Breaking the Chains & Moving Onward & Upward Towards the Light
Article #2.1: Brief Fraternal History
Founded on Tuesday, December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net.
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, 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, are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.
The cardinal principles of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated are manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. The fraternity’s motto is, “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.”
Founded on Tuesday, December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net.
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, 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, are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.
The cardinal principles of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated are manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. The fraternity’s motto is, “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.”
Article #3.1: Before the Beginning
The beginning of the Alpha ESQuires Club extends prior to its founding year of 2009. For the group acknowledges the efforts and contributions of its precursor group, the Roc Phi Roc Male Mentoring Program and Elite Step Team. When Roc Phi Roc began, the primary goal of the organization was to be more than just a step team. Those four high school students, in 2003, sought to create an academic-networking-social environment similar to that of a Black Greek fraternity in its truest aspects for high school males. At the time of chartering, all but one of the founding members of the Alpha ESQuires, were active members of Roc Phi Roc.
Roc Phi Roc in short was the next generation of Boy Scouts. Collaborating with the Boy Scouts America (BSA) Venturing Crew division, the program provided positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them, to become responsible and caring adults. The primary membership requirement of the venturing crew was young men who were in eighth grade up to 20 years of age. Venturing provides positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing provides the skills needed for young adults to make ethical choices, experience a fun program full of adventure and challenges, acquire leadership skills, and to take advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life, and Sea Scouting.
Since 2003, Alpha Phi Alpha’s influence on Roc Phi Roc had been a strong force. Three Alpha men were a major part of the governing and success of the organization: Mr. Anthony H. Brown of “That Blazin’ and That Bold” Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter in Cleveland, Ohio; Mr. Frederick White of the “Infamous” Delta Xi Chapter at Central State University; and Mr. Leonard J. Wilkerson, III of the “Crazy” Pi Chapter, a undergraduate city-wide chapter serving many of the higher education institutions in northeast Ohio.
During the 2008-09 academic school year, many of the active members of Roc Phi Roc, along with members of the Boy Scouts Troop 3845 from Hope Academy Chapelside Campus and several other young men from other schools in the greater Cleveland area began attending a series of Leadership Development Institute (LDI) workshops presented by the Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter. This program exposed the young men to skills related to leadership, citizenship and scholarship.
Under the direct supervision of Mr. Larry E. McCrimager, Director of Educational Activities, he met with his committee with the concept of a youth development program that would go beyond the LDI curriculum and engage the young men throughout the school year. Thus the idea of Alpha ESQuires went from vision to reality.
Article #4.1: A Foundation Built on 14 ROCs
On Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 1:00 pm, the first group of young men, also known as the charter members, was inducted into the Club. They were simply known as “The End – To A Beginning…A Foundation Built on 14 ROCs.” Brother Andrew Jon Anderson is credited to naming this impressive group.
Article #4.2: A Moment of Firsts
Another impressive first for the organization was the induction of its first high school graduate member Brother Khalil G. Wordlaw, Jr. Khalil had graduated from Warrensville Heights High School prior to his induction into the Club. Since he was an active member of Roc Phi Roc and participated in the LDI workshops throughout the 2008-09 school year the committee felt he was deserving of membership. So for the first time, the guidelines were amended to allow his induction to take place. Even more, Khalil is also the first member of the Alpha ESQuires to be a scholarship recipient from the Delta Alpha Lambda Foundation for the 2009-10 academic school year. He used this scholarship along with scholarships from the United Negro College Fund and other grants to attend Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio.
Article #4.3: The Three Lost Ones
Later that summer, Thursday, July 30, 2009, three additional young men were inducted into to Club. They had their unique reasons as to why they were “tardy to the original party” yet they preserved and became proud members that day
Article #4.4: The 8 Soldiers of Victory
On Saturday, June 12, 2010 eight impressive young men were inducted into the program. These strong African-American young men have shown that they are ready for battle and prepared to confront any challenge head on and come out triumphant. There overall group GPA at the time of induction was 3.15. Parents, family and friends were invited to witness the induction services, after which, Ms. Bridgett Owens (DeShaun Anderson’s mother) brought Augie’s Pizza, chips, cake and punch for everyone.
Like Khalil, Aaron Robertson, was afforded membership after his high school graduation, due to situations beyond his control. A member of this group, Anthony H. Brown, II, was hospitalized for three weeks, due to a car accident, and the entire membership process was put on hold until his father, Anthony H. Brown, who was also the program advisor could return to facilitate the induction process.
Article #4.5: The Next Level
On New Year’s Day 2011, the Alpha ESQuires began to chart new territories by taking its voice to the next level. They started to communicate its mission, philosophy, programs and initiatives via the World Wide Web. It was on Saturday, January 1, 2011 that the ESQuires touch downed in cyberspace at www.alphaesqcleveland.com.
The history pauses right there for the moment, for the rest of that story has yet to be revealed.
The beginning of the Alpha ESQuires Club extends prior to its founding year of 2009. For the group acknowledges the efforts and contributions of its precursor group, the Roc Phi Roc Male Mentoring Program and Elite Step Team. When Roc Phi Roc began, the primary goal of the organization was to be more than just a step team. Those four high school students, in 2003, sought to create an academic-networking-social environment similar to that of a Black Greek fraternity in its truest aspects for high school males. At the time of chartering, all but one of the founding members of the Alpha ESQuires, were active members of Roc Phi Roc.
Roc Phi Roc in short was the next generation of Boy Scouts. Collaborating with the Boy Scouts America (BSA) Venturing Crew division, the program provided positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them, to become responsible and caring adults. The primary membership requirement of the venturing crew was young men who were in eighth grade up to 20 years of age. Venturing provides positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Venturing provides the skills needed for young adults to make ethical choices, experience a fun program full of adventure and challenges, acquire leadership skills, and to take advantage of opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge in the areas of high adventure, sports, arts, hobbies, religious life, and Sea Scouting.
Since 2003, Alpha Phi Alpha’s influence on Roc Phi Roc had been a strong force. Three Alpha men were a major part of the governing and success of the organization: Mr. Anthony H. Brown of “That Blazin’ and That Bold” Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter in Cleveland, Ohio; Mr. Frederick White of the “Infamous” Delta Xi Chapter at Central State University; and Mr. Leonard J. Wilkerson, III of the “Crazy” Pi Chapter, a undergraduate city-wide chapter serving many of the higher education institutions in northeast Ohio.
During the 2008-09 academic school year, many of the active members of Roc Phi Roc, along with members of the Boy Scouts Troop 3845 from Hope Academy Chapelside Campus and several other young men from other schools in the greater Cleveland area began attending a series of Leadership Development Institute (LDI) workshops presented by the Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter. This program exposed the young men to skills related to leadership, citizenship and scholarship.
Under the direct supervision of Mr. Larry E. McCrimager, Director of Educational Activities, he met with his committee with the concept of a youth development program that would go beyond the LDI curriculum and engage the young men throughout the school year. Thus the idea of Alpha ESQuires went from vision to reality.
Article #4.1: A Foundation Built on 14 ROCs
On Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 1:00 pm, the first group of young men, also known as the charter members, was inducted into the Club. They were simply known as “The End – To A Beginning…A Foundation Built on 14 ROCs.” Brother Andrew Jon Anderson is credited to naming this impressive group.
Article #4.2: A Moment of Firsts
Another impressive first for the organization was the induction of its first high school graduate member Brother Khalil G. Wordlaw, Jr. Khalil had graduated from Warrensville Heights High School prior to his induction into the Club. Since he was an active member of Roc Phi Roc and participated in the LDI workshops throughout the 2008-09 school year the committee felt he was deserving of membership. So for the first time, the guidelines were amended to allow his induction to take place. Even more, Khalil is also the first member of the Alpha ESQuires to be a scholarship recipient from the Delta Alpha Lambda Foundation for the 2009-10 academic school year. He used this scholarship along with scholarships from the United Negro College Fund and other grants to attend Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio.
Article #4.3: The Three Lost Ones
Later that summer, Thursday, July 30, 2009, three additional young men were inducted into to Club. They had their unique reasons as to why they were “tardy to the original party” yet they preserved and became proud members that day
Article #4.4: The 8 Soldiers of Victory
On Saturday, June 12, 2010 eight impressive young men were inducted into the program. These strong African-American young men have shown that they are ready for battle and prepared to confront any challenge head on and come out triumphant. There overall group GPA at the time of induction was 3.15. Parents, family and friends were invited to witness the induction services, after which, Ms. Bridgett Owens (DeShaun Anderson’s mother) brought Augie’s Pizza, chips, cake and punch for everyone.
Like Khalil, Aaron Robertson, was afforded membership after his high school graduation, due to situations beyond his control. A member of this group, Anthony H. Brown, II, was hospitalized for three weeks, due to a car accident, and the entire membership process was put on hold until his father, Anthony H. Brown, who was also the program advisor could return to facilitate the induction process.
Article #4.5: The Next Level
On New Year’s Day 2011, the Alpha ESQuires began to chart new territories by taking its voice to the next level. They started to communicate its mission, philosophy, programs and initiatives via the World Wide Web. It was on Saturday, January 1, 2011 that the ESQuires touch downed in cyberspace at www.alphaesqcleveland.com.
The history pauses right there for the moment, for the rest of that story has yet to be revealed.