Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                               A CEREMONAL RESOLUTION

                                              25-110

                      IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                       September 19, 2023

To recognize and honor the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated Mu Lambda Chapter’s

centennial celebration.

       WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was founded on December 4, 1906

at Cornell University by the 7 visionary founders Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman,

Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle,

and Vertner Woodson Tandy;

         WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was the first intercollegiate Greek-

letter fraternity established for African American men on the campus of Cornell University in

1906;

       WHEREAS, 22 men founded the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Incorporated including Arthur Curtis, Merrill H. Curtis, Victor R. Daly, Eugene L. C. Davidson,

Arnold Donnawa, Walter Garvin, William L. Hansberry, Charles H. Houston, Edward Howard,

Joseph R. Jones, R. Frank Jones, John E. Lowery, Clarence H. Mill, Alpha Phi Alpha founder

Jewel Nathaniel Allison Murray, Norman L. McGhees, Alpha Phi Alpha founder Jewel Robert

Harold Ogle, Louis H. Russell, James N. Saunders, Emory B. Smith, Harold C. Stratton, J.H.N.

Waring and Charles H. Wesley;

       WHEREAS, Mu Lambda is the eleventh alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Incorporated;

        WHEREAS, Mu Lambda was chartered on October 1, 1923 in Washington, D.C. in part

as a response to the desire of Howard University graduates and to aid the undergraduate brothers;

       WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha’s objectives are 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 downtrodden

humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status;

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       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter hosted the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Incorporated’s Centennial Convention in Washington, D.C. in 2006 where over 10,000 Alphas

descended on the city for the celebration;

       WHEREAS, the 501(c)(3) arm of the Chapter, the Mu Lambda Foundation was

incorporated in 1994 to provide community service to residents of Washington, D.C. and

improve the lives of those less fortunate;

         WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter has sponsored the Beautillion program for more

than 17 years to mentor African American high school students through workshops on social

skills, college preparedness, and scholarships;

      WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter current program, Project Alpha includes serving as

mentors to 20-50 young men ages 12-18;

       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter also focuses on literacy, serving women of the

House of Ruth, voter education registration, and health and wellness through mobile oral health

screenings for children;

       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter was awarded the 2019 Special Appreciation Award

from the House of Ruth;

        WHEREAS, through Project Alpha, the Mu Lambda Chapter, in conjunction with a

retired Superior Court Judge and law professor at the University of the District of Columbia

David A. Clark School of Law, established the Youth Court of the District of Columbia;

         WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter Youth Court of the District of Columbia works to

assist in preventing incarceration and victimization of youth providing diversion programming

for D.C.’s troubled youth;

       WHEREAS, the Youth Court of the District Columbia works with the Metropolitan

Police Department, Attorney General office, and the United States Department of Justice to

ensure youth are referred to the program rather than the judicial system;

        WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter headquarters (the Alpha House) is located in Ward

5 at 2405 1st Street NW, or 2405 Alpha Phi Alpha Way, Washington, D.C. 20001;

       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships to more

than 200 scholarship recipients;

       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter’s Henry Arthur Callis Scholarship was established

with an initial gift of $5,000 by Dr. Henry Arthur Callis, a physician, professor, and founder of

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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated is awarded to high achieving high school seniors in the

city with financial need;

        WHEREAS, the Henry Arthur Callis Academy is a comprehensive, self-empowering

college readiness program designed to support African American young men interested in going

to college;

       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated

continue to make a difference in the lives of many in our community, and have made a positive

impact on our youth with their Go-To High School, Go-to-College Program, Project Alpha, A

Voteless People is a Hopeless People, and Brother's Keeper;

       WHEREAS, in 1993, the Mu Lambda Chapter extended the Go-To-High School, Go-to-

College Program vision with the development of an educational, cultural, and social program for

young men in the 12th grade;

        WHEREAS, notable members of the Mu Lambda Chapter include Bro. Marion S. Barry

Jr., Former Mayor of Washington, D.C. and the first Chairman of the Student Nonviolent

Coordinating Committee; Bro. Vincent Orange, Former Ward 5 D.C. Councilmember; Bro.

Walter M. Booker, Former Chairman, Howard University Department of Pharmacology; Bro.

Herman R. Branson, Howard University Medical School Professor, noted biophysicist, and past

president of Central State and Lincoln Universities; Bro. Horace G. Dawson, Jr., former

Ambassador to Botswana and Director of the Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center at

Howard University; Bro. M. Christopher Brown, former President of Alcorn State and Kentucky

State University; Bro. Bobby W. Austin, Vice President for University Relations and

Communications at the University of the District of Columbia; and

       WHEREAS, the Mu Lambda Chapter will celebrate its centennial entitled the

Renaissance Centennial Celebration on September 30, 2023.

        RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

resolution may be cited as the “Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated Mu Lambda Chapter

Centennial Recognition Resolution of 2023”.

       Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors recognizes and honors Alpha Phi

Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and its members for their dedication, commitment and

contribution to the District of Columbia.

       Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately.

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