A brief History of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Mission Statement
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.
Vision Statement
The objectives of this Fraternity shall be: to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare 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 to aid down-trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status.
Since its founding on December 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of African-Americans and people of color around the world. 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, they are as follow: Jewel Henry Arthur Callis Jewel Charles Henry Chapman Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones Jewel George Biddle Kelley Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray Jewel Robert Harold Ogle Jewel Vertner Woodson Tandy
The Fraternity initially served as a study and support group for minority students who face 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 developed at other colleges and universities, many of them historically black institutions, soon after the founding at Cornell. 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.
History of the Sigma Theta Lambda Chapter
The light of Alpha was first brought to Liberty County, Georgia through the chapter of Omicron Phi Lambda. However, that light had been dimmed due to military deployments and lack of membership. It wasn’t until June 14, 2014 that Brothers of Alpha sought to re-ignite the fire and fervor of Alpha which once burned so bright in rural Southeast Georgia. Due to the former chapter having been deactivated, a new chapter would have to be chartered. On June 28, 2014, an interest meeting was held where 14 brothers met and agreed to begin the process of bringing a new chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha to Coastal Georgia. During the petitioning process, the group was known as the Alphas of Coastal Georgia. It was through the hard work and dedication of all the brothers involved that the charter application was approved and the light of the new chapter of Sigma Theta Lambda began to shine.
Sigma Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was chartered on January 10, 2015. The Chapter was installed on February 28, 2015 in Midway, Georgia.
The Charter members of the Chapter represented a distinguished group of citizens whose contributions to the City and State were outstanding. The Founding Pearls of Sigma Theta Lambda are as follow: Bros. Hilton L. Fordham, Jr., Samuel Wilson, Taquan Murray, Percy Price, Robert Simmons, Alfred Mullice, and Derrick Haire. The chartering members were Bros. Vince Bailey, Alex Barr, Jonathan Bryant, Mike Calvin, Keith Edwards, Keith Ford, Joshua Hines, Vincent Jenkins, Robert Jordan, Kerrick Lloyd, Reginald C. Martin, Anthony Pitts, Donterrish Prayor, Kirk Scott, William Sutton, Antwon Wade and Christopher Williams.
