The first and foremost during the first weekend of December
First. Foremost. Those who are the standard that others emulate.
Since their humble origins from the minds of seven (7) college students on the campus of Cornell University (Ithica, NY) on December 4, 1906 to the beyond legendary contributions of members such as (but not limited to) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Maynard Jackson, Andrew Young, Thurgood Marshall, and more recently, the late ESPN anchor and journalist Stuart Scott and Marshall Shephard, co-host of the Weather Channel show Weather Geeks, the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. have, are, and continue to make their mark in the fields of education, business, community, and beyond.
In Metro-Atlanta, with the Loganville-Conyers chapter serving as the lead and garnering support from their alumni chapters in Atlanta, East Point, Marietta, Decatur, Riverdale, Duluth, and Stockbridge, combined with their undergraduate chapters based at Morehouse, Clark-Atlanta, Georgia State, Emory, Georgia Tech, Clayton State, Oglethorpe, and Kennesaw State, these "men of distinction" are indeed holding a series of events and programs grounded in "manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind" under the larger mission of being "first of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all".
From December 1-4, 2017, the area chapters are providing a balance of community accessible undertakings that not only celebrate their 111th Founders' Day, but provide social action, service, and advocacy with the comprehension of the urgency of now. On Friday, December 1, 2017 (starting at 7:30pm), all chapters invite and encourage the community to meet with them at the corner of Trinity and Broad St in Atlanta as they feed and clothe the homeless. Donations of hoodies, jackets, emergency blankets, socks, hats, undergarments, toiletries (i.e. soap, deodorant, toothpaste, wipes, and related items), multi-vitamins, and reading glasses are requested in order to better serve those in need.
Saturday's (December 2, 2017) Founders' Day brunch program provides an opportunity for members of the fraternity, as well as the community, to come together at the City Club of Buckhead promptly at 11am (3343 Peachtree Road, #1850) for not only an opportunity to dine together, but to be more invigorated and invested in the outreach, leadership, and community commitment needed to be as positive and powerful a presence as possible. Tickets for the business-attired event are $40 per person for alumni brothers and adults, and $20 per college student.
As for Saturday evening, for the cigar aficiandos, Trilogy Cigar Lounge (375 Luckie Street) is where you would ideally want to patronize from 8:06-10:06pm. Immediately afterward, the move for an enhanced night out on the town is to visit Luckie Lounge (375 Luckie Street); there is free admission, but you must RSVP by sending a text message to ALPHA at 545454 or at the website of
in order to partake of the festivities.
Sunday, December 3, 2017, is focused on partaking of worship at Friendship Baptist Church (80 Walnut St in Atlanta, GA) for the 10am service (members of the fraternity are asked to arrive at 9:30am). On the actual Founders' Day, December 4, 2017, members of the fraternity are schedule to congregate at the King Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College (at 6:15pm) for the candlelight march. Afterward, at the King Chapel, the community forum "Onward HBCU: The state of the Historically Colleges and Universities" is the galvanizing theme.
Given the state of affairs, it calls for more than a "pomp and circumstance" approach in order to discuss, debate, and formulate a tangible action plan of the needs of the day. Since their origin, members of the first and foremost intercollegiate fraternity designed by and established for African-American men clearly are doing so and then some.
They are making it happen; during the dates of December 1-4, 2017, make sure to be a part of the events taking place so the community can help them make it happen too.
