Honor Alpha Phi Alpha

Senate Resolution No. 2860 BY: Senator PARKER COMMEMORATING the 111th Anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those fraternal organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 111th Anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., to be celebrated at its Site Beautification in conjunction with Urban Strategies, Inc., on Saturday, July 22, 2017; and WHEREAS, Founded in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate fraternity founded by African Americans; the organization has a rich history of community involvement through its national programs and special outreach projects; and WHEREAS, Remaining true to its founding precepts, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity stimulates the ambition of its members; prepares them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and aids downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status; and WHEREAS, The Alpha Kappa chapter was chartered in 1922, on the campus of Springfield and Amherst Colleges; the 32nd chapter of Alpha, it has had a proud history of providing academic and cultural events on each of the campuses as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and New York, New York; and WHEREAS, To broaden the bond of brotherhood beyond college, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. established the Alpha Kappa Chapter Alumni Association in 2009; and WHEREAS, Throughout its extensive history, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has had numerous prominent members including, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, David N. Dinkins, Duke Ellington, John J. Johnson, Jesse Owens, Humbert Humphrey, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young and John Hope Franklin; and WHEREAS, To address issues of homelessness, illiteracy, unemployment and health awareness, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. focuses its efforts on notoriously underserved communities such as Brownsville, East New York, Flatbush and Redhook, Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of chairman, Samuel Walker III, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has taken positions of leadership to lay a firm foundation for the organization's principles of scholarship, good moral character and the uplifting of humanity; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., past and present, who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for the community it serves; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 111th Anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Samuel Walker III, Chairman, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.