BROTHER ERIC CHRISTOPHER WEBB NAMED ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.’S NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EDITOR OF THE SPHINX
BROTHER ERIC CHRISTOPHER WEBB NAMED ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.’S
NEW DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EDITOR OF THE SPHINX
BALTIMORE, MD – The Board of Directors of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. recently named Brother Eric Christopher Webb, DDiv., CPLC, the Fraternity’s new Director of Communications and Editor-of-The Sphinx. He assumed the role effective Wednesday, May 19.
Brother Webb, who is a 1989 Nu Chapter initiate, a Life Member of the Fraternity, and member of Rho Tau Lambda Chapter, is a 1991 English and Journalism graduate of Lincoln University, with numerous journalism awards and fellowships from Harvard University, Howard University, Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, the Freedom Forum, the Associated Press, the Scripps Howard Foundation, and the Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc.
“Brother Webb’s journey has prepared him to take on the responsibility of leading the Communication Department,” said Brother Sean L. McCaskill, the Fraternity’s Interim Executive Director. “We know in Brother Webb we have a person who is accountable, a great listener, gives advice, can coach, teach, and believes very deeply that his staff are capable of excellence.”
Brother Webb, who is a seasoned communications strategist, award-winning journalist, empowerment strategist, and National Black Authors Tour bestselling author of five books, began at the General Office in September 2017 as the Assistant Director of Public Relations and Community Engagement as well as Managing Editor-of-The Sphinx. He later served as the Interim Director of Communications and Interim Editor-of-The Sphinx from November 2019 through July 2020, publishing two issues of The Sphinx magazine before returning to his previous role.
His prior work with The Sphinx notably also earned him two 2019 Fraternal Communications Association Awards (third place) for Writing – News Feature Article and (second place) for Story Packaging – Feature Article.
“It’s an honor to serve as the Fraternity’s Director of Communications as well as in the historic role of Editor of The Sphinx magazine – the nation’s second-oldest continuously-published African American magazine,” said Brother Webb. “With General President Dr. Willis L. Lonzer’s vision, I hope to leverage all my abilities as a journalist and communicator to strengthen and elevate the brand of the Fraternity beyond the platforms we have been accustomed to even greater visibility and prominence.”
Prior to Brother Webb’s arrival at the General Office, he worked at his alma mater, Lincoln University, as its Director of Communications and Public Relations as well as Editor-in-Chief of its university magazine, The Lincoln Lion. Over the years, he has served as a former Communications Manager for Advocacy at the American Heart Association, both a Washington News Correspondent and a “Letter from Washington” columnist for Thomson Newspapers, the founder and publisher of SOULS magazine, as well as the nationally syndicated “Soul Searching” columnist.
In addition, he wrote for numerous other newspapers and contributed to several journals, anthologies, and magazines, as well as taught English and journalism at The Graduate School, USA, Prince George’s Community College, Temple University PASCEP, the Alternative Learning Institute and continues to serve as a panelist, guest speaker, and lecturer at other schools, institutions, and conferences.
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About Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, The Honorable Andrew Young, Edward Brooke, and Dr. Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit: apa1906.net and follow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on Twitter and Instagram @apa1906network or on LinkedIn as
“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.”
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. PARTNERS WITH TULANE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
https://youtu.be/WN8ZCFmMnOI
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. PARTNERS WITH TULANE UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
New agreement will pave the way for more Black men to enter field of public health
BALTIMORE, MD – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the nation’s oldest intercollegiate fraternity for African-American college men in the United States, has entered into a five-year agreement with The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine that will streamline the admissions process for the organization’s members.
The agreement paves the way for financially active members of the fraternity to apply and enroll in the school’s online master’s programs in areas like community health sciences, environmental health sciences, and health administration.
"Advancing educational and professional outcomes for Alpha Phi Alpha Men in the field of public health will undoubtedly improve health outcomes and resilience in the communities we serve around the world." said Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. "Alpha Phi Alpha Men are men of distinction who have a long track record of service and advocacy for the downtrodden. The recent global pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color is a great reminder of the need for more professionals of color in field of public health and we are confident that this partnership with Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will positively impact the field and our communities."
Under the agreement, Tulane will develop a pipeline program for undergraduate members of Alpha Phi Alpha, to prepare them for graduate and professional school, which the Fraternity will promote with its members and encourage their participation.
In addition, all application fees will be waived for financially active members of Alpha Phi Alpha. In addition, participating students will enjoy tuition discounts that will increase based on the number of fraternity members who enroll, according to the agreement.
“This is a positive step for both institutions and aligns with our school’s goal to become the most diverse school of public health in the country,” said Dr. Thomas LaVeist, dean of the school and Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity. “We are thrilled to be in partnership with such a well-respected fraternal organization.”
This exclusive partnership is the first of its kind with any National Pan-Hellenic Council organization, which represents the nine historically African American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities, as well as any Greek-lettered organization overall.
“Diversity is not just a buzzword here,” said Dr. Alicia Battle, associate dean for online programs. "We’re not trying to check off a box to make sure we have every race and ethnicity represented. What we are trying to do is to make sure that our students and therefore our graduates represent the communities that are touched by public health every day. It makes a communities being helped after a disaster, for example, or during a pandemic. It’s also important that we have more men involved in the field because, let’s face it, men make up half the population. Men are impacted by infectious diseases and disasters and workplace safety concerns, and we need more men in the public health workforce."
Members can learn more about the programs at publichealth.tulane.edu.
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About Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, The Honorable Andrew Young, Edward Brooke, and Dr. Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit: apa1906.net and follow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on Twitter and Instagram @apa1906network or on LinkedIn as “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.”
About Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
As stewards of the first school of public health in the United States, the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine cultivates independent thinkers, innovative leaders, fierce advocates, and accomplished scholars. From the neighborhoods of New Orleans to communities worldwide, we conduct research and collaborate with our partners to ensure that all of humanity has an equitable opportunity to be healthy and pursue optimal well-being. We train the problem solvers. Find us on the Front Lines.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Signs Partnership Agreement with Western Governors University
Contact:
Dr. Colin Campbell
Director of Marketing & Communications
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
443.467.6011
colincampbell@apa1906.net
Glenn Gillen, APR
Public Relations Manager
WGU North Carolina
919.450.8113
glenn.gillen@wgu.edu
For Immediate Release
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Signs Partnership Agreement with Western Governors University
National nonprofit online university to provide scholarships to Alpha Phi Alpha members
BALTIMORE (April 14, 2021) – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the nonprofit online, Western Governors University (WGU), have announced a new partnership agreement that offers $5,000 scholarships for financially-active Alpha Brothers who enroll in WGU. Tuition is around $3,750 per six-month term for most degree programs.
Designed for working adults, WGU offers an asynchronous, competency-based model that allows students to log in and access coursework at a time convenient for them, and to accelerate at their own pace. WGU offers more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.
“Since our inception, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has developed leaders and been a model for academic excellence,” said Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “This partnership with Western Governors University ensures that our Brothers can pursue an advance degree to expand their current career opportunities and strengthen their professional acumen while still working to support themselves and their families.”
The Fraternity, which is the nation’s first intercollegiate fraternity founded by African American men, is one the Divine 9’s historic Black Greek-Letter Organizations (BGLOs) that comprises the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).
WGU’s NPHC Divine 9 Scholarship for Financial Alpha Phi Alpha Members will provide $3,000 in tuition credit for a student’s first six-month term, and $1,000 in tuition credit for up to two subsequent terms. All applicants must meet WGU’s admission standards and maintain satisfactory academic progress. The Fraternity will also provide a unique URL to its members to apply for the scholarships, and WGU will provide an application-fee-waiver code specifically for those members as well.
“We are extremely honored to be partnering with such a distinguished organization as Alpha Phi Alpha,” said Spencer Stewart, WGU’s Vice President of Partnerships. “In addition to providing scholarships to Alpha Phi Alpha members who are interested in WGU’s bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, we will be collaborating with them on professional development tools and amplifying our partnership on social media.”
For more information about WGU, visit www.wgu.edu. Learn more about Alpha Phi Alpha at www.apa1906.net.
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About Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, The Honorable Andrew Young, Edward Brooke, and Dr. Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit: apa1906.net and follow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on Twitter and Instagram @apa1906network or on LinkedIn as “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.”
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 129,000 students nationwide and has more than 214,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.egu.edu.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Partners with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) to Help Underrepresented College Students Launch Game-Changing Careers
Contact:
Rishal Stanciel, Director of Fellow Recruitment and Senior Career Prep Coach
404-438-6343
Dr. Colin Campbell, Director of Marketing & Communications
colincampbell@apa1906.net
(443) 467-6011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2021
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Partners with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) to Help Underrepresented College Students Launch Game-Changing Careers
Baltimore, MD – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the nation’s first and leading intercollegiate fraternity founded by African American men, is collaborating with Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) to ensure its members and those in their communities secure top-notch internships and high-trajectory jobs.
MLT is a national nonprofit that provides Black, Latinx, and Native American talent with coaching, instructions, and networking contacts to excel in high-trajectory careers, secure economic mobility for their families, and become high-impact senior leaders equipped to advocate for vulnerable communities. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.’s partnership with MLT affirms the 115-year-old fraternity’s goals.
“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders. Our organization has long understood the magnitude of establishing a strong career path, which often includes first-class internships and a solid connection to a job post-graduation,” said Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “Our internal drive is to stimulate the ambitions of our members and to function as a catalyst for positive social and economic change in our communities. This alliance with MLT will align synergies between both organizations, and ultimately lift our respective communities overall.”
Alpha Brothers accepted into the MLT Career Prep Program will participate in a rigorous 18-month career development program for emerging leaders, which includes individualized and group coaching, skill development seminars around the country, possible travel assistance, and access to 120 prestigious employers with an alumni network of more than 8,000 professionals.
“MLT and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. are aligned in our mission to ensure we can get talented people of color into game-changing careers and into leadership positions,” said Rishal Stanciel, Director of Career Prep Fellow Recruitment for MLT. “I personally know many outstanding members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., who have been Career Prep Fellows in past years, and I am really looking forward to having many more in the next year and in the future.”
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Mohamad Merilan, Solutions Architect at Credit Suisse, is a member of the fraternity and is an alumnus of the MLT Career Prep Program.
“I am honored to say that I have been a product of both institutions: MLT and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. MLT provided an industry-trained professional career coach that helped me realize personal clarity on my career function, provided a playbook of skills training, and exposed me to hundreds of top Fortune Partners. I found my target company with Credit Suisse in New York City, an accomplishment that I never could have achieved on my own. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., gave me powerful values to develop in leadership and service to all. I am forever grateful.”
College sophomores are eligible to apply to the MLT Career Prep program. Please visit https://mlt.org/career-prep/ to learn more and to find the application, which opens in June 2021.
If you have any questions about the application process or MLT, please contact Rishal Stanciel, Director of Fellow Recruitment and Senior Career Prep Coach, at rstanciel@mlt.org.
About Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (ΑΦΑ)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha Men such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, The Honorable Andrew Young, Edward Brooke, and Dr. Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit: apa1906.net and follow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on Twitter and Instagram @apa1906network or on LinkedIn as “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.”
About MLT
Launched in 2002, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) is a national nonprofit that is transforming the leadership pipelines of our most influential organizations by driving breakthrough results for individuals and institutions. MLT coaches African American, Latinx, and Native American talent to secure high trajectory post-college jobs that deliver economic mobility for their families, and then provides the social capital they need to become high-impact senior leaders who can transform our institutions and vulnerable communities. MLT’s career and leadership development programs provide unparalleled opportunities for our rising leaders to succeed at pivotal stages throughout their careers — from college students to early and mid-career professionals to senior executives — and gives them the genuine confidence that they belong in the uppermost tiers of leadership. MLT also provides a comprehensive solution for institutions that combine best-in-class recruitment, retention, and diversity strategy offerings. Visit us at www.mlt.org.
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.
GENERAL PRESIDENT LONZER, ALPHA PHI ALPHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTS BROTHER SEAN L. MCCASKILL AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2021
Contact:
Colin Campbell, Ph.D., Director of Marketing & Communications
colincampbell@apa1906.net
(443) 467-6011
GENERAL PRESIDENT LONZER, ALPHA PHI ALPHA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTS
BROTHER SEAN L. MCCASKILL AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Baltimore, MD – Today, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Brother Sean McCaskill as the Interim Executive Director. Effective March 1, 2021, McCaskill will lead the operational execution of fraternal priorities and oversee the corporate headquarters.
Brother McCaskill, initiated at Xi Sigma Chapter on April 7, 1990, is no stranger to Alpha Leadership having served as both the District Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Alpha Chapters and the 26th Eastern Regional Vice President. He is currently an active member of the Alpha Omicron Lambda Chapter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"Brother McCaskill is a great coach,” said General President, Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III. “He loves our Brotherhood and will play a pivotal role in providing our Board with key insights, as well as providing leadership by facilitating the formation of a cohesive team environment at the General Office that helps to improve our service to our Brotherhood and the communities we serve around the world.”
In addition, Brother McCaskill is one of America’s emerging voices of the 21st century focused on saving our youth. He is an educational consultant, leadership coach, and entrepreneur.
“Everything must begin and end with the motivation of your staff; show us an organization that is successful, and I will show you an organization where the employees are motivated. Show us an organization that is not successful, and I will show you an organization where the people lack motivation,” said Brother McCaskill. “As the Interim Executive Director, I have committed to the General President and every member of the Board of Directors that I will work diligently to motivate, coach and lead our staff to deliver at the level of excellence Alpha expects. I am excited to help execute our shared vision to Elevate Alpha by increasing the support we provide to brothers and the impact we collectively make in our communities.”
Brother McCaskill attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) on a football scholarship where he was a four-year letterman in football and two-year letterman in track and field. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, he remained at IUP and earned his master’s degree in Sociology. As a result, he has successfully worked in the social service field for more than 20 years and has gained an even further wealth of knowledge and experience in providing individual and family therapy, treatment plan design, prevention, team building and organizational leadership development.
"As a former Eastern Regional Vice President, I am sure that Brother McCaskill is up for the task as Interim Executive Director,” said Brother Dennis Kemp, 25th Eastern Regional Vice President. “I feel confident that he will do a good job."
Brother Robert “Bob” Willis, the 20th Southern Regional Vice President, echoed Brother Kemp’s sentiments.
"I think we are very fortunate to have a person as qualified as Brother McCaskill to serve as the Interim Executive Director,” said Brother Willis. “He did a good job as Eastern Regional Vice President and the staff at the General Office can count on his knowledge of the fraternity."
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.’S PROJECT ALPHA AND GLOBAL AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATION EXTEND PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS RISING STIs AMONG BLACK YOUTH
CONTACT:
Colin Campbell, Ph.D., Director of Marketing & Communications colincampbell@apa1906.net (443) 467-6011
Imara Canady, National Director of Communications & Community Engagement imara.canady@ahf.org (770) 940-6555
FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE February 26, 2020
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.’S PROJECT ALPHA AND GLOBAL AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATION EXTEND PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS RISING STIs AMONG BLACK YOUTH
Baltimore, MD – Project Alpha, one of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s national programs for its chapters focusing on mentoring and sexual health education for young boys and girls, is strengthening its sexual health curriculum and efforts to combat rising STIs thanks to its ongoing partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), through its Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC).
In 2019, the fraternity established a multi-year national partnership with AHF, the world’s largest non-profit public health organization leading the charge in addressing the global STI epidemic, but the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined much of the fraternity’s efforts and AHF’s Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition’s (BLACC) support. Alpha Phi Alpha and AHF have extended their partnership to fulfill their commitment to improve capacity, establish best practices in providing resources for these programs as well as gathering data to improve Project Alpha’s efforts in communities with high rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
“I am grateful for the continued support of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to help increase Project Alpha’s capacity and modernize its sexual health curriculum,” said Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. General President Willis L. Lonzer, III, Ph.D. “With the recent historic appointment of the fraternity’s first-ever Surgeon General, Brother Jeffrey Sterling, MD, MPH, FACEP, this effort is especially timely since the Fraternity is now ushering in a new paradigm that focuses on not only improving the health of our Brotherhood, but also those whom we serve through our programs.”
Through the end of 2022, alumni chapters are expected to partner with their mentoring college chapters as well as participate in at least two events, including collaborating with AHF’s BLACC initiative events, to receive $1,000 in the following communities:
- Atlanta, GA
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
-more-
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CAEvents include, but are not limited to, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – February 7; National HIV Testing Day – June 27; World AIDS Day – December 1; AIDS WALK in their respective cities. Each chapter will also coordinate with their respective Regional Project Alpha Chairman to present their findings at their respective regional conventions as well. Alpha chapters and local BLACC leaders will collaboratively use creative and innovative approaches, including films, creative arts, and other unique engagement sessions to provide education, motivation, and skill-building on issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
“Studies show that focused HIV/AIDS education can significantly reduce youths’ desire to engage in risky behavior,” said Dr. Sterling, the Fraternity’s Surgeon General. “Proper education can influence behaviors, including delaying the onset of sex, reducing sexual encounters, and becoming more selective of sexual partners. It also can prevent unprotected sex, reduce STIs, and decrease pregnancy rates.”
For more than three decades, AHF has provided treatment, care, and support services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Through AHF’s BLACC initiative, the organization has continued to increase awareness among Black Americans, and has developed local, regional, and national partnerships with community-based organizations.
Anita Castille, AHF Vice-President, who quoted the great visionary leader, and man of Alpha, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that ‘our lives begin to end the moment we are silent about things that matter.’
“With the on-going increase in new HIV diagnoses as well as other STIs disproportionately impacting the lives of 12 – 25-year-old Black boys and men, saving the lives of our brothers matters,” Castille said. “AHF, through BLACC, is excited to bring our organizations together to educate and empower our community by addressing this public health crisis, and collectively elevating the community’s commitment to our health, by making informed sexual decisions, reducing stigma, and decreasing the new infection rates among Black Americans.”
According to the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC):
➢ Young people aged 15–24 years acquire half of all new STIs nationwide.
➢ Compared with older adults, sexually-active adolescents aged 15–19 years and young adults aged 20–24years are at higher risk of acquiring STIs for a combination of behavioral, biological, and cultural reasons.
About Alpha Phi Alpha:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, The Honorable Andrew Young, Edward Brooke, and Dr. Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit: apa1906.net and follow Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on Twitter and Instagram @apa1906network.
About the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition powered by AIDS Healthcare Foundation
The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) powered by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (“AHF”), is a coalition of Black-American cultural influencers and health advocates, that through the use of innovative, culturally relevant messaging and initiatives, are revolutionizing outreach to the Black American community by elevating education, sexual health awareness and wellness and highlighting social justice issues disproportionately impacting the health and wellness of Black Americans. As the world’s largest non-profit public health organization addressing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, AHF currently has more than 1.5 million individuals in care. It provides services in 45 countries and domestically in 16 states including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit: aidshealth.org
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s General President, Dr. Everett B. Ward, remarks on the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s General President, Dr. Everett B. Ward, remarks on the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Baltimore, MD - On Friday, the United States lost a pioneer of justice and a fighter of women’s equality. The contributions of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the country’s legal system and the country cannot be measured.
Justice Ginsburg’s nearly 30 years on the Supreme Court was chronicled by her determination to support the ideals of our country’s constitution. Her record includes progressive opinions that cement her place in the cornerstone of gender and racial justice.
The decisions that Justice Ginsburg made for the U.S. Supreme Court were in the spirit of making our nation more equitable and inclusive. As we mourn the late Justice Ginsburg, we must continue her legacy of fighting for equality and justice for all Americans.
We must honor her legacy of equal justice by actively participating in the November 3rdelection and actively engaging in public advocacy.
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. General President Dr. Everett B. Ward Responds to Comments Made By U.S. Attorney General William Barr
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. General President
Dr. Everett B. Ward Responds to Comments Made By U.S. Attorney General William Barr
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BALTIMORE, MD - This week, US Attorney General William Barr compared the COVID-19 pandemic and precautions taken by city and state governments to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and said it was “the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in history other than slavery.”
His comparison is not only reckless and irresponsible, but it disrespects the millions of lives lost during that brutally violent era that continues to affect African Americans today. In addition, it conflates and obfuscates the impact of a global pandemic that has adversely affected the United States in massive numbers, with almost 200,000 deaths and 6.65 million infections. The preventive measures taken to decrease the spread of coronavirus have been about saving human lives while American slavery was about subjugation, devaluation, and the death of millions of African lives.
Attorney General Barr’s comments come off as especially tone-deaf and insensitive to African Americans who are not only descendants of the genocidal period of slavery but are also now shown to be at a higher risk of coronavirus infections. Studies regarding public health data have shown that African Americans are more likely to be essential workers and possess pre-existing health conditions due to systemic challenges.
Furthermore, the Attorney General’s comments that the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are part of a “false narrative” and that they are being used as “props” for the Black Lives Matter Movement is appalling. These tragedies should not be used as political talking points in combination with a virus wreaking havoc on our society in epic proportions.
Attorney General Barr’s recent efforts to suppress and prosecute lawful Black Lives Matter protesters rather than address the unlawful and murderous actions of law enforcement officers in the killing of unarmed African Americans proves he lacks the judgement and commitment to evaluate Civil Rights and Human Rights issues.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. urges Attorney General Barr to focus on ensuring justice and public safety for all Americans and not simply advance President Donald Trump’s political and racially divisive agenda.
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.
General President Everett B. Ward Letter to Attorney General Cameron
August 8, 2020
The Honorable Daniel Cameron
Office of the Attorney General
700 Capital Avenue, Suite 118
Frankfort, KY 40601
Attorney General Cameron:
On behalf of the members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I write to you regarding our fraternity’s concern over the lack of an arrest in the officer-involved shooting death of Breonna Taylor. More than four months have elapsed since officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) killed Ms. Taylor during the botched execution of an erroneous “no-knock” warrant. Ms. Taylor’s death has left many people wondering when justice will come.
As the governing head of an international fraternity, comprised of approximately 100,000 members, we have grave concerns over the inaction and the lack of transparency surrounding the completion of the homicide investigation into Ms. Taylor’s death. We are flummoxed as to why no charges have been filed considering that Ms. Taylor died by LMPD’s decision to perform an unannounced raid at the wrong home and without realizing that the suspect they were searching for was already in custody.
As tension and outrage continue to mount around the globe, we join the call of countless others who demand that your office bring justice to the Taylor family. We demand that you move boldly and demonstrate to the world that the value of a Black person’s life matters in this country and to your geographical area in particular. Your office has the power to bring criminal charges against each of the officers who was involved in Ms. Taylor’s death. Your influence has the authority to provide the public with periodic updates to reassure our country and the world that nothing less than a fair and transparent investigation is ongoing.
Ms. Taylor was a decorated emergency management technician, a model citizen of the State of Kentucky, and an American hero who should be with us today. She spent her final days serving as an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives. Now we ask, will you stand up and speak up for her life? We urge you to do the right thing. Address the inaction surrounding her death, arrest the officers responsible for Breonna’s death forthwith, and reassure the country and the world that our justice system still works for everyone no matter their race.
Respectfully,
Everett B. Ward, Ph.D.
General President
May 8, 2020
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Minority Leader Schumer:
The World community is experiencing a pandemic that many have never seen before – a pandemic that affects every person, in every country, that has the capacity to breathe.
I am the Chief Executive that represents thousands of men, both college Brothers and Alumni professionals, spanning every profession that contributes to what makes the fabric of our democracy stronger and stronger every day. Since the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has made its way to the shores of the United States of America, it has been nothing less than relentless in is pursuit to sicken our citizens and in some cases, kill our fellow Americans.
As the General President and proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., I as well as my Brothers would like to add our deep concern that the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 seems to have a higher mortality rate among African Americans than any other race in this country, and not surprisingly, there are reasons why this is the case.
Early data from China, where the new Coronavirus COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of serious health complications from this virus. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this includes people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Here is what we know - Coronavirus COVID-19 is causing an inflammatory process in the body that impairs clotting in bleeding. The impact on the lungs is causing difficulty with air getting in and out of the lungs. The inability for anyone to get sufficient air into the lungs will cause acute respiratory distress and high mortality (death) rates. This issue also impacts other organs in the body, causing persons with other medical issues to be at increased risk. At this time, we do not know the long-term impact on the lungs or other organ systems.
Since the inception of this pandemic on American shores, we’ve continued to learn that the Coronavirus COVID-19 flourishes among those individuals who have other pre-existing medical conditions, as mentioned above. Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke are the leading causes of deaths among African Americans in the United States. In fact, African Americans between the age 18-49 are 2 times more likely to die of heart disease than whites; and African Americans, ages 35-64 are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than whites (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Additionally, recent peer-reviewed journal articles discuss the pathogenesis of the Coronavirus COVID-19 virus. What is strongly suggested is a Coronavirus COVID-19-induced coagulopathy is similar to Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). This pathologic disorder is known to have high mortality rate in its acute phase. DIC is rapidly fatal with the aforementioned comorbidities and is exacerbated by the rapid pulmonary distress brought on by this virus. Because this virus remains novel, studies related to long-term pulmonary injury and alveolar function are needed to show the median survivability and overall quality of life for persons who contract this virus.
As you have seen from recent new reports, early data from some States have shown some very alarming and frightening statistics that should be addressed as we find ways to overcome this deadly virus. For example, the State of Louisiana is made up of 32% African Americans, but have a mortality rate of 70%; the State of Michigan is made up of 14% African Americans, but have a mortality rate of 52%. I could overwhelm you with recent data, but the trends have all demonstrated one fundamental fact – African Americans are dying at a higher rate from the Coronavirus COVID-19 than other race in Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, South Carolina, Maryland, Philadelphia, District of Columbia and North Carolina.
I will acknowledge that most States are deploying needed help to quell the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19, but there are underlying challenges at bay that must be addressed and resources put towards in order to prevent future blows from any other deadly disease, as well as addressing the health challenges among African Americans throughout the country.
I strongly believe that if we address some of these underlying health challenges among African Americans (heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, and mental health) through legislation, it will reduce future mortality, and it will further reduce our community need to feel as though the Government aren’t paying attention to the plight that is affecting their families.
Mr. Schumer, we are on the precipice of the greatest challenge of our lifetime, and I strongly encourage you to stand with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and address the challenges of the day, which must include a healthier citizenry that will continue to add value to the fabric of American democracy. My team and I are eager and willing to meet with you and your staff to further address these issues, as we care for the sick and mourn the death of our fellow neighbors who have succumb to the Coronavirus COVID-19.
Thank you for your consideration and look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Everett B. Ward, Ph.D.
General President
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. National Coronavirus COVID-19 Task Force:
- William J. Bennett, MD, PhD - Pathologist, George Washington University School of Medicine,
Novocure, Inc., Atlanta, GA - Charles Alvin Cook, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Raleigh Associated
Medical Specialists, Raleigh, NC - Duane Dyson, MD - Owner, Dyson Pediatrics of Tucson, AZ
- Clifford Houston, PhD, MS - First African American elected as president of the
American Society for Microbiology; Former Member, U.S Department of Health and Human
Services, National Advisory Board for Bio-Security, Galveston, TX - Joseph Gambrell, MD - Retired Pediatrician, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Bellflower,
CA - Napoleon B. Higgins, Jr., MD, Psychiatrist, CEO and President of Bay Pointe Behavioral
Health Service, Inc., and South East Houston Research Group, Inc. Houston, TX - Lane Knight, DDS - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Southern Maryland Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgery, Waldorf, MD - Kelvin A. Moses, MD, PhD – Associate Professor of Urology, Vanderbilt University
Medical Center, Nashville, TN - Otha Myles, MD, Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine, Otha Myles &
Associates, LLC, Saint Louis, MO - Ronald “Pepper” Peters, Jr. DrPH, MS - Retired Associate Professor of Health
Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston,
TX - Richard D. Smith, MD - Lead Partner, St. Francis Primary Care Clinic - Smith Medical
Office, Monroe, LA - Brother Covia L. Stanley, MD - Former Regional Health Director, Region 6, South Carolina
Department of Health & Environmental Control; Former Health Director, City of Richmond,
VA, Conway, SC - Leonce H. Thierry, Jr., Jr., MS, MT (ASCP), CHES - Clinical Assistant Professor of
Clinical Laboratory Services, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX