On December 6, 2025, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., from Cleveland’s graduate chapter, Delta Alpha Lambda, Akron’s graduate chapter, Eta Tau Lambda, and local undergraduate chapters based at Cleveland State University, Kent State University, the University of Akron, and Youngstown State University jointly celebrated their national fraternity’s 119th Founders Day Anniversary at Pinstripes in Beachwood, Ohio.
Established at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, on Dec. 4, 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is the nation’s first and oldest Black-Greek intercollegiate organization committed to brotherhood, scholarship, and service. The fraternity was founded by seven African-American college men, known as the fraternity’s “Seven Jewels”, in an era when racism excluded Blacks from many professional, civic, and social organizations.
“Brotherhood in Action, 119 Acts, 7 Pillars, One Brotherhood” was the theme of the 2025 celebration. 200 Alpha members from throughout Northeast Ohio were present at this year’s annual event, which emphasized not only reflection and celebration, but also a “call to action.”
Akron graduate chapter fraternity member, Eufrancia Lash, proclaimed, “Alpha is at its best when we stand as one.” Cleveland graduate chapter president, Christopher Murray, remarked, “This joint celebration is about strengthening connections across cities and is an opportunity to reflect on where we have been and what we have to do in the days ahead.”
The program was uniquely designed to educate, commemorate, celebrate, and facilitate enhanced brotherhood, inspire an elevation of service, and more.
Program co-chair and Cleveland graduate chapter member, past-chapter president and Chaplain, Samuel Dickerson, guided the members through a holistic wellness activity that emphasized eight transformational values and themes, including presence, honor, courage, compassion, wisdom, joy, legacy, and renewal.
Reaction to the Founders Day experience from members in attendance, across age and background, was positive.
Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Michael King, who became a fraternity member through the Cleveland graduate chapter in 1996 and is a retired attorney and journalist, said, “The Founders Day program was great! It promoted history and brotherhood, contained levity, and inspired retrospection and forward-thinking.”
King, who attended undergraduate school at the University of Kansas, reflected on what inspired him to want to become a member of the fraternity. “As I think about it, one of the reasons that I wanted to become an Alpha member is that growing up into adulthood, as I looked around, the special men who were having a positive impact in the community were Alpha men. I remember reading about a man going around the country fighting to improve the educational opportunities for Black people. His name was Thurgood Marshall, and I learned that he was an Alpha man. That type of leadership and action inspired me to become an Alpha man as well,” added King.
Throughout the half-day event, members reflected upon themes denoted as Pillars of Action, ranging from, medical awareness and health, civic engagement and voter education, financial literacy and support, education and youth service, community enrichment and neighborhood services, financial literacy, supporting the fraternity’s National Programs, and brotherhood and internal acts, which should guide the fraternity’s membership moving forward.
Fraternity member Darrell McNair, of Cleveland’s graduate chapter, emphasized that “Our 7 Pillars are not extract. They are active. They are the blueprint of our legacy and heartbeat of our future.”
Members in attendance seemed genuinely moved by the Founders Day program’s content and call to action.
Alpha member Akil Hameed, who became a fraternity member at the Beta Nu Chapter in 1999 while a student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida, acknowledged being moved by the Founders Day experience.
“Attending today reminded me of why I committed my life to service to the fraternity. I was encouraged by the thoughtful program that pierced my heart to assess where I am today, and to do an inventory of my responsibilities as an Alpha Man so that I can recommit to the broader mission of the fraternity,” reflected Hameed. “I look forward to advancing our mission and impacting not only the local communities, but also the communities throughout the nation, and America as a whole,” notes Hameed.
In addition to emphasizing the fraternity’s impact on society, core elements of the program focused on members taking care of one another as well.
Akron graduate chapter member, Michael Hairston, said, “Every Brother should know that he is seen, valued, and protected. We must create a brotherhood that is felt, not just spoken. We must make space for connections and build bridges to brotherhood and mentorship between older and younger Brothers,” added Hairston.
Event co-chair Samuel Dickerson noted, “Over the course of the fraternity’s 119 years of existence, Alphas have always been present, but throughout time, some of us, within our Greek-letter organizations, have lost our way.
This program was designed to remind us that the skills and strengths of all of our Brothers are needed, and that though our chain may consist of many links, no link is greater than the other. We must collectively recommit to serving all and having love for all mankind,” noted Dickerson.
As was begun by their seven founding members in 1906, Northeast Ohio’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. members seem ready and willing to continue their commitment to, and demonstration of, servant leadership to the betterment of our communities, nation, and world. ●
(Note: Dr. K.D. Hale is a 40-plus-year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.)
