Robert F. Smith Brings Success Back
Brother Robert F. Smith Brings Success Back Home
Brother Robert F. Smith Brings Success Back Home
It’s impossible to imagine that you haven’t heard about Brother Robert F. Smith, the tech entrepreneur and philanthropist, who made history during his 2019 Morehouse College commencement speech, when he freed the class of approximately 400 students and parents alike from student loan debt.
Smith founded Vista Equity Partners (Vista) in 2000. Now, the firm, for which he stands as Chairman and CEO, is one of the leading global investment firms of its kind. Vista exclusively invests in enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses through its four investment strategies – private equity, permanent capital, credit and public equity. And, as Smith’s platform has grown, so too has his commitment to giving back to underserved communities.
Smith’s generosity, beyond the scope of his wealth, extends to time spent sharing insights and experience with young professionals and students seeking their piece of the American dream. Whether it’s dropping knowledge during an ELEVATE conference at Columbia Business School, where Smith got his MBA, or giving a heads-up about digital transformation at Davos, Smith is focused on helping communities build self-sustaining infrastructures to aid the growth of Black business and leadership nationwide.
Robert F. Smith’s Philanthropy
Smith attributes much of his philanthropic philosophy to his family and the Alpha Phi Alpha commitment to community empowerment. In 2017, Brother Smith was the first Black American to sign the Giving Pledge, and by doing so, agreed to utilize half of his net worth for initiatives providing equal opportunity for underrepresented communities. These philanthropic ideas were united in 2014 under the mission of Fund II Foundation, a nonprofit of which Brother Smith serves as founding director and President. Smith also shows his continued commitment to the Black community as co-founder of Southern Communities Initiative, which is dedicated to advancing racial equity in the six Southern communities where more than half of Black Americans live.
Smith innovates pathways for the future of Black success in the U.S. And his vision forward includes taking good care of our precious history. Brother Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s homes are now in the care of the National Park Foundation, so our children’s children can step inside history, due to a grant from the Fund II Foundation. The stories of our people are being digitally recorded and preserved at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, due to a grant from Smith, who believes this living tribute will not only enrich education but contribute to new curatorial studies.
Smith has said that economic success over the next decade will be tied to careers related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). To ensure the Black community takes part in the next cycle of wealth generation, Brother Smith made $10 million available at Cornell University, his alma mater, for scholarships to support Black and female students pursuing technology-related degrees. In 2022, Smith donated another $15 million to Cornell University’s College of Engineering to establish three funds – the Robert F. Smith Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, the Robert F. Smith Graduate Fellowship Fund and a third fund supporting student participation in career development events and conferences. In 2020, Brother Smith gave a $50 million matching gift to help launch Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), the capstone to his Morehouse College gift. SFI works to help relieve the burden of student loan debt and provides educational resources for qualifying STEM students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
Get involved with your community through Alpha Phi Alpha.
Stay up to date with Smith’s latest philanthropic and business efforts by following him on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram and LinkedIn and subscribing to his YouTube channel.
UNITED WE STAND: THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW - A statement from the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents
Council of Presidents
Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, Vice Chairman, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Danette Anthony Reed, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Reuben A. Shelton, III, Esq., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Ricky Lawrence Lewis, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Elsie Cooke-Holmes, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Chris V. Rey, JD, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Stacie NC Grant, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Rasheeda S. Liberty, Chairwoman, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Sean D. Housen, Sr. Ed.D, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
UNITED WE STAND: THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW
A statement from the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Presidents
Since the first decade of the 20th Century, Black Greek-lettered organizations have worked to protect the interests and Constitutional rights of African Americans on college campuses and in the communities they serve. Now, more than 100 years later, the 2.5 million+ members of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations find themselves standing vigilant against Jim Crowesque attacks from those who seek to undermine the foundational freedoms of Black people and marginalized communities across our United States.
Emboldened by divisive white nationalist rhetoric from prominent American political leaders and influential media figures, state and local officials have introduced and adopted laws that target efforts to diminish and/or erase diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public institutions. For example, Florida’s governor recently signed legislation that bans the state’s public colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs – a clear retrograde for our nation’s education system.
In addition, members of K-12 school boards across America have considered and adopted policies to severely limit students’ exposure to perspectives, research and ideas that deviate from narrow – and sometimes inaccurate - depictions of American culture and history. As a result, educators have been blocked from presenting books and curricular topics that examine systems of oppression like slavery, racism, and sexism; as well as historical stories of marginalized people that overcame said oppressive systems to make this country a better place.
As a result, local school districts have been transformed into political battlegrounds where extremist activists wage divisive and faux attacks on so-called “woke culture” while seeking to impose a neo-segregationist framework in public education. This is a deliberate attempt to undermine the intent of the United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education by devaluing the benefits of integration and culturally inclusive curriculum. This is not a popular movement, but one driven by a small group of well-funded, extremist activists with a clear intent – to destroy public and culturally inclusive education as a public good.
Many of the same political leaders who are motivated to ban books that present difficult truths about the sins of America are utterly silent and unwilling to grapple with daunting challenges like gun violence which continues to plague the communities in which we live and serve. Issues like the irresponsibly laxed availability of assault weapons, which has facilitated mass shootings of American children, should be countered with sensible gun legislation to protect the lives of all Americans.
Yet all around us, the courts and elected officials are constantly eroding our rights; including a woman’s right to bodily autonomy. A small minority of Americans appear to wield outsized influence, leaving the majority feeling increasingly disempowered. In the face of systemic social, political, and economic injustices, it’s impossible to overstate the ominous impact that overturning Roe v. Wade will have on the lives, safety, and wellbeing of not just women, but men and families alike. Additionally, the sheer consequences of inaction at a time such as this would have a devastating impact on the lives and liberties of many generations to come.
At this pivotal moment in history, the NPHC’s Council of Presidents reaffirms our commitment to civic engagement and through our chapters, will present programming to inform our communities of the potential consequences of laws that would erode or prevent the expansion of our rights.
We will stand united and steadfast in leading and organizing efforts to oppose restrictive laws and work to enact laws that will expand freedoms for all Americans.
We will continue to push our members to fully engage in the political system as voters, election volunteers and elected officials.
And like our organizations’ founders and elders, we’ll use our talents and resources to fight against oppression because complacency is too high a cost to pay today and sacrifice for future generations.
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The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated (NPHC) is currently composed of nine (9) International Greek letter Sororities and Fraternities: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. For more information, visit www.nphchq.com or CONTACT: Donna Jones Anderson, 470-898-8655, president@nphchq.com
Statement of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on the Expulsion of Two African American Tennessee State Representatives
Contact:
Eric Christopher Webb, DDiv., CPLC
Director of Communications
/Editor of The Sphinx
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Cell: 443-635-5911
April 7, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on the Expulsion of Two African American Tennessee State Representatives
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. denounces the expulsion yesterday of two African American lawmakers from the Tennessee State House of Representatives for engaging in a peaceful protest at the state capitol and leading a chant from the House floor after a deadly school shooting in Nashville.
The resolution, which expelled Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, failed to oust another lawmaker, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, for her identical participation in the protest.
The Right-wing claims that these representatives violated house rules on conduct and decorum flies in direct opposition to constitutional free speech and these duly elected lawmakers’ responsibilities to advocate for their constituents.
Regrettably, these undemocratic and unprecedented expulsions are an effort to silence an overdue discourse on a deadly issue that plagues our country and endangers the lives of our children and citizens.
Let us not forget that three teachers and three children lost their lives in this deadly tragedy. We should not want those who represent us to be passive and silent after these incidents.
We encourage all who believe in justice to do anything they can to help ensure these men are restored to their rightful place to represent their communities.
About Alpha Phi Alpha
The 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, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. Visit and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.
Hiring Graphic Designer - Digital Content Creator
Graphic Designer – Digital Content Creator for
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Job Title: Graphic Designer and Digital Content Creator
Location: Baltimore, MD
Status: Full Time/Salary
Salary: Consummate with Qualifications + Company Benefits
Job Category: Administrative Professional 1
Position Overview
The Fraternity’s General Office is in Baltimore, Maryland and has responsibility for managing
the daily operational and programmatic functions of the fraternity; which include budget and
finance administration, membership services engagement and support, public relations,
marketing and communications, event and program coordination, vendor and partner relations,
and board and national officer management and administrative support. The Graphic Designer
and Digital Content Creator is a part of the Communications Department and provides graphic
design assistance that is consistent with the image and brand of the fraternity. The Graphic
Designer and Digital Content Creator also supports the graphic and printing needs of the
general office departments, and collaborates with General committee chairs and programs in
maintaining approved print and digital imagery. In addition, the Graphic Designer and Digital
Content Creator has responsibility for maintaining online communication tools and manages
access, coordination, and approval to various project management platforms. This function also
includes serving as the departments dedicated project manager and involves ensuring the
adherence to set timelines and project related goals. The Graphic Designer and Digital Content
Creator also has responsibility for managing regular updates to the fraternity’s
website and oversees the development, implementation, and management of new technology
platforms. The individual is this role will also support the media and software related IT needs
of the general office. In addition, the Graphic Designer and Digital Content Creator will support
communications tools including the development of presentations, online newsletters, and
other forms of online communications. In collaboration with the Director of Communications
and Editor-of-The Sphinx, the Graphic Designer and Digital Content Creator will also assist in
coordinating the fraternity’s vendor licensing and brand protection strategy. The Graphic
Designer and Digital Content Creator is a full-time position and will be based in Baltimore,
Maryland at the fraternity’s General Office.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
The Graphic Designer and Digital Content Creator performs a wide range of duties including
some or all the following:
Graphic Design and Digital Content Creation
• Creates visual aspects of marketing materials, websites, and other media, including
infographics, logos, social media graphics, etc.
• Creates and edit short videos or animated graphics for social media, etc.
• Organizes elements of a design, such as the icons, photographs, and other components
necessary
• Oversees editing and voice-overs to assure quality production
• Other duties as assigned
Project Management
• Archives and curates all creative content libraries, i.e. photos, videos, etc.
• Consults with clients to create cohesive designs that reflects the fraternity’s brand and overall
goals
• Simultaneously manages on multiple projects based on current client workload
• Other duties as assigned
Technology
• Monitors and update websites, marketing activities and member benefit programs for
continuous improvement
• Support software related IT needs of the General Office
• Coordinates the development, implementation, and management of new technology
platforms
• Develops and coordinates multimedia packages—letters, brochures, video, point-of-purchase
displays
• Other duties as assigned
Brand & License Management
• Assists in the development of new fraternal marketing, communication, and branding policies
and procedures
• Assists in the management brand protection efforts
• Other duties as assigned
Qualifications & Required Skills
A candidate who is successful in the graphic designer and technology position will have the
following skills, competencies, and qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree in fine art design, computer science, marketing, communications, or a
related field required
• 3-5 years in professional commercial and graphic design with a non-profit or creative
marketing agency, etc.
• Knowledge of non-profit and volunteer-driven organizations
• Skilled at computer web software and their graphic applications
• Previous experience in production and design procedures for graphic material (both print and
online)
• Experience working with WordPress, Mailchimp, Drupal, and other communication platforms
templates
• Extensive experience with Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, specifically with mockups,
web design and multimedia presentation
• Working knowledge of Coding, CSS3, HTML5 and JavaScript
• Adaptive design eye and skill
• Ability to absorb and apply constructive criticism from peers and clients
• Proven project management skills; implementing collaborative objectives
• Relevant background in media business development
• Web Coding and development experience
• Knowledge of new web and print media technologies and software
• Expert in managing time and completing given tasks with the defined timeframe
• Ability to solve complex problems
• Strong attention to detail; excellent organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities
and meet deadlines
• Strong ability to incorporate feedback for immediate improvement
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to timely deliver on
commitments
• Demonstrated experience working in a team-based environment
• Strong ability to balance long-range strategic planning and short-term positive progress
• Expert listening skills and ability to interact with people, at all levels, effectively
• Effective judgement and decision-making skills
• Proven experience in identifying and implementing process improvements/needs
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About Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-
Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who
recognized the need for a strong bond of Brotherhood among African descendants in this
country. The visionary founders, known as the “Jewels” of the Fraternity, are Henry Arthur
Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison
Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who faced
racial prejudice, both educationally and socially, at Cornell. The Jewel founders and early
leaders of the Fraternity succeeded in laying a firm foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha's principles
of scholarship, fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity. Alpha Phi Alpha
chapters were established at other colleges and universities, many of them historically Black
institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. The first Alumni Chapter was established in
1911. While continuing to stress academic excellence among its members, Alpha also
recognized the need to help correct the educational,
economic, political, and social injustices faced by African Americans. Alpha Phi Alpha has long
stood at the forefront of the African American community's fight for civil rights through leaders
such as: W.E.B. DuBois, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Edward Brooke, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, William Gray, Paul Robeson, and many others. True to its
form as the “first of firsts,” Alpha Phi Alpha has been interracial since 1945.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, three to five professional references, as well as
provide a graphic design samples, or a link to a graphic design portfolio to: