Senate Resolution No. 2860

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMEMORATING the 111th Anniversary of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those fraternal organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 111th Anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.,
to be celebrated at its Site Beautification in conjunction with Urban
Strategies, Inc., on Saturday, July 22, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York,
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first intercollegiate fraternity founded by
African Americans; the organization has a rich history of community
involvement through its national programs and special outreach projects;
and

WHEREAS, Remaining true to its founding precepts, Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity stimulates the ambition of its members; prepares 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 aids downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social,
economic and intellectual status; and

WHEREAS, The Alpha Kappa chapter was chartered in 1922, on the
campus of Springfield and Amherst Colleges; the 32nd chapter of Alpha,
it has had a proud history of providing academic and cultural events on
each of the campuses as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and New York,
New York; and

WHEREAS, To broaden the bond of brotherhood beyond college, Alpha
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. established the Alpha Kappa Chapter Alumni
Association in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its extensive history, Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc. has had numerous prominent members including, Reverend
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, David N.
Dinkins, Duke Ellington, John J. Johnson, Jesse Owens, Humbert Humphrey,
Paul Robeson, Andrew Young and John Hope Franklin; and

WHEREAS, To address issues of homelessness, illiteracy, unemployment
and health awareness, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. focuses its
efforts on notoriously underserved communities such as Brownsville, East
New York, Flatbush and Redhook, Brooklyn; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of chairman, Samuel Walker
III, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., has taken positions of leadership
to lay a firm foundation for the organization's principles of
scholarship, good moral character and the uplifting of humanity; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend
the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., past and present,
who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of
life for the community it serves; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 111th Anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Samuel Walker III, Chairman, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,
Inc.