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2 Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.
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18 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
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23 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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28 To recognize and honor Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated as an organization that has
29 provided a voice and a strong vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of
30 color in the District of Columbia and around the world.
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32 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity),
33 the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men, was
34 founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York;
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36 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity recognizes the following seven men, The
37 Jewels, as its Founders: Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones,
38 George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson
39 Tandy;
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41 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity develops leaders and promotes brotherhood and
42 academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities;
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44 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity prepares its members for the greatest usefulness
45 in the causes of humanity, freedom, and dignity for all people;
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47 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternitys aims include manly deeds, scholarship, and
48 love for all mankind;
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50 WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity encourages the highest and most noble form of
51 manhood and aids downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic, and
52 intellectual status;
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54 WHEREAS, national programs such as Brothers Keeper, A Voteless People is a
55 Hopeless People, Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College, and Project Alpha form the foundation and
56 cornerstone of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternitys community initiatives;
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58 WHEREAS, the District of Columbia has three undergraduate and three alumni chapters
59 of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, including the Beta Chapter established in 1907, the Mu Lambda
60 Chapter established in 1923, the Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter established in 1952, the Nu
61 Beta Chapter established in 1977, the Omicron Omicron Chapter established in 1982, and the
62 Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter established in 1985;
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64 WHEREAS, the achievements of all six chapters include social, civic, and humanitarian
65 contributions that have made a significant impact on the quality of life for District of Columbia
66 residents;
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68 WHEREAS, each chapter invests time and resources into the development of youth in the
69 District of Columbia through mentoring programs, community projects, fundraisers, and
70 scholarships; and
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72 WHEREAS, December 4, 1906 is the date that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity recognizes as
73 its Founders Day.
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75 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, this resolution
76 may be cited as the Alpha Phi Alpha Day Recognition Resolution of 2021.
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78 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors the contributions
79 of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated to the sustained progress of District of Columbia
80 residents, and designates December 4, 2021 as Alpha Phi Alpha Day in the District of
81 Columbia.
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83 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in
84 the District of Columbia Register.
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