship with Bro. Nick Rosello at the NYC Marathon (below).
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Greetings from Zeta Eta! Fall 2009 has truly been one of the most exciting and uplifting seasons for Zeta Eta. Despite being prohibited to independently host programs, we have undertaken the role of active participants in events hosted by Greek and non-Greek organizations on various campuses in New York City and Long Island. This strategic decision along with our close partnership with the Delta Chi Chapter has allowed us to increase the visibility of our beloved fraternity in the NYC college market, while demonstrating our faithfulness to the creed of companionship. Given the number of young men that attended our awareness seminar and our most recent outing to Buffalo Wild Wings, our strategic plan has proven to be highly effective, which is vital to the sustainability of the chapter. Zeta Eta has also been active within the organization on a State level, as a member of the chapter has served as the chair for the African American Day Parade and Founder‘s Day Celebration, while also winning the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest at NYACOA. Without question, the Brothers of Zeta Eta are continuing to hold the light of Alpha as high as possible in their journey onward and upward.
- Giovanni Gallaread, President Zeta Eta
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Bro. Gallaread is pictured with Delta Chi brothers (from left to right); Jerrold Luberis Fall '08 DX (President), Handel Edwards Spr '09 DX (Vice President), and Jason Hannibal Fall „09 at the "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" program hosted by the Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated at Columbia University. 16
Bro. Pruitt („08 BOTY) and Thompson („09 BOTY) at our inaugural KXL Masquerade Ball.
Introduction by Bro. Tony Thompson: A brotherhood or fraternity is a group of men united together by a common goal or interest. Although not related by blood, the bonds can be just as strong. On the night that I crossed ―the burning sands‖ a brother told me ―remember every brother ain‘t a brother…‖ It didn‘t take long for me to realize what he meant by that statement. There are members of the organization – and then there are brothers. Those who demonstrate brotherly love in their actions; those who not only live up to the aims of our great fraternity but who genuinely show concern for their brother and are willing to go above and beyond to prove themselves a friend, strengthening the ties that bind them. The epitome of a fraternity brother was none other than Mr. Samuel C. Parker. It was not only because of the aforementioned qualities but his graciousness and humility that he was named the Wall Street Alphas Brother Of The Year for 3 years straight. It was no surprise to anyone when the chapter decided to name the annual award after him. Sadly in early 2008, we suddenly lost Bro. Parker but his spirit will continue to live on in each and every member of Kappa Xi Lambda.
Now the question becomes who can ever live up to the standards that Sam had established to be considered for Brother of the Year? Who among us possesses the qualities of a brother we all hold in such esteem? The answer was simple – Bro. Brian Pruitt. In the fraternal year 2007-2008 the chapter began producing its chapter newsletter, ―The Wall Street Alpha Report‖ which was the brainchild of Bro. Pruitt. Brian is a quiet yet very effective brother. In the past 6 years that he has been a member of the chapter he has served in several capacities and has been a major contributor to the growing success of ―The Wall Street Alphas.‖ He held the position of Financial Secretary for 2 years, chaired our 4th annual wine tasting, ―SIP‖ and was co-chair of our Masquerade Ball in the Fall of 2006. As Editor, Brian has created the design and layout for each edition and has also written a majority of the articles. The newsletter has received rave reviews from brothers around the country, including our General President, Brother Skip Mason. Brother Pruitt is a graduate of the University of California Riverside and was initiated into the Iota Chi chapter in the Spring of 1991. He and his wife Lissa moved to New York in 2000 when she Continued on page 18
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Brother of the Year… Continued from page 17
was accepted into Medical school in the area. In January of 2007 they welcomed their first child, a son named Aaron. Brian worked at Deloitte & Touche for 8 years and is currently working for Chase. He is also studying to become a CPA. I posed several questions to Brother Pruitt to learn more about his history with the fraternity and gain some insight on his thoughts about the organization. What inspired you to become a member of Alpha? My road to Alpha was an unconventional one I think. I didn‘t have any family members or friends who were in fraternities or sororities. In school I had a steady girlfriend at the time so it wasn‘t about getting girls. And the handful of Alphas on campus weren‘t notably prominent or anything as far as campus leaders. I think I was more intrigued with the idea of pledging because I really DIDN‘T know anything about Greek life and wanted to step out of the box a bit. My girlfriend was actually surprised when I told her what I was going to do as I recall. So I did some research and it seemed that if I did decide to pledge, Alpha Phi Alpha was the choice for me. We had Kappas and Ques on campus, but that wasn‘t for me. Once the decision was made, I wasn‘t going to quit no matter what. What brought you to KXL considering you live in Rockland County? Upon relocating to New York I was away from Alpha for a bit by choice. It wasn‘t so much that I was turned off by some bad experience, but more so that I think I just needed a few years away to return on my own terms. I reached out to Bro. Shawn Curwen and did some email tag for about a year before I drug myself to a meeting. At the time I was working in the World Financial Center so KXL was the local choice as they met only a few blocks away and right after work. I was actually shocked when I sat through my first meeting. The meetings were extremely efficient and the age of the brothers averaged around 25 – 35 years old. It was unlike any other grad chapter I‘d ever seen that‘s for sure. Within the last couple years, however, I started having an interest in connecting a bit more with where I live in Rockland County. I had run across members of the Rockland Alphas from time to time so I decided to begin to formally affiliate with that chapter as well. The dynamic in that Eta Chi Lambda is completely different. Those brothers are a bit more seasoned and are all extremely involved in the Rockland community so I‘m actually learning a lot and am enjoying what HXL has to offer. You have been a diligent worker and faithful member of this chapter for quite a few years. Do you think the chapter has changed? How so? Is there anything you would like to see us do more of/less of? Anything you would change? One of the main challenges of the chapter is in the retention of brothers. Now, that‘s really no different than the fraternity on a national scale, but it bothers me nonetheless. The odd thing is that we‘ve steadily grown from a chapter of 20 or so brothers when I first came on board to a peak of around 60 when I was Financial Secretary a couple years back. We‘ll probably be in the neighborhood of 50 brothers by the beginning of 2010 once all of the dues come in. But I think in our case it has to do with where we live and the type of brother that KXL attracts - an achievement Continued on page 19
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Brother of the Year… Continued from page 18
oriented brother. We‘ve had so many brothers relocate and move on to bigger and better careers. Many have gone back to obtain graduate degrees. Also, many new brothers have moved to New York and looked us up. We‘ve just completed our 3rd line since 2006. So there are a lot of reasons for brothers coming and going. So I guess in our case there are many reasons for the fluidity of the chapter and we just might not be able to do much to control it. Are you involved in any activities/organizations outside of the chapter? When I‘m not taking care of my 2 year old, between the Wall Street Alphas and the Rockland Alphas, my calendar stays pretty full. However, as my wife is a very active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., I find myself doing a lot of activities with them as well. Everything from walkathons, backpack giveaways for needy school kids, serving weekly meals to the poor at a church near our house, etc. I tend to keep pretty busy with all of that. For whatever reason, I believe in social responsibility and try to do as much as my schedule allows. Do you think fraternities or sororities are still relevant in today’s society? If not how do you think we can change that?
I think that they could be. It just depends on where the focus is. I‘ve often wondered why when something controversial goes on involving the ―black community‖ I can be assured that when I turn on CNN I‘ll see Rev. Jackson or Rev. Sharpton being interviewed. Those Riverside, CA 1992 – Iota Chi after a step show brothers have been in the exhibition during Greek week. trenches for so long and have always tried to stand up for what‘s right, but I think having a diversity of ―go to‖ black leaders would be a good thing. The good thing is that there are signs that that dynamic may be slowly changing. I think that when Bro. Skip Mason can write to President Obama and suggest that there need to be a White House Council on Men and Boys, or when Alpha brothers can lead the effort to have a memorial erected on the National Mall to honor Dr. King, or when Bro. Matthews can get involved in the Jenna 6 situation, or Bro. Mason can be invited to the White House for a Town Hall Meeting on Fatherhood, then there is clearly a visible national role that fraternities can play and have an impact on society. On a more local level, the work that chapters do mentoring young people is where we on the alumni and undergraduate level can make a difference. We of course have our Alpha GENTS program. The size and organization of that program has grown tremendously in just a few years. But it‘s not just Alphas. To use an example close to home, my wife has an active role in mentoring and developing the Zeta Archonettes (14-18 year olds) into Continued on Page 20
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Brother of the Year… Continued from page 19
the finest young ladies possible. It was a rare weekend this past summer when my house didn‘t have a sea of blue and white ladies involved in some activity or another. Another perfect example of leadership is how Bro. Mason and Kevin Powell have taken active roles in speaking out against domestic violence. Young people can look at what happened recently with Chris Brown and Rihanna and relate to that. Local chapters of fraternities and sororities could easily use the publicity of that horrible story and have workshops with the youth that they mentor. So I think that both on a national and local level, there are opportunities for fraternities and sororities to better society. You are a very focused and organized brother. Have you always been that way and what advice would you give brothers who may need assistance in this area? I think this one‘s simple. The way I look at things is Alpha business should be treated like any other business. If your boss gives you a deadline of next Tuesday, I bet you‘ll have that report done by next Tuesday. He‘s not chasing you down on Wednesday and saying ―where‘s my report?‖ Well why should Alpha work any differently? Whether it be working on a task for a committee or fundraising or completing a report for a chapter meeting, other people are depending on it. We‘re not kids anymore. If there‘s eight brothers on a committee and two blow off a meeting and two more decide to show up 20 minutes late, then all you‘re doing is wasting people‘s time and you‘re obviously not going to be able to accomplish half of what you are capable of. When we have committee meetings we‘re more than likely trying to work on a mentoring initiative, or work toward putting on a big event, or simply work on some aspect to make the chapter run better. In any event, the meeting or the report, or whatever the case may be, is important and brothers should respect one another enough to put in the same kind of effort that they would at the office. And in some cases I might think brothers would put in MORE effort because more often than not you can‘t stand your boss, but in Alpha we love our brother! Introduction by Bro. Brian Pruitt: The great thing about Alpha Phi Alpha is the diversity of Brothers who cross the burning sands. Some are more outgoing than others, ready to start a stroll line at a party before the DJ is barely warmed up. Some are more community service oriented, having a knack for bonding and mentoring young people through our mentorship work. Still, others may be more task oriented, focused on leading a project to it‘s successful conclusion. Bro. Tony Thompson, our 2009 Brother of the Year, is a soft spoken leader who is driven to see projects through to their completion and who is unafraid to get his hands dirty. Serving as KXL‘s Corresponding Secretary and leading the Communications Committee from 2007 - 2009, Bro. Thompson oversaw the Newsletter Committee, Website Committee, and Marketing Committees. These committees all grew in importance under his leadership as KXL expanded its activities and its outreach. The challenges of the recession over the past couple years added even more emphasis in effectively communicating our message to keep in line with our annual fundraising goals. Tony also served on the Fall ‗06, Spring ‗‘08, and Fall ‗09 Intake Committees as well as on the last two wine tasting committees. When Tony was finally ready to relinquish the demanding job of Chairman of the Communications Committee I immediately asked him to join my team as assistant editor of the Newsletter Committee. A graduate of North Carolina A&T with a BS in Management (May, 95 ) and a BS in Marketing (May, 96), he currently serves as a Technical Support Manager at Corbett Accel Healthcare Continued on Page 21
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Group. In his free time he serves on the Trustee Board and the Finance Committee at Union Chapel Church, in Union, NJ and is the Co-Founder of Reaching for The World Productions . I recently finally had time to ask Tony a few questions . Bro. Samuel Parker, the original KXL BOTY, served as a mentor to many brothers. Tell me what he meant to you.
Bro. Thompson and Parker take a break in between Convention meetings.
Words cannot express how honored I am to be named the ―Samuel C. Parker Brother of the Year.‖ As many people have said in the past Sam was the epitome of what a fraternity brother should be but to me he was more than that. Sam was someone who I admired and looked up to.
Tony Johnson and Sam Parker were the ones who invited me to come check out Kappa Xi Lambda and were instrumental in me becoming active again. Whenever I had a problem Sam was someone that I could go to for advice on a myriad of subjects; no matter how busy he was he would always make time to listen and counsel me. Sam was highly intelligent and successful but he was also very down to earth and humble. Whenever I was down he knew how to make me laugh and when I needed a shoulder he was always there. He was just one of my favorite people. He was my big brother, my mentor…he was my friend. I have never met anyone like Sam before and I will never forget him. KXL has changed a lot just in the short amount of time I've been affiliated with it. Tell me something the chapter does well and something that could be improved. One of things that first attracted me to the chapter was its energy. It‘s a graduate chapter with the youthfulness and mindset of an undergrad chapter. The members at the time I joined the chapter made me feel welcome. I believe that the sense of brotherhood is by far one of the strengths of the chapter. When Brothers relocate to the NYC area oftentimes the adjustment can be difficult but having a group of young men like we have in our chapter can make a difference. Another thing that the chapter does well is develop excellent ideas and programs and are enthusiastic about implementing them. In my opinion the area we need improvement in is for brothers to become more involved in the planning and execution of our events. It‘s the 80 / 20 rule – 20 % of the chapter does 80% of the work. I would really like to see more involvement from everyone in the chapter. If they have ideas for a program or an event then present it to the chapter. I would also like to see the chapter perform more community service outside of the good work we do with our Alpha GENTS.
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College days swiftly pass. Why do you think the fraternity struggles to retain brothers as they transition to the workforce? I think there are several reasons why brothers do not transition to grad chapters once they leave college. A great deal of them do not really ―pledge‖ the organization but their individual chapter. So once they graduate there is no desire to join an alumni chapter. I personally know brothers that graduated years ago but are still involved with the activities of their undergrad chapters. It needs to be instilled in brothers during their college days that the organization is bigger than their chapter. I was always told that this is a lifetime commitment and that you should be prepared to associate with a graduate chapter not long after you graduate. Then there are the financial expectations of an alumni chapter. It is expensive to be active in an alumni chapter and a lot of brothers cannot afford to meet those demands. A lot of brothers plan to join a grad chapter when they are doing better financially but there will always be something to delay them from joining. Finances should never be a reason a brother is not active. If possible he can try to setup a payment plan with a chapter in order to get his dues paid off. I personally was not active for several years after graduation because of the politics that plague some chapters. Just before I graduated my undergrad chapter had an issue and the resulting actions left me disappointed with the organization. It was the politics that drove me away for quite some time and it‘s those same politics that keep brothers from seeking out a grad chapter. The realization is not all chapters are the same and each brother needs to find the one they feel most comfortable with. Tell me something about your love for the stage and if you have any future performances in the works. When I was younger, like a lot of kids, I dreamed of being an actor but as I got older I set my sights on more realistic goals. But a few years ago a friend asked me to help out with a short film she was doing for film school and I guess you can say I was bit by the acting bug. Believe it or not I am somewhat shy but when I‘m on stage it allows me to transform into someone else. It‘s a good feeling – it‘s a different kind of high. I haven‘t done as much as I would like but that‘s going to change. I‘m in the process of forming a production company with a fellow actor and writer and will begin writing and producing our own productions in the future. You've been in the game a bit. We just recently crossed our 3rd line. What tips might you offer to our neos who are just starting off and have a lot to learn about being good Alpha men. I believe every brother should do what they promised they would do. Interests make a lot of promises about what they would do once they become members of the organization. Alpha Phi Alpha is an organization of leaders and leaders should lead by example. Why go through the process of becoming a member only to sit on the sidelines. We have several events and programs throughout the year and I think that the neos should not only be present but take the lead in doing whatever needs to be done to ensure the program is a success. There are also a lot of successful brothers in the chapter and they inspire me to be a better brother…to be a better person. There are experts in finance, law, and culture. The neos should take Continued on Page 23
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advantage of the opportunity to learn from some of, not only the greatest brothers around, but some of the greatest men in general. You were #12 on a line of 13. Coming from the west coast I can't even imagine such a thing. Tell me about your Alpha experience in college. In the south, fraternities and sororities are more visible than they are in the north so large lines are more or less the norm, especially at HBCUs. I pledged the Beta Epsilon chapter in the Spring of 1994 on the campus of North Carolina A&T. It was the brothers of this chapter that instilled in me
INTRODUCING: “All Points Bulletin” - the Beta Epsilon Spring ‟94 probate
the sense of brotherhood and commitment that I hold close to my heart even to this day. I‘m not sure if it was the fact that we were in undergrad and saw each other more often or if it was because we were young and idealistic but we not only had a tight bond but also took our commitment to the aims of the fraternity very seriously. We were dedicated to community service on a regular basis whether it was tutoring or doing highway cleanup. We also sponsored several forums throughout the school year on various subjects. We established tight bonds on road trips to conventions and to parties hosted by different chapters throughout the state. Beta Epsilon will always be my home chapter and it was – and still is – a special chapter and the friendships I established there are friendships I sill treasure. KXL made me feel right at home.
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ΑΦΑ - A Century of Leadership - ΑΦΑ
Thanksgiving Day 2009 – The neos came out with the “old” KXL bruhs, joining Eta Chapter and other Greeks to serve food to the homeless.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter P.O. Box 5382 New York, NY 10185-5382
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