By Brother Eric Christopher Webb, DDiv., CPLC [Nu ’89]
Fraternity’s 95th Southern Regional Convention and 101st Anniversary Convention, “The Power of Brotherhood: Transforming Lives Through Service and Advocacy” Amplified in Raleigh, N.C.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Against a spring backdrop of blooming dogwoods, thousands of members and guests of the Southern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. converged on Raleigh from March 26–28 for the region’s 95th Southern Regional Convention and its 101st Anniversary Convention, “The Power of Brotherhood: Transforming Lives Through Service and Advocacy” under the leadership of Southern Regional Vice President Brother Matthew S. Bradford and Southern Regional Assistant Vice President Brother Devonte Rolle.
The convention drew College and Alumni Brothers from across the South and nation to the convention center, downtown hotels, and social venues. Over more than three days, programming ranged from a regional board meeting, a public program, business sessions, keynote breakfasts and luncheons, leadership workshops and panels on civic engagement to health screenings, blood drives, voter-registration drives, a scholarship pageant and step show, as well other social events encouraging fellowship, networking and brotherhood like a traditional Brotherhood Smoke.
“I am incredibly proud of every Brother who worked tirelessly to bring this convention to life,” SRVP Brother Brandford says in a Friday morning social media post prior to delivering his State of the Region Address. “So much effort happens behind the scenes, and your commitment, sacrifice, and attention to detail have created an experience of Alpha South. I am equally proud of every Brother who made the decision to show up, engage, and pour into this convention. Your energy, your presence, and your love for our Brotherhood are what make this Region so special.”
On Thursday evening, the convention held its Official Public Program, “Advocacy in Action: Turning Our Voices into Visible Change” moderated by Alpha Brother and Commentator Roland Martin, which featured North Carolina State representative Monika Johnson-Hostler, Alpha Brother and Journalist and Strategist Jeff Johnson, Tanya Miller, Esq., candidate for Georgia Attorney General, and Alpha PAC Chairman Dr. Everett B. Ward.
The discussion yielded thoughtful discourse on disconnect between the African American public and the Divine Nine’s efforts as well as generational disconnect among African Americans in general.
“This is called the public program, and the public is not here. We have so much Black capacity, but we spend so much time insular as opposed to external,” says Brother Martin, after taking a poll of the sparse number of non-Divine Nine members in the audience.
Brother Jeff Johnson explained that “we are part of a community that sometimes believes we are not part of them. We have in some cases even in our Black excellence been Black exclusive, and we have determined that there is a certain group in our community that rides with us and a certain group that doesn’t. How many of you have been to event where you have seen a younger person criticized who was not dressed like you? I see it all the time. I see at our events where we have a young person who has the gumption to come to into a space that they don’t know if it is for them or not and there is more time spend on what they have on versus what is their vision, what is their dream.”
Alpha PAC Chairman Ward also agreed but emphasized another challenge.
“We must organize,” says Ward. “There is one component that is missing. Before we show up at the school board meeting, before we show up at the city council meeting, before we show up at the legislative meeting there needs to be a strategy session with all of us so that we walk in with an agenda, and that agenda is our agenda, and not someone else’s agenda. We need to stop going to the legislature for ‘D9 Legislative Days’ taking pictures, making folks feel good, and we don’t have a legislative agenda.”
During the public program, Alpha Brother and Repairers of the Breach Founder Rev. Dr. William Barber, II, also issued a powerful call to action and an impassioned plea for 1,000 Alpha Brothers to be strategically trained and commit to a voter engagement effort in the Southern states.
“It’s time right now that we need work horses, not show horses,” he says. “We can’t be playing checkers while they are playing chess. There is a third deconstruction going on and we must decide whether we are going to have a third reconstruction. In this moment the nation is sick and we’ve got to decide whether we are going to believe them, or whether we going to believe God, whether we are going to believe our ancestors or whether we are going to believe the power in our own hearts that tell us that bowing down is never an option, not to authoritarianism, not to fascism, not to anything that is contrary to our humanity.”
He explained that “we live in the region of the country that is going to determine how this country ends up. It’s always come out of the South, and if you break the back of the South, you change the nation.”
On Friday, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. General President Brother Lucien J. Metellus, Jr. delivered his State of the Fraternity Address challenging the Brotherhood on a several central issues and dismantled the misguided arguments of the Fraternity and Sorority renouncers on social media.
The Alpha Pitch Competition, which was sponsored by PNC Bank and showcased both new and aspiring Alpha Entrepreneurs, was a definite highlight of the convention, featuring business initiatives that spanned digital platforms and green energy initiatives to local mentoring programs and international basketball giveaways and skills camps competing for $3,000 in funding support.
Scholarship awards were also presented to local high school and college students — a core element of Alpha’s mission — and Brothers and Chapters were recognized for exceptional GPAs, and community engagement and service.
On Saturday, the College Brothers Luncheon featured College Brother competitors of the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Competition, who responded to the question: “How can Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, inc., reimagine how we lead the charge to preserve and safeguard democracy in our time?”
Programmatically, the convention emphasized leadership development, civic engagement and health equity, all framed through the theme’s call to service and advocacy. Panels for College Brothers covered career development, entrepreneurship and campus leadership; Alumni sessions focused on chapter sustainability, membership pipelines and Alumni engagement.
Cultural programming also amplified the conventions’ energy and outreach. The Miss Old Gold and Black pageant highlighted scholarship, poise, and community service, where contestants were judged on leadership, academic achievement and platforms tied to service-oriented advocacy. Winners received scholarships and were tapped to serve as ambassadors for regional service projects. The college step show also drew packed crowds and showcased intense choreography, rhythmic precision and competitive spirit from undergraduate chapters — a vivid demonstration of Brotherhood in performance.
Beyond formal sessions and cultural nights, the convention reignited fellowship and intergenerational mentorship typical of other Fraternity conventions.
During the final business session, SRAVP Brother Rolle and SRVP Brother Bradford delivered their State of the College Brother and the State of the Region addresses respectively. Brother Rolle’s address was his first and final as his successor was elected to assume office this summer while Brother Bradford’s address was his first in his term as regional vice president.
In his remarks, SRAVP Brother Rolle reflected on the impact of the pursuit of leadership in his development.
“This journey did not begin when I stepped into office it began when I made the decision to run,” says SRAVP Brother Rolle. “Campaigning for this position had shaped me in ways I could not have imagined. It forced me out of my comfort zone. It challenged me to become more approachable, more open and more reflective. Because if we are being [sic] honest, I was more reserved and didn’t always have the most welcoming face. But the position demanded more from me. It demanded that I grow, and growth isn’t’ always comfortable, but it is always necessary.”
SRVP Bradford also briefly discussed his own journey to leadership and thanked those who had a hand in his development as well as recognized those whose leadership had contributed and guided the Southern Region.
In addition, while recognizing the region’s accomplishments, SRVP Bradford did not avoid acknowledging the region’s challenges. He also charged the College Brothers not to let others outside their chapter usurp their leadership and encouraged every Brother to support the Alpha South Educational Foundation.
“As we continue to focus on service, we will do as much as we possibly can to leverage since 1906 and document the indelible impact we are making on our communities,” he says. “Brothers, it is not about doing more … It’s about being intentional, more aligned, more impactful in everything we do. When asked who will lead, who will serve, who will stand together in this Brotherhood, the answer is loud and clear. We are…”
The Brotherhood responded “Alpha South!”
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95th Southern Regional Convention Award & Achievement
Southern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Awards and Achievement Committee| Awards Winners| 95th Annual Region Convention Raleigh, North Carolina
March 26-29, 2026
Brother Matthew S. Bradford, Southern Regional Vice President
Brother Devonte D. Rolle, Southern Regional Assistant Vice President
Brother Andre’ D. Waller, Awards and Achievements, Chair
Scholars Bowl
1st Place: Gamma Beta Chapter, North Carolina Central University
Runner Up: Theta Delta Chapter, University of South Alabama
Debate Competition
1st Place: Georgia, Alpha Phi Chapter, Clark Atlanta University
Runner Up: Gamma Upsilon Chapter, Tougaloo College
Oratorical Competition
1st Place: Brother Caleb Noah John, Tau Iota Chapter, Samford University Runner up: Brother Ajani Crenshaw, Gamma Upsilon Chapter, Tougaloo College
College Brother Highest GPA
Brother Ezra Alexander Devane (GPA 4.0), Mu Tau Chapter, University of North Carolina Charlotte
College Chapter Highest GPA
Beta Pi Chapter (GPA 3.427), Lane College
Augustus M. Witherspoon Leadership Award
Brother Allan Younger, Phi Lambda Chapter
Charles W. Greene Award of Merit
Brother Dr. Lamont L. Moore, Omicron Iota Lambda Chapter
Charles H. Wesley Brotherhood Award
Eta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Rho Chapter (Morehouse), Alpha Phi Chapter (Clark Atlanta University), Iota Chapter (Morris Brown College) & Zeta Mu Chapter (Georgia State University)
Outstanding College Brother of the Year
Brother Snailey Dol, Iota Delta Chapter
Outstanding College Chapter of the Year
Iota Delta Chapter, Florida State University
Outstanding Alumni Brother of the Year
Brother Michael Hudson, Tau Gamma Lambda
Outstanding Alumni Chapter of the Year
Beta Nu Lambda Chapter, Charlotte, NC
Miss Old God & Black Pageant Winner
Miss Aysha Genrette, North Carolina District
- 1st Runner Up Miss Kennedy Larkin, Georgia District
- 2nd Runner Up Miss Maia-Tene McCarthy, Florida District