Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 17 – Spring Issue, 2022

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 18:12:50 GMT

President's Corner

Chaplain's Ward

Welcome the 11th H.O.U.R.!

Alpha Rho Lambda's newest line, The 11th H.O.U.R., crossed March 19th, 2022. Their Probate Show was held on March 24th, 2022 at Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys (thanks Bro. Tai Cornute for the procurement and use of the venue!).

Dean: Bro. Antwaun Stanley (Alpha Rho Lambda, Spring '14)
ADP: Bro. Mo Wright (Beta Iota, Spring '99)

1. Marion Meadows - GRAND PH1NALE
2. Dontavius Jarrells - POLICEY CHANGE
3. Jonathan Pope - RH3TORICIAN
4. David Johnson - PHORTHOUGHT
5. Marvin Pennyman - ATONEMENT
6. Dontae Reynolds - BEDROCK
7. Steven Thomas - PROMETHEAN
8. Kevin Randolph - ODYSSEY
9. Craig Conley - INTERPHACE
10. Elon Simms - QUIET STORM
11. Doug Worthington - SENT11NEL

Welcome to Alpha Land, bruhs!

Xi Chi Chapter Reactivated After 14 Years

Alpha Rho Lambda chapter also played an integral part in reactivating Xi Chi chapter at Wittenburg University, which, until this year, hadn't crossed a line since 2008. On March 19th, 2022, C.O.L.D. Illusionz crossed the burning sands alongside the 11th H.O.U.R.

Dean: Bro. Ezekiel Peebles (Alpha Rho Lambda, Spring '04)

ADP: Darnell Davis (Xi Chi, Spring '08)

1. Branden Nicholas - L.A.S.1.K.

Congrats to young Bro. Nicholas, who is a Sophomore at Wittenburg University studying Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Psychology, with plans on becoming a practicing Ophthalmologist. The young man is not only the only Alpha on campus, but also is the only D9 student in general, so it's paramount we pour into this brother and facilitate his endeavors on growing not only the Alpha population at Wittenburg, but also D9 orgs overall.

And congrats to Xi Chi chapter as well on their reactivation!

Alpha Day at the Capitol 2022

Recap provided by Bro. Raphael Davis-Williams

“Stand up! Step up!”

That is the clarion call sounded by our Oh Most Noble founding Jewel Brother Vertner Woodson Tandy back in 1936, marshalling our brotherhood to become, and remain, actively engaged in the civic, political, and electoral processes that govern every aspect of our lives. On March 30, 2022, more than one hundred thirty brothers from across the Ohio District of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. converged on the Ohio State House in Columbus, Ohio in emphatic response to Jewel Tandy’s call to civic action and engagement. And brothers did not waste a second of this golden opportunity to impress upon Ohio lawmakers the urgency and specificity of needs spanning the spectrum of Ohio’s Black communities.

Former Democratic National Committee Vice-Chair Brother Michael Blake ignited the day at breakfast with a soul-stirring echo of Brother Jewel Tandy’s call to action. He then drew a direct connection between the political and social climate of the era when Brother Jewel Tandy issued his call to action to the brotherhood, to the political and social climate Black Ohioans are experiencing today in 2022.

Brother Blake’s powerful and inspiring admonition set the tone for the rest of the day. Under the banner of our dear fraternity’s “Go-To-High School, Go-To-College” program, the brothers engaged with education and teachers’ union leaders, as well as State Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo), to press them on one of the district’s legislative priorities: improving educational outcomes across the state for Black students. Sen. Fedor committed to fiercely fighting to kill proposed legislation that would restrict Ohio educators’ ability to teach the historically and factually-accurate details of the story of the African‑American experience in the United States dating back to the 17th century. Brother Dr. Jack Thomas, President of Central State University, one of two HBCUs in Ohio, participated in the discussion as well, with a focus on increasing state funding to both Central State and Wilberforce University (the other HBCU located in Ohio, and the oldest HBCU in the nation).

Economic empowerment for Ohio’s Black citizens and Black-owned businesses also sparked thoughtful and serious conversation between the brothers and the governor’s Minority Business Development Division. One of the primary issues brought up specifically were the current plans to include, incorporate, and ensure Black Ohioans share equally and equitably in the once-in-a-generation economic windfall ahead for the Buckeye State, as Intel Corporation is choosing Ohio as its destination to build the largest computer chip manufacturing facility in history. The Ohio District brothers stressed to the governor’s representatives that, as strong advocates for Black businesses and business opportunities, Alpha Phi Alpha will hold both the state and Intel accountable for creating genuine and systemic equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging across all aspects of this venture – from contractors, subcontractors, and vendors to decision-making C‑Suite executives.

The entire Ohio State House buzzed with palpable excitement as the men of Alpha made their way through the hallways interacting with lawmakers – and also with several hard-working support staff of the Capitol, many of whom were Black. The staff made a point to share with brothers how proud and thrilled they were to witness such a rare sight: dozens of professional Black men conducting the people’s business in the hallowed halls of the Ohio State House. Following brief remarks and the presentation to the brothers of a proclamation declaring March 30, 2022 Alpha Day at The Capitol by Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted (R), both the Ohio House and Senate paused their floor activities to recognize the brothers of the Ohio District who filled the galleries of both chambers. On the House side, Brother Representative Dontavius Jarrells (D-District 25) and Brother Representative Willis Blackshear, Jr. (D-District 39) introduced the brothers from the floor; on the Senate side, Brother Dr. Senator Vernon Sykes (D‑Akron) did the honors.

By all measures, the day could only be described as a resounding success. The brothers of the Ohio District accomplished precisely what they set out to do: make an unequivocal, unambiguous statement that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is, today in 2022 and in the years ahead, heeding the nearly century’s old call of our Oh Most Noble Jewel Brother Tandy to “stand up” and “step up” to make our voices meaningfully heard as active participants in our American democracy.

All Politics, Including International Conflicts, Are Local

by Bro. Raphael Davis-Williams

Alpha Rho Lambda in Columbus's 2022 MLK March

The City of Columbus's annual MLK March fell on a day where the temperature was 23 degrees Fahrenheit, with a wind chill temperature of 10 degrees, but that still did not stop Alpha Rho Lambda chapter from stepping out and representing the brotherhood in great number. 15-20 brothers showed up, and not only participated in the march, but also facilitated voter registration amongst the civilian crowd that was present for the event as well. Way to show out, brothers!

ARL Top Golf Outing

On March 20th, the Social Committee of Alpha Rho Lambda planned and hosted a Top Golf outing for brothers to come out, tee off, and fellowship. The weather was nice, 20-25 brothers showed up in total, and a good time was had by all.

Make sure you come out for the next fellowship outing: Brotherhood Smoke on April 23rd at La Chaveta Lounge from 3pm - 5pm (BYOB) . Also be sure to stay on the lookout for all future Social Committee events for the chapter!

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 16 – Spring Issue, 2021

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:43:40 GMT

The President's Corner

The Chaplain's Ward

COVID-19 Vaccines and Our Return to Normalcy

'From Chaos to Community':

Exploring the Role of Religion in Social Justice Movements

Alpha Rho Lambda's Education Foundation:

40 Years of Excellence

Merry Christmas!

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 18:35:00 GMT

Merry Christmas!

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

Happy Holidays from the Junior Esquires!

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 03:09:00 GMT

On behalf of the Junior Esquires Academy committee and the Alpha Rho Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., we wish you all Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year!

Happy Holidays from the Junior Esquires!

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

Happy 91st Charter Day!

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 13:21:00 GMT

Happy 91st Charter Day!

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

Mistletoe Reminiscence: See You in 2021!

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 02:00:19 GMT

The brothers of Alpha Rho Lambda chapter would like to thank each and every one of you that have participated in our annual Mistletoe party over these last 10 years!

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to cancel this year’s function. So here’s a small video (below) just to reminisce on the Mistletoes of years’ past and to get you all excited for next year when we come back better than ever!

Chapter Statement on Shooting Death of Casey Goodson Jr.

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 01:51:59 GMT

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For Immediate Release:

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. ALPHA RHO LAMBDA CHAPTER

DECRIES THE SHOOTING DEATH OF ANOTHER BLACK MAN BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

[COLUMBUS, OHIO December 10, 2020] – The leadership of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter located in Columbus, Ohio decries the shooting death of Casey Goodson, Jr., a 23 year old Black man, killed by a Franklin County sheriff’s deputy here in Columbus. Mr. Goodson was shot multiple times while entering his own home, following a dentist appointment, with only keys and sandwiches in his hands.

While the details continue to be investigated, we struggle to find the right words that meet the trauma, the terror and the travesty of this unnecessary act of violence. The weight of this inconceivable trend of violence that bears on this community is only a small measure of the pain and suffering that Mr. Goodson’s family is currently experiencing. We mourn with them in their loss of a son, a grandson, a brother, a friend and a neighbor.

As servants of this community and leaders for transformational change and community uplift, we cannot allow any institution that exists with the purpose of serving and protecting our community to render us powerless. We demand justice. We demand accountability. We demand procedural changes that directly impact the outcomes of these extrajudicial killings at the hands of law enforcement officers.

We will be actively engaging with local representatives, advisory groups, and review boards to exercise our power to bring about the change our community so desperately needs so that other families, and our entire community, does not have to be subjected to these unconscionable acts of violence.

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Since its chartering in 1929, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter has been active in the greater Columbus area by providing leadership development and community advocacy via the Fraternity’s national and local initiatives.

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For more information, please contact Chapter President Mr. Luke Fedlam at AlphaColumbusInfo@gmail.com .

Congrats to our 2020-21 Founders’ Day Awards Winners!

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 01:40:45 GMT

During our virtual Founders’ Day celebration last night, our chapter president Bro. Luke Fedlam presented ARL’s annual Founders’ Day Awards to brothers in our chapter who go above and beyond to embody the spirit of fraternity and service. Congrats to all the following brothers! ⁣
⁣
• Theodore M. Berry Award — Bro. Nathaniel Stewart⁣
• Outstanding Neophyte Award — Bro. Chase Moore⁣
• Brother of the Year Award — Bro. David Ford⁣
• President’s Award — Bro. Rodney Blount

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 15 – ISSUE 1, Service & Advocacy Edition 2020

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 22:34:00 GMT

The President’s Corner

With early voting here in Ohio, our Brothers shifted their focus to encourage early voting by making phone calls, engaging in social media and, ultimately, organizing a March on Morse. The March on Morse in was conducted in partnership with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services. Brothers marched from Job & Family Services across Morse Road to the Franklin County Board of Elections where they passed out snacks, water and encouraging words to hundreds of people standing in line to cast their early votes. The response of the community was incredibly positive as many people who were not familiar with our Fraternity asked about who and what Alpha is all about. It is this work, Brothers, that truly exemplifies the mission of our dear Fraternity.

Brothers, this was great work in support of the VPHP initiative. The good news, however, is that there is more work to come as we serve and advocate for our communities. The Civic Endeavors Committee is fired up and ready to go. Their work is not ending now that the election is over; in fact, it is just beginning. Stay tuned and get involved!

Onward and upward brothers.

Bro. President Luke Fedlam

Chaplain’s Ward

Greetings Brothers,

I want to thank my phenomenal Alpha Rho Lambda brothers for your outstanding support of myself in my role as Chaplain, but most especially for your passion in helping other brothers. I miss seeing all of you in person, but I am grateful that we have Zoom and other virtual points of contact to assist us in our communication. 2020 has proven to be one of the most challenging years to date as we battle COVID-19 as well as battling the terrible side effects from bad governing and partisan politics. However, there is a balm in Gilead. Brothers have actively participated in the voter awareness process and worked to ensure that democracy and equality prevails in our city and nation. I am glad to play a role in connecting Alpha Rho Lambda to the Columbus Unit of the NAACP and I urge all brothers to join the NAACP to continue the great civic work of both organizations.

I am excited to announce that on October 21, my office in conjunction with the ARL exec Board, launched the first ARL Spiritual Wellness Check-in on Oct. 21, 2020. It was a great success as several brothers came together providing testimonies and encouragement. The ARL Spiritual Wellness Check-in will be held every 3 ^rd Wednesday at 7pm . Additionally, I encourage brothers to continue to check in on our sick and distressed brothers. Brothers, if you know of brothers who are sick, in distress, or who have passed away, please let me or the My Brothers’ Keeper Committee know as soon as you find out so I can respond in a timely manner. In addition, if brothers are doing well and would like prayer/counsel, please let me know as well as there are so many good things going on for Columbus area brothers. I will continue to keep all of our brothers and families in our prayers for prosperity, healing, strength, and wisdom.

Let’s particularly keep the families in prayer of our deceased brothers since the last publication including Bros. Rev. Ward Parham, Robert Short, Dr. Luther Ike, Nathaniel Angel, Sylvester Angel, Charles “Ed” Smith (PMARVP), Rev. Joseph Lowery, Rev. C.T. Vivian, Gus Ridgel (PMWRVP), Ron Russell (Past National Sergeant-at-Arms), Sharron Anderson (PMWARVP), and Past General President James R. Williams. These brothers were giants in our communities and truly reflected the values of Alpha men and more importantly, men of God. “As our Good Shepherd, Heavenly Father, we know you will lead us beside quiet places and restore our soul and body. We trust you and want to follow your leading. Help us to welcome this time not as an interruption in our carefully planned schedule, but as an opportunity to draw strength and nourishment for the journey ahead. You are our healer and our Great Physician. We look to you and give thanks for the promises in your Word that assure us of your presence and your help.

Amen!

Fraternally,

Bro. Roderick “Rodney” Q. Blount, Jr.

Chaplain

ARL Launches New Jr. Esquires Academy Program

The longstanding flagship Alpha Esquires program, created in 1987, is a youth development group sponsored by Alpha Rho Lambda Chapter consisting of young men from the Franklin County area who are in grades 9-12. The group objectives are to involve the young men in programs in leadership development training, career awareness, community involvement, educational planning, communication skills and social awareness. Now, as of October 2020, a brand new program has been initiated with a focus on middle school young men.

On Sunday, October 4th, 2020, 18 male middle school students were inducted into the Junior Esquires Academy (JAE) program for its inaugural year. The induction ceremony was held in-person in a socially distanced, mask-enforced setting. Parents were in attendance watching on the sidelines as their sons were being inducted, along with various brothers, committee members, and executive board members as well.

In a similar scope to the Alpha Esquires program, the Jr. Esquires will learn leadership, communication, and other skills that will enrich their foundations of manhood. “I heard about the program through my husband’s cousin who’s an AKA, and she’s good friends with John Gore [ARL member]. I’m excited for him to have role models within the men of Alpha for him to learn from” says Deidre Woods, mother of JAE inductee Gregory Woods Jr. When asked what he seeks to gain the most from the program, Gregory states “I want to learn skills such as being more responsible, and to build relationships with the other boys in the program and the Alphas as well”.

There are a few brothers in the chapter who sought for their own sons to go through the program themselves, one of them being Bro. Aaron Martin. “I got a little emotional watching Isaiah put on that Jr. Esquires shirt, remembering how I used to put ‘Future Alpha’ shirts on him. I’m happy that he wants to be associated with that group of exceptional men who will run the program (some who have known him his whole life), and that he wants to build relationships with like-minded young men in the program”. Isiah Martin remarks that the program would be a good opportunity to prepare him for being an Alpha Esquire. “I plan on giving back to the community by helping to take care of the environment, such as picking up litter. That, along with being in the Jr. Esquires program, will help build me a good reputation that will set me up for the future” he adds.

The Junior Esquires Academy program is well underway, and under the guise of co-committee chairs Bro. Henry Savage and Bro. Ezekiel Peebles (Immediate Past President of ARL), the program will make its mark and aid in the development of young men for years to come.

Being a Black Father in 2020

Written by Bro. Richard Randolph II

“Are you serious…”

These are the words my 11-year-old daughter uttered in a soft voice while hearing about the killing of Rayshard Brooks. It was just weeks before this incident when I was sitting in my living room talking to my son and daughter about the killing of George Floyd and the purpose of the protests that followed. You see, as a father one of the most important jobs I own (with pride) is being a protector; I must say that this year (2020) has challenged my conviction around being a protector of my family; knowing that at any given moment I could be another hashtag and have one of the greatest blessings given to me of being a father, stripped away.

The weekend before we received the stay at home order here in Ohio, me and my family were in Louisville, KY celebrating my father getting married. This weekend celebration was also met with the traumatic news of the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police officers. The same weekend that we were sharing in a joyous occasion, was the same weekend we shared sorrow, and frustration. While on the drive home back from Louisville, me and wife began to think through how will we explain what happened to Breonna to our kids? How will this impact our daughter knowing that she heard about the news at the same time we did? And on top of that, how do we begin preparing for the shut down due to the pandemic?

Being black in America; we are often met with the added burden of facing a reality where we have to work twice as hard to make it in America. This was no exception when it came to being a black father; that weekend I was faced with the added burden of not only explaining the pandemic to my children but also, having a discussion around the killing of Breonna Taylor. As a black father during this time of civil unrest and a worldwide pandemic; exhaustion often settles in. I have battled with exhaustion both mentally and physically this year but I know that the work I am doing with investing in my children to teach them how to navigate through such a time like this is needed and it’s a battle that I will continue to fight.

As a family, we have experienced events together this year that will be life-long memories. The protests we have attended together, the community gatherings, the zoom calls with extended family, the evenings of endless board games, the evenings of karaoke in the living room; these memories coupled with the evenings where we all just shared in tears of sadness and frustration are all memories that will help in my children’s growth as full human-beings who are proud in their identity and unapologetic in their beliefs.

“Are you serious…”, were the words that uttered from my daughter’s mouth the night Rayshard Brooks was murdered. The words that followed are what give me hope that I am trudging down the right path as a father, and those words that she uttered next were; “we can’t stop fighting for what is right”. This year has brought forth a range of emotions I have never experienced before as a father, but this was the inspiration I needed to keep pressing forward, this was the hope we needed as a family to never stop fighting for what is right.

Fraternally,

Bro. Randolph

ARL’s Voter Engagement Plan and How It Succeeded

This recent general election was one of, if not the biggest that the United States has ever seen. ARL’s Civic Endeavors committee, led by Bro. Nate Stewart, did a sensational job of educating the masses on the importance on voting, mobilizing individuals to go vote, and creating a foundation that ushers in a new level of emphasis on not just general elections, but the local and primary elections as well.

Bro. Nate Stewart, in conjunction with Bro. Curt Walker, started the blueprint for his voter engagement plan by watching other organizations within the Columbus community that focus on voting (such as the Women’s League of Voters) host events, and then mapping out a gameplan that modified the national ΑΦΑ’s voter objectives, which are: education, registration, and mobilization.

The ‘modification’ aspect was necessary due to today’s climate where everything is virtual, whereas activities hosted by the chapter in the past have been heavily reliant on face-to-face interaction. One of these modifications was the implementation of the social media campaign. Given current events and the ongoing pandemic, this was the best way to reach the masses and keep them educated on a consistent basis. The main advantage was that a large majority of individuals have access to social media and engage in it daily, whether it be through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc., so this allowed a wide audience to be reached. The biggest and most successful installment in the social media campaign was the “Why We Vote” video (found here ), which went so far as being featured on a local news station.

Partnerships were a big help in the execution of the voter engagement plan. Partners included NAACP, NPHC, and non-partisan groups such as Columbus Stand Up and Columbus Urban League. There was an emphasis on unity and working together, rather than years’ past where organizations operated in in a self-focused manner and had their own agendas. A key (no pun intended) partnership was with Keys to Black Wealth (KTBW), a national summit dedicated to building and sustaining generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap. KTBW, hosted by Bro. David DeBerry II, gave ARL a 15-minute platform that allowed us to speak about our efforts and convey to a national audience about the importance of voting (especially early voting), how critical it is, and things to look out for. It was an essential partnership in regards to spreading awareness of voting.

Once the partnerships were set up, the next step was to focus on specific populations. A couple of the more important populations were the senior population and the re-entry population. The senior population was one of the most impacted groups in regards to voting this year due to COVID and the fear of the virus itself, which would in turn diminish the amount of voter turnout for the group. As it pertains to the re-entry population, individuals with a felony on their record get discouraged when it comes to voting as they feel that their right to vote has been dissolved. This, however, is not the case, as Ohio is one of the select states that allow those with a past felony to vote due to special provisions within the state. By encouraging seniors to vote via mail-in ballots, and educating the re-entry group on the special arrangements they can utilize to make their votes count, the Civic Endeavors committee aided in the increased voter turnout within the city of Columbus.

On October 24th, ARL and its Civic Endeavors committee had its biggest event of the election season, which was the March on Morse event. This initiative consisted of having numerous people within the Columbus community meet up at the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services to enjoy coffee, breakfast, and music before heading over to the Board of Election Office (a mere 7-minute walk away) in waves to facilitate voter turnout and encouragement. In addition, to the amenities at the Department of Job and Family Services, brothers of ARL also walked up and down the long line of early votes handing out water, juice, and snacks to all the families, friends, and individuals waiting to vote. This event was a huge success and had over 7,000 views on Facebook, which can be seen here .

Now the election is over, the work is still not done. ARL is looking to start a community conversation series focused on educating our community between election cycles and holding our candidates that we put in office accountable while they’re serving their terms. In addition, the chapter looks to create a stronger voting block within the Black community, and making sure that we are well represented in the city of Columbus and the state of Ohio as a whole. With Bros. Nate Stewart and Curt Walker at the helm, ARL and its Civic Endeavors committee is making major strides in the emphasis of voter education and turnout, and you can rest assured that we will place ourselves on the forefront of representation on civic matters.

Young Black Voters Matter

Written by Bro. Dr. Curtis Walker Jr.

The United States Presidential Election presents an opportunity for American citizens to choose the direction of governance for the next four years. And yet, voting means many different things to as many people. Some people choose to vote because, to them a vote represents the power to elect their leaders. Others may choose to vote because of the history of disenfranchisement and suppression that limited the power of those who came before them. Some may even choose not to vote because they have lost faith in the power that voting has to impact their daily circumstances. Young voters, in particular, are told they have the responsibilities of a citizen, once they become eligible to vote. In return for the newly appointed duties, young voters want their voices heard and assurance that they have a seat at the table that decides both their future and their today. Over the past few weeks I had the chance to speak with two young black female voters who reflected on their reasons for voting, the engagement of their peers, and their plans to stay engaged after the election.

1) Reasons for voting :

Interviewee 1 : I am a first time voter and granddaughter of an immigrant and the people who are in office are speaking for me and creating policies for me that is against me and I’d like to change that.

Interviewee 2 : I am a first time voter, and I voted for myself and my community and although some people are discouraged from voting because they feel like they don’t have a say, I feel like it’s just one person who can change a lot of the dynamic of policy and your immediate community. There have been a lot of historical people who led the way over time who have made those strides and informed us on how to vote so it’s always necessary to take that information or we’ll continue to see history repeat itself.

2) Importance of the issues spoken or not spoken to:

Interviewee 1 : It was important to me that the president focused on rolling back the climate action plan and other environmental policies and refused to condemn white supremacy.

Interviewee 2 : It was important to me to speak on Race, the actual issue of race when it comes to black and brown people and immigrants to the country. The candidates would revert back to the economy (in the debate) and I question whether both candidates actually addressed the issue to the best of their ability.
The economy and healthcare as well. For the economy to really function people need to have substantial healthcare and that comes to health and wellness. You can’t expect people to work and do labor if they’re not receiving the proper healthcare. The economy is definitely important, but I feel it should be focused on what people are needing during these times due to COVID, due to the mental anguish of racial discrimination people continue to face.

3) Driving factors of disengagement in the young voter demographic :

Interviewee 1 : I believe the shift from being 17 and considered a child and being 18 and being considered an adult is really sudden and it doesn’t feel like my voice is being heard as an adult. It doesn’t feel like our voices matter in conversation. But I think that’s changing.

Interviewee 2 : I believe the people around you have influences and if you don’t have family members or teachers that encourage you to vote, and vote properly, that can discourage people. I believe the concept of “You are the Future; you are the future direction”, but with them in office, we’re not the future. We’re here now and we’re ready to change, but if you continue to say we’re the future, we’re never going to be prepared and never going to be equipped to even respond. Your voice is a response to how you feel and if you’ve had somebody trying to shush you or say “you’re the future until I get out of office”, but we’re here now and we see what’s going on and we have things to talk about. And a lot of people feel like they can’t vote. Especially if they’ve been incarcerated, they may not know about their rights to retain their voter status after being imprisoned.

4) How you will stay engaged after voting:

Interviewee 1 : I will continue to watch the news and multiple news sources because I know they can be biased. I’m currently involved in different programs within the community, and a lot of the people who I speak with within these programs inform me on a lot of local news. I’ll continue to be involved in the community and listening to others.

Interviewee 2 : I believe bridging the gaps between the different stakeholders is very important; watching what different groups of people are doing, how they are addressing these concerns. I believe it’s important to vote in all elections. You also must have an awareness. In order for me to be aware I have to do research. I need to see what politicians are talking about. I need to see what educators are talking about, and what information are they providing me. How can I can use that information for my benefit, and sometimes even call into question some of the information I’m receiving. Some people don’t know what to believe. You have social media and people who are just spewing stuff that they want a candidate to change based off of using the internet in a derogatory way. I believe connecting and staying connected, bridging the gap between these people and these stakeholders will help me stay engaged, I can’t solely rely on all these people, I have to do internal research myself.

5) Convincing your peers that voting and staying engaged is important to their lives and future:

Interviewee 1 : I would encourage them to be involved in the community and listen to others. The people I’m around don’t listen to other people’s perspectives and how their life may be different and how even our policy is affecting them different. I think it’s important to just listen to people in your community and just talk to other people.

Interviewee 2 : I believe young people; we like to see results. Connecting through social media is a good way to get young voters out. Everyone is always on their phones, especially during the pandemic, finding different ways to get their attention, making it fun, enjoyable, helping them recognize the importance of getting out to vote and mobilizing. There are a lot of adults who see themselves has having seniority towards youth and that can discourage people from saying things. For example, if we’re having a community council meeting or having a live webinar instead of being just solely adults talking on what is important in the community, having the youth talk (18-25) who can speak for yourself. It’s more than having something on the agenda. Continue to encourage young people to use their voices. Meeting them where they’re at. If they’re on social media go to social media. But you need people who are in those age ranges to be helping you. You need someone internal to that [youth community] to have that perspective.

6) Fear of a connection between results of the election and increased reports of violence:

Interviewee 1 : Social media is going to fuel the violence because it’s been divisive since the past election – I am worried about that for two reasons. First, how difficult it is to remove false information from social media and stop it from being spread around, social media algorithms show you exactly what you want to see reinforcing anyone’s ideas that they previously had. And second, if people want to believe that one or the other side is more violent, they’ll see that through inaccurately reported, false news, about violence on one side or the other.

Interviewee 2 : I don’t fear but I am a bit concerned. Things have gotten more tense during campaigning and leading up to the election. I’m concerned about what this will look like and the state of the nation. The biggest thing is that we’re no longer able to remove the personal feelings from politics. So people are democrats or republicans but what is the rooted in and based on the politics and ideology, they are trying to marginalize or harm through hatred toward a class or social group. There has been concerns in the back of people’s mind, will history repeat itself and what would that look like.

7) Biden has won a close, emotionally tense election. If you could tell the Biden Administration one thing to focus on to demonstrate leadership of a diverse (if not divided) country, what would you say?

Interviewee 1 : I would tell the Biden administration to figure out a way to promote effective communication with others and understanding each other without judgement.

Interviewee 2 : If I could tell the Biden Administration to focus on one thing it would be restorative justice for minority communities: black and brown communities. We need to have minorities not only in positions of power but be afforded the opportunity to make long term investments for their families and communities. This is not the sole responsibility of the Biden Administration but it is a start. It seems to be a never ending debate about issues but limited policy implementation to combat issues such as the wealth gap in America. I hope this administration can focus on redirecting the focus to minority priorities, concerns, and well-being. Biden is focused on unity for all of humanity which is important alongside equal opportunities and distinguishing the importance of equity for low income and marginalized communities.

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 15 – ISSUE 1, Service & Advocacy Edition 2020

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

March on Morse

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 00:33:56 GMT

Thank you to everyone who came out this past weekend for our March on Morse voting event! The turnout between the voters (the line was wrapped around the complex!) and the plethora of brothers handing out water, juice, and snacks made this event very successful!

Bro. Jack Sullivan Jr.’s Op-Ed piece: Ohio’s use of death penalty perpetuates racial injustice

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 00:22:07 GMT

Bro. Jack Sullivan Jr. is one of ARL’s newest members. His Op-Ed was published by The Columbus Dispatch (official column found here ).

I t is becoming more difficult for people to ignore or deny the obvious racism that has infected our nation. This contaminant has been found in secular and sacred realms as well as private and public institutions. Anyone who describes herself or himself as being committed to justice and the common good must be willing to do the hard work of analyzing the systems of our nation to determine the influence and impact racism has had on institutional practices and outcomes.

Careful consideration of the historic and recent judicial and extrajudicial executions and disfigurations of Black and brown bodies at the hands of racist elements among law enforcement personnel requires such analysis to include the criminal justice system and the grisly practice of capital punishment.

As I am a Black man, a faith leader and the brother of a murder victim, these discussions about how we can heal our broken justice system are deeply important and personal to me. So it was with great interest that I read The Death Penalty Information Center’s newly released report, “Enduring Justice: The Persistence of Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Death Penalty.” The findings of this report confirmed what we know to be true — throughout U.S. history, the death penalty has been applied disproportionately based on race. Ohio is no exception.

Laws that explicitly set forth different punishments based on race started in the colonial period through Reconstruction. Even under ostensibly race-neutral laws, racial disparities continued. The use of the death penalty for rape provides one striking example: Of the 455 people executed for rape between 1930 and 1972, 89.1% were Black.

Despite the declining usage of the death penalty, racial disparities in the system have continued and have even become worse in some cases. For example, in 1980, 45.6% of death row prisoners were people of color, and this percentage has increased every decade. By 2019, this percentage had risen to 57.8%.

Year after year, studies have found significant evidence of the influence of race on Ohio’s death penalty sentencing. This year, the Columbia Human Rights Law Review published a study of 599 aggravated murder charges in Hamilton County from January 1992 to August 2017. The researchers found “that a case with at least one white victim faced odds of being charged capitally that were 4.54 times the odds of a similarly situated case with no white victims.”

Ohio’s use of the death penalty is part of an ongoing pattern of racial injustice that must be addressed. While people of color total less than 15% of Ohio’s population, they make up 58% of Ohio’s death row, 33% of those executed and 66% of those exonerated. However, when Ohio executions have taken place, 75% of the time it has involved a white victim, thus indicating which lives Ohio has deemed worthy of the ultimate punishment.

Most states provide insufficient support to family members of homicide victims, and many cases go unsolved for years. Pursuing the death penalty in a handful of cases creates a hierarchy of victims, with these cases receiving a disproportionate amount of state and local resources. (The death penalty is sought far more frequently when the victim is white). Meanwhile, the needs of most victim families remain unmet.

Ohio’s victim compensation fund provided economic assistance in 313 homicide cases in 2018, only 3.23% of the applications it accepts. This means Ohio ranks 46th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia in providing victim family members with economic support. Instead of spending millions on our ineffective, racist capital punishment system, Ohio needs to prioritize supporting all impacted by violence.

Ending Ohio’s death penalty is a way to re-prioritize crime survivors, and it is a necessary change to ensure we do not continue perpetuating an outdated system that is riddled with racism. We know we need change and racial healing in Ohio and across our country. I believe abolishing Ohio’s death penalty is an important piece of that work. Now is the time, Ohio.

The Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr. is the executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches and the immediate past governing board chairperson of Ohioans to Stop Executions.

African American Male Wellness Walk

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 00:07:58 GMT

ARL definitely showed out today for the African American Male Wellness Walk (AAMWW)! We had brothers walking downtown as well as the Gahanna area. Alpha Esquires came out to represent as well.

Thank you to all who participated! (Gallery below)

Congrats to Six Graduating Esquires!

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 23:44:36 GMT

Congratulations to six of our Alpha Esquires, our youth development group, for graduating high school and furthering their education to the collegiate level:⁣
⁣
• Myles Smith – The Ohio State University⁣
• Ajae Talison – Central State University⁣
• Ian Enders – Miami University⁣
• Josiah Arlen – Bowling Green State University⁣
• Seth Alexander – University of Cincinnati⁣
• Sir Alamo Thomas – Taking a Gap Year

Our Stand Against Police Brutality

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 23:42:27 GMT

This is only the first step Alpha Rho Lambda is taking against police brutality within our local community and our society at large. You can be sure to expect strides from the chapter in utilizing our platform to take definitive action towards making positive change in our community.

#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter #AlwaysReady2Lead

Bro. Luke Fedlam named Partner at Porter Wright law firm

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 00:38:56 GMT

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP is a full-service law firm with roots dating back as far as 1846. Today, the company bolsters 200+ attorneys across the nation among 8 different locations; and we are pleased to announce that Alpha Rho Lambda chapter’s very own Vice President, Bro. Luke Fedlam, has just been named as one of the partners of the firm!

Bro. Fedlam has been working for Porter Wright since 2017. In addition to his position, Luke also runs his own advisory company (Anamoly Sports Group — focusing on the professional development of athletes), chairs Porter Wright’s Diverse Attorney Network, and sits on various boards within the city of Columbus, such as the Board of Trustees of Capital University and the Board of Governors for the Columbus Bar Association, just to name a couple.

See the official Press Release from Porter Wright here . Bro. Fedlam, we couldn’t be more proud of you!

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 14 – ISSUE 1, Academic Edition 2019

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 06:54:00 GMT

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 14 – ISSUE 1, Academic Edition 2019

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 13 – ISSUE 2, Brotherhood Edition 2018

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 03:31:00 GMT

Brotherhood…

“Our family trees are not the same; we both have a different mother

And yet I’d proudly tell the world that this man is my brother”

Brotherhood is never as simple as it sounds. It is a journey that takes place from the time we express interest in the pursuit of fraternity life. There is an innate desire that stirs in our soul that speaks to the need to be associated with those that are like minded. If we are lucky, we will get the opportunity to forge ahead with those that desire more intimate contacts than their classroom studies permit or those that desire more intimate contacts than their occupational and personal endeavors permit.

We must never lose sight of the fact that the current state of the world we live in mimics the same issues that existed during the time of 1905-1906. The pursuit of Brotherhood carried our brothers back then and it will be brotherhood that carries us now.

Brothers, I encourage you to consider the potential and impact that can be gained from those that join in the fight against hatred, bigotry, and the discountenance of all evil. The 138 ^th house that is Alpha Rho Lambda is made up of brothers that are young at heart, seasoned in wisdom, and spry in their quest of leadership. The road that lies ahead requires brothers that are of character, scholarship, fellowship and devotion to the cause.

So brothers as we begin the fraternal year, I implore you to remember that brotherhood is invaluable and that regardless of your walk of life or your plight your place will forever be associated with the black and old gold, we call Alpha.

— Bro. Pres. Ezekiel Peebles

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The Power of Banding as Brothers

The Kaepernick Story…

These were the words Nike donned as the caption for their most recent controversial campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll know that Colin Kaepernick, a once star (if only short-lived) quarterback in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers who led his team to the Super Bowl in only his Sophomore season, decided to kneel for the National Anthem in the final preseason game of the 2016 season on Sept. 1, 2016 as a means to protest racial injustice amidst the police brutality events that were scouring the nation. That one kneel sparked the beginning of a movement where protestors everywhere are now kneeling to also join Kaepernick in his plight of showing dissatisfaction towards the current racial tensions of our country. However, it would also spark the onset of the fall of Kaepernick’s NFL career, as slowly but surely he would be blackballed by the league, it’s front office, general manager, and coaches, to the point where he would not be signed by any team, despite possessing the skill and abilities to be a backup quarterback for a team at the utmost very least.

To any patriotic individual within question, Kaepernick is Public Enemy #1…

When Kaepernick kneeled, he became the nation’s biggest controversy. Self-recorded videos, internet comments, articles, almost every media form imaginable was utilized by conservative individuals who decided to evoke their extreme disgust at the “nerve” Kaepernick had to kneel during something as sacred and dear to the United States as the National Anthem. They seen it not only as disrespect to the country, but also to all the men and women who serve and once-served in the military and put their lives on the line for our freedom. From 2016 to now, even two years later, Kaepernick’s name is still touted as a traitor to our country by the American patriot population.

And as of a month ago, Sept. 2018 — exactly two years after the initial kneel, Nike decided to use that fuel of hatred as a means to push the envelope on their “Just Do It” campaign by releasing the infamous Kaepernick ad mentioned above. This controversial ad would enrage many nationalist across the United States to the point where hundreds (if not thousands) of videos were uploaded showing themselves burning their Nike attire, shoes, and accessories as a means to show their dissatisfaction and protest against the stance Nike decided to take on the Kaepernick issue. A few days following this, media outlets would note that Nike’s stock had dropped 3% almost immediately, as a way to show that it was a poor business move on Nike’s part…

However, what they failed to realize is, the entire stock market was down during that time period, and that Nike’s stock was merely following the trend of the market. If you looked at Puma and Adidas’s stocks, you’d see that they, too, were down at that time by a similar percentage. So it’s safe to say the Nike ad had no overt bearing on the company’s stock performance. In fact, quite contrarily, Nike’s online sales would see a 31% increase (TIME Magazine) immediately following the release of the ad, which displays the shift of the population of the country who are vying to show their alignment with Nike and endorse them for their decision.

And you can’t foster change without being uncomfortable.

— Bro. Chris Ray

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Parliamentarian’s Tip

Did it seem that the chair didn’t keep order?…

Was there a feeling that something was “railroaded”?…

Did it take an interminable amount of time to settle the simplest things?…

What was wrong???

GLAD YOU ASKED.

9 times out of 10, the fundamentals of Robert’s Rules of Order were either not adhered to, or members did not know their rights and privileges as a member. Below are some basic parliamentary rules you should know; therefore, you won’t have to continue suffer through a non-productive meeting.

— Bro. John Gore

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AALA Class of 2018 — The New Initiates

The program ran from December of last year up through this past August. The program featured two dynamic speakers: Audra Bohannan (Senior Partner at Korn Ferry) and Donna James (Managing Director at Lardon & Associates, LLC).

According to Bro. Robert Shorty:

“I work in Human Resources so not only have I been a huge part of developing leadership programs, but I’ve participated in quite a few as well. So initially I was a bit jaded by hearing the sound of yet another development program… but this was a completely unique experience in that it’s really about YOU — you are the project. It’s really about putting yourself in the seat to really understand what gaps, what things do you need to do as a professional to get where you want to go. It really makes you take the time to dive deep ask yourself ‘What is it that I want, why do I want it, and what am I willing to pay to get it?’

It was an amazing program that genuinely challenges you to think about what it is that you want both personally and professionally out of life, and what you’re willing to do to get it. It truly stretches your thinking, to challenge yourself to make the biggest impact of what you want out of your life, and doing the least amount of work to achieve that. It’s about efficacy . It’s all about your own personal development and what it is you want to do, and getting to that point as efficiently as possible.”

The program is highly selective; no more than 20 people get selected in each cohort. Nominations are required, and over 100 nominations have already been submitted for the next cycle in 2019. It’s not uncommon for people have to apply multiple times before being accepted into the program.

AALA strives to have a good balance in their cohort selections: private sector, public sector, non-profit sector, entrepreneurial, etc. Age range is very diverse too. The youngest person in this graduating cohort was 27, while the oldest was in his or her mid-50s. There’s also a fairly even ratio between men and women.

Interesting enough, there were six men of Alpha in total whom graduated. Besides the three aforementioned above, there was also Bros. John Davis, Marshall Shorts, and Spencer Palmer.

According to Bro. Tyrome Alexander:

“African American Leadership Academy (AALA) has taught me the importance of living life by design and not by default!

This experience has provided a framework for self-reflection, a lens to critically review career and personal pursuits, and a better understanding of the unique circumstances African American professionals encounter in the workplace. It forced me to be uncomfortable and vulnerable… something I needed to go through in order for growth.

This journey has resulted in the tools to be strategic and deliberate in my next professional and personal pursuits; the importance of “self-care” ; development of new friendships with 19 amazing fellows and the opportunity grow and strengthen the bonds of Alpha Brotherhood with John Davis, Spencer Palmer, Marshall Shorts, Robert Shorty, Almar Walter and Mo Wright.

I would encourage any brother interested in developing a clearer sense of personal and professional strengths, confidence to effectively identity and pursue your passions and an increase commitment to shaping our community, seek out the African American Leadership Academy.”

The program utilized Strength Finders to help you identify what your major strengths are as a leader. The philosophy is that sometimes we try to focus on how to improve on our weaknesses, but Strength Finder says don’t focus do much on your weakness – your weakness is always going to be your weakness. Rather, you should focus on your strengths and identify how you can use them to get what you want and get stuff done rather than trying to employ something you’re not great at.

The program is completely free. You have to be recommended. The only people who can recommend are past Fellows (people who have already graduated the program), Board members, Sponsors can also potentially nominate as well. You’re only allocated 2 sponsees per cycle.

For people who are trying to supercharge their leadership potential, this program is something that can definitely assist you in that capacity.

— Bro. Chris Ray

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The Impact of a Helping Hand

During past chapter president Bro. Corey Posey’s administration (2014-16), a brother by the name of Kevin Williams had a wife who was the Postmaster for the Pickerington post office. He worked in Law Enforcement, so he himself was working in another state. One day, his wife fell ill, so he reached out to the general office and explained that his wife needed assistance but he was too far away himself to help her and didn’t know of anyone that lived in Columbus on which he could call upon, so he requested to be put in touch with the local chapter over Columbus in order to receive some support in helping to relocate his wife. The general office proceeded to give him Bro. Posey’s number, and upon reaching out to Bro. Posey with his plea, Posey responded with “Absolutely. We’ll show up, we’ll have brothers out there and we’ll get her moved”.

Later that week, brothers came out in large numbers to help move the wife’s belongings out of her house and prepare her for her move. So many brothers showed up that they packed the wife’s entire house up in only 60 mins. In fact, brothers were even still showing up afterwards and there was nothing for them to do because all the work had already been done.

Fast forward to last month at the Executive Leadership Retreat in Toronto, where Bro. Kevin was giving a presentation on Law Enforcement Safety, and he ended his presentation with the story above and let the entire congregation know how much ARL had helped him out and how eternally grateful he was. He was almost in tears as he was telling this story because it was such a show of the strength of Alpha to be able to have so many brothers stop what they were doing to come pack his wife’s house up and not even know him or his wife at all, but “because of our bond in Alpha that we’re going to come support you regardless”. He said that’s why he LOVES Alpha Rho Lambda.

The message is the power of brotherhood and the power of Alpha. That ONE good deed from way back in 2015 still resonates with him and has impacted in such a great way. He couldn’t get his wife. He didn’t have anywhere to go or anyone he personally knew that he could call on to help. So he found refuge in his brothers in Alpha. And that will forever leave a lasting impression with him.

— Bro. Chris Ray

ARL ILLUMINATOR VOL. 13 – ISSUE 2, Brotherhood Edition 2018

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

ARL Illuminator Vol.. 13, 1: The Academic Issue

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 21:24:00 GMT

ARL Illuminator Vol.. 13, 1: The Academic Issue

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH

The Illuminator Vol. 12 ISS 2

Sat, 03 Dec 2016 22:11:00 GMT

The Illuminator Vol. 12 ISS 2

Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Rho Lambda, Columbus, OH