Alpha Town Hall Meeting: Update on the Flint Water Crisis

Listen to the recording of the Town Hall Meeting Today! See What Alpha is Doing!
TOWN HALL DESCRIPTION
As a crisis hits a predominantly poor, black community of Flint, Mich., you will hear from brothers on the ground, how Alpha Phi Alpha has been involved since this crisis unfolded, and what will be the next steps. The brothers of Epsilon Upsilon Lambda, Theta Tau, and our brothers in the state of Michigan extend a sincere thank you for the effort to support and provide assistance to the citizens of Flint.

WHAT IS ALPHA PHI ALPHA DOING?The leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha has been in frequent contact with the members of Epsilon Upsilon Lambda and Theta Tau chapters located in Flint, MI. The following actions are being taken by the chapters and brothers close to this crisis:

• To address immediate volunteer needs (water and filter distribution, etc.), Brother Adrian Walker, manager of corporate social responsibility for the Diplomat Pharmacy, is working with the local Red Cross as part of his daily responsibility and will leverage that role to advise us of additional support initiatives.
• Brother Brian Larkin, director of planning and development for the City of Flint, serves as our local committee chairman of the My Brother’s Keeper program. The local committee has been contacting our senior brothers and Alpha widows to ensure they are receiving appropriate care and services.
• Brother Isaiah Oliver is vice president of community impact at The Community Foundation of Greater Flint, which administers the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. Recognizing this crisis as a long-term issue, we have to continue to raise funds to benefit the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. This fund supports charitable organizations that provide aid to children and families with interventions that impact positive health outcomes including, but not limited to, immediate response, optimal child health and development, early childhood education, continuous access to a pediatric medical home, access to infant and child behavioral health services, nutrition education and healthy food access, safe and healthy home environments, and integrated social services and research.

WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE SHORT-TERM

1. We ask and encourage you to visit www.flintkids.org and click the “Donate Now” button in the upper right corner of the page to make a contribution. Upon making your donation, please indicate “Alpha Phi Alpha” in the area directly below your email address. This will help us to report on the status of donations directly provided by Alpha Phi Alpha.
2. Water donations are being accepted at several official facilities:
   • For donations of 100 cases or fewer please contact:
     • Catholic Charities Center for Hope, 517 E. Fifth Ave., Flint, MI 48503
       Monday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm, 810-232-9950
     • The American Red Cross,1401 S. Grand Traverse Flint, MI 48503
       Saturday and Sunday, 9 am–4 pm, 810-232-1401
   • For donations of 100 cases or more, pallets of water or donations in one semi-truck:
     • Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, 2300 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503
       Call ahead to 810-239-4441
   • For extra-large donations, such as multiple semi-trucks, delivery arrangements can be made by emailing Janet Hunter at hunterj8@michigan.gov
3. Preparations are in progress on how volunteers can properly engage various areas to support the citizens of Flint, MI. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha within the Michigan area will be engaged in this activity.
4. Click here to review a document that provides some facts and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the lead in the water.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has chapters in over four hundred cities around the world. Chapters and brothers that are closest to the action, issues, and people, are continuously affecting change.