APCAA Fall Digest 2024
This edition of the APCAA Digest features updates on 42 Brothers from the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and their professional developments, transitions, artistic pursuits, industry projects, awards, and recognitions.
Also — we chronicle our Morehouse Homecoming 2024 Tailgate Experience, showcase our new series: “APCAA Thought Leaders In Action,” issue tributes to Brothers entering Omega Chapter (including former Morehouse College Provost and Acting President Bro. Dr. Willis B. Sheftall Fall 1961), and provide an exclusive FIRST VIEWING of the latest acquisitions for The Alpha Rho Chapter Collection at the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library.
[Of Note: APCAA Collection now includes original artifacts from the estates of Bros. Dr. Hugh M. Gloster (Fall 1930), AP Charter Member Rev. Henry J.C. Bowden (Eta Lambda Fall 1922), Hon. Maynard Holbrook Jackson (Spring 1956), former Morehouse College Board Chairman Willie “Flash” Davis (Fall 1954), Atlanta civil rights activist Albert Miles Davis (Fall 1936), Charlie J. Moreland (Fall 1948), APCAA Co-Founder Henry A. Stewart (Spring 1999), Officer James A. Jackson (Fall 1937), Kenneth “Bosco” Gene Bostic (Spring 1980), former AP Advisor Nathaniel C. Veale (Eta Lambda Fall 1972), APCAA Founder & President BMaynard Scarborough (Fall 1980), and the Psi Chapter Alumni Association of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc./Morehouse College]
APCAA Staff
This restricted donation to the APCAA’s B.O.L.D. Centennial Scholarship Program was made possible by the stewardship of Bro. Harry E. Johnson Jr. (Spring 2005) who continues to build upon his leadership level support of the association prior to, and during the chapter’s Centennial year. The grant developed in coordination with Angela Johnson — Henry’s wife and President & Founder of the Coalition of Black Excellence (CBE). Founded in 2018, CBE is an all-volunteer run nonprofit organization whose mission is to unify and elevate the Black community.
APCAA's Chief Scholastic Officer Bro. Robert P. Williams (Spring 1999) is the principal author of the association's scholarship fund blueprint which provides direct funding for Morehouse College tuition for incoming Men of Morehouse.
2024 Alpha Rho Chapter's HC2024 Centennial Tailgate Experience + Spelman College HC2024 Market Friday
APCAA Staff
In anticipation of the final significant gathering of Alpha Rho Men during our Centennial year, the chapter undergrads orchestrated an elevated tailgate experience for the upwards of 250 members who returned to the Morehouse College campus for APEX — The Tailgate. With the expert leadership from alumni Bros. Jason L. Miles (Fall 2002), Torri M.K. Rodney (Fall 2023), Kareem V. Hawthorne (Spring 2005), Alumni Engagement Vice President Henry M. Goodgame (Fall 1981), and others, the "hood" delivered a first-rate tailgate experience worthy of our year-end participation!
ALPHA RHO CHAPTER ANNIVERSARY LINES!
ALPHA RHO HC2024 HONORABLE LINE MENTIONS!
ALPHA RHO HC2024 AROUND THE HORN!
Alpha Rho Chapter Slides Into Homecoming Season With Duo First Place Step Team Trophies
APCAA Staff
Not only did the undergrad step team deliver a first place win at Spelman College's Market Friday on homecoming eve, they also scored with the winning performance earlier in the month on the road, and a stop at Mu Omicron Chapter's step show invitational at Valdosta State University.
Early 2000's Star Wide Receiver Kenneth Shaun Rodgers (Spring 2002) Inducted Into The Morehouse College Maroon Tiger Football Den Of Honor
By Bro. Michael J. Ward (Fall 2013) and APCAA Staff
The Inaugural Class of the Maroon Tiger Den of Honor was enshrined at halftime during the November 9th Morehouse College vs. Clark Atlanta University rivalry football game at B.T. Harvey Stadium. The Den of Honor, sponsored by the Morehouse College National Alumni Association recognizes former scholar athletes whose exemplary efforts on and off the field left an indelible mark on the football program and Morehouse College.
A two-time all-conference performer and a first-team Black Voices Quarterly All-American selection at wide receiver, Shaun still holds multiple receiving records at Morehouse. Some of his greatest performances include a 240-yard game against Kentucky State in 2002 and a 195-yard game against Albany State in 2001. A big play threat, Shaun scored touchdowns on plays of 80, 73, 64, 64, 48 (twice), 39, and 23 yards in his junior season. He finished his career with more than 2,000 receiving yards and an average of more than 20 yards per catch.
For his success on the field, Shaun is widely considered the greatest receiver in Morehouse football history.
The 2024 honorees are: Jason 'J-Rock' Bryant '93, Isiah "Zeke" Coats '63, Dr. Jimmie L. Davis Jr. '90, David "Juice" Graham '82, John Grant Jr. '03, Ramon Harewood '10, Isaac Keys '01, Alex "Sweet Feet" Percival '77, Shaun Rodgers '03, and John David Washington '06.
An MBA graduate in Investment Science from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Rodgers currently serves as Senior Vice President of Sales for SingleOps Landscaping Software.
A Pastor And Extra In A Spike Lee Film: Meet Georgia’s Newest HBCU President (Bro. Lester A. McCorn Spring 1986)
By Eric Stirgus www.ajc.com
Paine College’s board of trustees this week named the president of a nearby college as its new leader. The Rev. Lester A. McCorn, currently the president of Clinton College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, will become Paine’s president in January. Paine’s prior president, Cheryl Evans Jones, retired earlier this year. Both schools are historically Black colleges. Paine, located in Augusta, is a few miles from the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Master’s tournament.
Paine leaders said McCorn’s experience at Clinton College made him the ideal choice to lead their school. Paine officials said graduation rates and enrollment increased at Clinton College during McCorn’s seven-year tenure. The college added five new bachelor’s degree programs during McCorn’s presidency.
“Dr. McCorn is a proven leader who has demonstrated a clear and concise vision for institutional change, while identifying and executing a comprehensive plan designed to achieve successful student outcomes,” said Michael Thurmond, Paine’s board chairman who is also chief executive officer of DeKalb County government.
Here are five things to know about McCorn, according to biographical information and news reports:
He is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church who has pastored churches in Connecticut, Georgia and Maryland.
McCorn is a Morehouse College graduate. McCord was an intern to former U.S. Rep. John Lewis during his time at Morehouse.
McCorn was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. step team in the landmark 1988 Spike Lee film “School Daze.”
In 2021, McCorn announced Clinton College would waive its tuition costs for all full-time students to help with any financial burden students may be facing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, The State newspaper in South Carolina reported.
He’s served as a coach/mentor for the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University.
Renovated Black Box Theatre At Spelman College Dedicated In Honor Of Founder Bro. Carlton W. Molette (Fall 1957)
By Mirtha Donastorg www.ajc.com (abridged)
LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson helped spearhead the multimillion-dollar renovation of the fine arts building where their careers and relationship started. A few years ago, then-Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell approached Richardson Jackson with a plan to renovate the building and the funding the school would need to make it happen. Richardson Jackson took that plan to Jackson, and they made the seed donation that would underpin the renovation. The couple isn’t done with their support. Next spring they intend to host a gala aimed at raising $10 million to endow the drama department, Richardson Jackson said.
The LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center is in the John D. Rockefeller Fine Arts Building where the lobby is now an airy, two-story glass structure that used to be floors of offices and classrooms. Students, faculty and visitors are greeted with a massive mural of photos of Richardson Jackson and Jackson’s careers as well as archival pictures of the former Morehouse Spelman Players, the theater troupe the two were a part of. The Black Box Theater was dedicated in honor of its founder Carlton W. Molette.
Along the bottom of the lobby mural (above) are 850 names of the contributors and people who took part in Spelman’s theater department going back to the 1920s, pulled from old playbills and other documents, according to the mural artist Quintin Jackson.
Morehouse alumnus and filmmaker Spike Lee, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and famed playwright and Spelman alumnus Pearl Cleage were some of the stars who attended the mural’s unveiling Thursday evening.
While Lee was a college student, he saw Richardson Jackson and Jackson in theater at the Atlanta University Center and around the city, and he gravitated toward them.
Polo Program Exposes Young Black Men To Sport Of Kings (Bro. Robert P. Williams Spring 1999)
Sarah Ramsey remembers the day her son came home with exciting but odd news. Quinn Ramsey, a 14-year-old at B.E.S.T. Academy, where he plays football while fighting his way into an honors class, wanted to take up a new sport: polo. “My kids grew up playing traditional sports and I never would have thought polo would be one of them,” Sarah Ramsey said. “It is a traditionally white sport and I have never seen Black people play polo.”
Yet, on a recent sunny Sunday afternoon, Sarah Ramsey found herself at the luxurious Bouckaert Farm in Fairburn, wearing a floral dress to watch her son and his Black teammates from B.E.S.T. Academy take on a team from the prestigious Congressional Polo Club in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. “It is beautiful out here,” Sarah Ramsey said. “It’s something we would have never thought of.”
The idea of introducing a group of Black kids from Atlanta to the so-called “Sport of Kings” came from fashion designer and polo player Miguel Wilson. Wilson grew up in Washington, D.C., where his great-grandmother, who made about $11,000 a year, paid for his riding lessons. Wilson said it was on horse farms in Maryland that he was first exposed to white people.
Wilson said he always dreamed of building a network of high schools to grow the sport. The perfect place to start was B.E.S.T. Academy, the all-boys Atlanta public school started in 2007. There are 275 boys in the schools from grades six through 12. Most are African American. “I wanted to start our inaugural team at B.E.S.T. Academy because it is the exact demographic I want to serve most — underprivileged Black boys,” said Wilson, who worked with 100 Black Men of Atlanta to get the team going. “Black boys are the most underserved in our community. If you look at it from the standpoint of a finish line, they are the furthest away from an opportunity like this.”
The idea of the polo team at B.E.S.T. Academy predates first-year principal Robert Williams, but he is all-in. Last spring, 100% of the 40 graduating seniors were accepted into college, and programs like polo only enhance their experiences and resumes. “Anything that our students are interested in, we want to provide them opportunities to excel and be around professionals that can help accelerate them in that particular endeavor,” Williams said. “It is letting them know that anything is possible. No matter what their dream is, it is achievable.”
The B.E.S.T. Academy’s inaugural game against a seasoned team from the Congressional Polo Club in Maryland was the centerpiece of Wilson’s 7th Annual Atlanta Fashion and Polo Classic. At the start of the match, both teams marched in single-file lines to the middle of the 300-yard field. They were introduced and four players from each team were assigned a horse. Both teams cantered up and down the field, pushing the ball across the grass and navigating their horses while swinging mallets. A deejay doubled as the play-by-play announcer, keeping the crowd informed.
At the final whistle, B.E.S.T. Academy lost their first-ever polo match 5-0. That didn’t matter. They dismounted their horses, got food and drinks, and soaked in the moment as they watched the adult match. “This right here represents the American dream and a reality for a lot of people because it hasn’t been always real to most of us,” Wilson said. “This is something that gives us a glimpse of saying, ‘Maybe.’”
DreadHead Filmmakers Reach New Heights With Latest Viral Commercial For Nike Starring LeBron & Bronny James (Bro. Julien Turner Spring 2019)
By Bro. Michael J. Ward (Fall 2013) and APCAA Staff
The new Nike basketball commercial featuring LeBron and Bronny James, directed by Bro. Julien Turner (Jewel-AP-SPR19) and his younger brother, Justen. The duo, who co-founded Dreadhead Films, was featured in Forbes magazine’s 30 Under 30 list in 2023. Together, the two have partnered with Beats by Dre, Amazon, and Adidas; became the youngest filmmakers commissioned by Sesame Street in 2017; and have had their work featured in Good Morning America, the New York Times, CNN, and MTV.
Said Turner: "Excited to unveil our latest project as directors (Justen Turner), a tribute to the historic moment when LeBron James and his son played their first NBA game together, marking the first father-son duo in the league's history! So dope seeing the range of reactions to this. It was definitely a fun one. A heartfelt thank you to our family at INVISIBLE COLLECTIVE and the entire team for making this possible and to the Wieden + Kennedy team for trusting us with the vision. Who likes Fruity Pebbles?"
At Morehouse College, Julien earned his B.A. in Business Marketing as the top senior in the concentration while playing football and participating in the honors program at Morehouse.
Julien finished his career at Morehouse College as a 3x Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All Academic, All-Conference Linebacker, and 2019 Morehouse College Football Captain while on a 4-year full Morehouse academic ride. He was also member of the Morehouse College Honors Program, National Society of Leadership & Success, Beta Gamma Sigma society. Further, Julien is a member of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Julien has done some study at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and was recently promoted to Editorial Art Director at Hollister Co. At his very core, Julien is a storyteller. Whether in business, film, art, music, education, or performance, Julien hopes to bring light to the world through his stories and through the stories of others.
Bro. Jelani D. James (Spring 2009) Joins ARS Counsel, P.C. In Expansion Of Firm's Employment Law Practice
ARS Counsel, P.C. recently announced the expansion of their employment law practice with the addition of Jelani D. James as Of Counsel. Jelani is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in employment and civil rights law, particularly in advocating on behalf of employees in complex legal disputes.
With a diverse professional background, Jelani has worked in business, entertainment, government contracting, intellectual property, privacy rights, and technology, representing civil plaintiffs or criminal defense clients. His experience in high-stakes criminal defense and civil matters for high-profile clients and community leaders adds a valuable dimension to the firm's capabilities.
ARS Counsel, P.C.'s Principal Attorney Almuhtada R. Smith (Fall 2004) made the announcement. ⚖️
ETSF Board Member And Single-lunged Marathoner Jacob E. Qualls III (Spring 1999) Will Run The 2024 New York City Marathon For The Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation
Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation (ETSF) Board Member Jacob Qualls knows a thing or two about defying the odds. Qualls is a survivor who lost one of his lungs as a teenager. Despite his challenges, he’s training to run the 2024 New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3, 2024 in support of the ETSF. Funds raised for the 501c3 organization will provide scholarships and career programming for college-bound young Black men from Chicago, Illinois who have been impacted by gun violence.
More than 175 students and graduates across 30 colleges and universities have been aided by the Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation, since 2017. Named after Ezekiel Taylor, who was innocently killed by teenagers on Chicago's Southside, the foundation aims to empower, encourage and educate young Black males to ensure they make positive life decisions. Founded in 2016 by Ezekiel's only child, Tenisha Taylor Tidwell, the foundation has awarded thousands of college scholars.
Long-running NBC Network Crime Drama LAW & ORDER Features Guest Appearance Of Bro. Yaegel T. Welch (Spring 2000) In Season 24 Broadcast
APCAA Staff
Stage and screen actor Yaegel T. Welch guest starred in LAW & ORDER, Season 24 Episode 3 "Mirror Affect," available for streaming now on Peacock! In the episode which aired Oct 17, 2024, Welch portrays detective Ray Wallace." In the new episode, "Riley’s personal and professional lives clash when his brother is connected to a murder investigation. Price takes a chance on a witness who can testify to a hidden motive."
Welch's credits include: Broadway: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Play That Goes Wrong. National Tour: The Play That Goes Wrong. Off-Broadway: Fly, The Royale (Lincoln Center Theatre), The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek (Signature Theatre Company), The Revenger’s Tragedy (RedBull Theatre), The Acting Company, National Black Theatre. Regional: True Colors Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Studio Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, The Arden Theatre, Arkansas Rep, PlayMakers Rep, Seattle Rep. Company member: Everyman Theatre. TV: The Blacklist, Braindead, Madame Secretary, Elementary, Harlem, and Getaway. Education: BA, Morehouse College; MFA, Brandeis University; MFA, The George Washington University Academy for Classical Acting.
Morehouse College Welcomes Bro. Darren W. Armstrong (Fall 2003) To TRIO/Upward Bound Program
APCAA Staff
Bro. Darren Armstrong makes a brilliant return to Westview Drive with his appointment as the B. Program Coordinator, Educational Talent Search for the college's TRIO programs. The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programs identify students who show potential for success and provide encouragement, support, and assistance.
TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.
TRIO Programs are recognized as a superior system that prepares students for:
Successful completion of secondary education;
Admission into a post-secondary institution;
Retention and completion of post-secondary education;
Preparation for successful matriculation to a post-baccalaureate program.
10 Black Influential CMOs In Corporate America You Should Know (Bro. Maurice Cooper II Spring 1999)
Despite tighter purse strings post-COVID, corporations still allocate a significant portion of their budgets to their marketing departments. Indeed, Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) are significant players within any organization. Their sweeping influence includes overseeing the planning, development, and execution of all marketing and advertising initiatives. Marketing (which, of course, includes multicultural marketing) is more important than ever.
The profiles highlighted in this article spotlight 10 Black Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) and Chief-Marketers who are thriving in the field and are shaping strategy at some of the largest U.S. companies.
Maurice Cooper: Chief Customer Officer, Bath & Body Works:
Maurice Cooper’s role at Bath & Body Works involves much more than just marketing; it is about creating unique customer experiences for the brand’s passionate target market. He does this by executing a comprehensive strategy to elevate the brand through the development of personalized and connected end-to-end customer experiences.
Moreover, this has helped the brand stay relevant as a leader in the personal care industry. Before Bath & Body Works, Maurice Cooper was already an award-winning marketer and dynamic leader with a proven track record of driving significant growth for multi-billion dollar brands. At Wingstop, he led impressive same-store sales growth, increased brand awareness, and earned national recognition for his achievements. Previously, at Coca-Cola, he played a pivotal role in the success of Coke Zero, Sprite, and other key brands, launching innovative campaigns and loyalty programs.
ADWEEK's 2024 Brand Genius Winners Are Shaping The Future (Bro. Maurice Cooper II Spring 1999)
For nearly four decades, ADWEEK has been recognizing the brightest minds in branding and marketing with our highest honor, the Brand Genius award. Once given only to marketers, the 2024 class represents an evolution of who’s creating the buzz that lights up imaginations and drives growth for companies and communities.
Among this year’s winners are the people elevating women’s sports; the marketer embracing baseball’s legacy while reaching out to the next generation of fans; the chief brand officer turning Mattel into Hollywood’s new darling; and the Hilton marketer who finally got Paris herself into an ad for the hotel chain — and broke the TikTok mold. In short, 2024’s Brand Geniuses are looking beyond how things are and reaching for what could be: a world that’s more dynamic, equitable, and a whole lot of fun. — Eva Kis
Willow Bay And Bob Iger To Become Angel City's New Controlling Owners (Bro. Derrick A. Davis Fall 2010)
Los Angeles, CA — July 16, 2024 — Today, Angel City Football Club (ACFC) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Willow Bay, Dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, which will make Bay and Iger the new controlling owners of the Club following the closing of the transaction. Bay and Iger will acquire the controlling stake in ACFC at an Enterprise Value of $250 million, making it the most valuable women’s sports team in the world. Bay will serve on and have full control of the ACFC Board of Directors, will serve as the Controlling Owner for National Women’s Soccer League, LLC (NWSL) purposes and will represent ACFC on the NWSL’s Board of Governors. Bay and Iger will invest an additional $50 million to support the Club’s future growth.
Stated Davis: "I'm excited to share that I have joined Angel City Football Club as General Counsel, just as the team becomes the most valuable franchise in women's sports. This marks an exhilarating moment in sports history and I'm honored to be a part of it. Over the past three years at OneTeam Partners, I’ve had the privilege of working first-hand with the player’s associations and leagues across the National Women’s Soccer League, Women’s National Basketball Association, and U.S. Women’s National Team. Now, I'm even more eager to deepen my commitment to women’s sports, return to soccer at the club level and champion ACFC’s mission to use sport and entertainment to inspire progress and advance equity. Volemos!"
At Morehouse, Offset Leads Music Workshop, Shares Advice During Grammy U Event (Bro. Kennard L. Garrett Spring 1999)
By DeAsia Paige www.ajc.com (abridged)
Students, musicians and music professionals gathered at Morehouse’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center Friday night to hear Offset dissect his recent album “Set It Off.”
“I gotta present the story,” the Atlanta rapper said about his creative process. “As an artist, I have to paint the picture that I’m trying to tell to my team....when I work, it’s no structure to it. We just create and get in the lab. I’m very outspoken on my ideas.”
The September 20 event was hosted by Grammy U, a membership program within the Recording Academy that offers resources for emerging music professionals. The workshop, titled “Unwrapped,” included a panel conversation that revealed the storytelling and creative vision behind “Set It Off.” Friday marked Grammy U’s second “Unwrapped” program. In May, the organization hosted its first “Unwrapped” with singer Tori Kelly in Los Angeles.
“Set It Off” is the Atlanta rapper’s second studio album. Released in October, the 21-track LP included features from artists like Travis Scott, Don Toliver and Cardi B. On Friday, Offset was joined by his engineer JRich, producer Southside and fashion director SheShe Pendleton. The group offered insights behind “Set It Off” tracks “Say My Grace,” “On the River,” “Worth It,” “Fan,” and “Don’t You Lie.” “With this album, I felt like I had something to prove with me being by myself,” Offset said.
During the presentation for “On the River,” the album’s opening track, Offset and Southside discussed their close creative partnership, which they described as “brutally honest.” Southside is an Atlanta-based megaproducer who has made hit songs Future, Kanye West and Drake. He produced several tracks on “Set It Off.” Although Southside didn’t produce all the songs on the album, Offset said Southside still managed to provide sound guidance to ensure his friend and frequent collaborator had a great project. It was Southside who urged Offset to make “On the River” the album’s introduction.
“He can be brutally honest, too, and I don’t take it personal,” Southside said. “That’s our friendship, though. We’re real friends. I can pull up on him in the studio any time. That’s how we are. That’s how we’ve always been.”
Offset described the video shoots for his songs and detailed some of the very last-minute decisions that go into submitting an album to a label (Offset is currently signed to Motown Records). For example, the Don Toliver-assisted “Worth It” (the most popular song on “Set It Off”) was one of the final tracks to make the album. The song was originally a Don Toliver cut. Offset said Toliver initially didn’t like the song but later changed his mind.
Offset closed the event by thanking his fans for their continued support, especially in his hometown. “If you’re creative, you just got to be a creative,” Offset said. “When I say that, I mean that money doesn’t determine how far you’ll go. All of us standing up here started with zero, and maybe people were around saying this might not be the direction you should go (in), but if you really believe it in your heart and you know (your purpose), then you just have to continue creating.”
Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin (Spring 2002) Addressed Gun Violence In America At White House Executive Order Signing
www.birminghamal.gov (abridged)
September 24 2024 — Mayor Randall L. Woodfin joined President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the East Room of the White House today to address gun violence in America. Mayor Woodfin highlighted the horrific impact of gun violence in light of a mass shooting that occurred Saturday on the city’s Southside, leaving four dead and 17 wounded. Woodfin stood alongside President Biden as he signed an executive order to direct federal agencies to combat the emerging threats of machinegun conversion devices and un-serialized, 3D-printed firearms, as well as additional executive actions that advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda to reduce gun violence and save lives.
“This is a historic day in the fight against gun violence,” Woodfin said. “I want to offer my sincerest gratitude to President Biden and Vice President Harris for recognizing the importance of having federal support in this hard-fought battle. Our close partnership with the administration, our U.S. Attorney and federal law enforcement agencies based in Birmingham is critical.”
Since Saturday’s incident, Mayor Woodfin has convened with city, county, state, and federal law enforcement as well as met with area business owners in the 5 Points South entertainment district to discuss resources and solutions. He also continues to reach out to Saturday’s victims and their families offering the city’s condolences and support. Mayor Woodfin plans to immediately return to Birmingham and continue to unite external partners and secure support for law enforcement to find those responsible for Saturday’s violence and work to build a safer Birmingham.
“I will not rest until these murderers are brought to justice,” he said. “I am committed to doing everything within my power to make sure that criminals cannot gun down innocent people with no regard for life. I will continue to call for changes in our local, state, and federal systems and also lobby for resources. I do this in honor of those who were impacted on Saturday and for all of Birmingham’s victims of senseless gun violence.”
MLK Memorial Foundation Honors Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin (Spring 2002) At The 17th Annual "Leaders of Democracy Awards" During CBC Weekend
www.wusa9.com (abridged)
WASHINGTON, DC — Hundreds of movers and shakers gathered at the beginning of this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend for the 17th Annual Leaders of Democracy Awards Luncheon.
The event launched with the soul-stirring voice of gospel singer, songwriter and legend Kathy Taylor. She gave the crowd a rousing welcome with song and a message of hope. It continued to build with the recognition of this year’s honorees: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin, Congressman Andre Carson, Attorney and Corporate Leader Tony West and Michael Aroughetti, the CEO of ARES Management.
For nearly two decades, The Memorial Foundation has worked to honor leaders across a wide sphere who’ve dedicated their life’s work to serving others in their capacity as leaders who’ve worked to protect and preserve our democracy. The Memorial Foundation promotes awareness and upkeep of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall. It helped to oversee the vision and lead the fundraising efforts to make it possible. The memorial to one of America’s most prolific dreamers was dedicated back in 2011.
Speakers reminded attendees of their role in protecting and preserving our democracy. The luncheon takes place at the beginning of the four-day CBC Legislative Weekend which centers policy discussions and networking. In this election year, there is also a strong push to protect one of the most principal civic rights of American citizens – the right to vote.
Unites States District Court Eastern District of Missouri Appoints Bro. Brandon Lamar Jackson (Spring 2006) As Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel Attorney
Unites States District Court of Eastern District of Missouri's Chief District Judge Hon. Stephen R. Clark announced the appointment of attorney Brandon L. Jackson to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel on October 21, 2024. Jackson is the founding attorney of Jackson Law Firm, P.C., a personal injury and civil rights trial firm based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys are highly qualified, private attorneys who are appointed by the federal court to represent indigent defendants in criminal cases. These lawyers play a critical role in protecting a defendant’s constitutional rights, including their right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. Nationwide, more than 10,000 panel attorneys accept CJA assignments annually.
Most panel attorneys are solo practitioners or work in small to medium sized law firms, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO). Panel attorneys are paid at the statutory maximum hourly rate for their time, and use court funds to hire investigators, interpreters, and other necessary experts to prepare a defense. Panel attorneys also have access to AO’s Defender Services Office training and legal resources to ensure they can provide high-quality representation to CJA clients. Federal defender organizations also provide training and support for their local panel attorneys.
Fine-arts Program For Teens Finds Home In Edge District (Bro. Derek A. Fordjour, Delta Chi Spring 1993)
By Elle Perry www.dailymemphian.com
With its new headquarters, a Memphis organization hopes to open the doors to the visual art world to even more Memphis youth. Contemporary Arts Memphis is planning for a grand opening for its new space, located at 652 Marshall Ave., in late October. Derek Fordjour, CAM’s founder, said the organization hopes to become a community resource for any young person in Memphis who is serious about art.
“The goal is for students to not even have to buy their own supplies,” CAM executive director Derek Patterson said. “Canvas, paint, papers, anything. Ever. They should be able to come here and just work. That’s any student.” Patterson said the organization also hopes to employ local art teachers to teach classes. He’s the organization’s newly installed first executive director.
New York based, Memphis-born-and-raised painter and sculptor Fordjour launched CAM’s first fellowships in 2022. Each summer since then, 25-or-so Memphis-area students entering 11th and 12th grades enroll in CAM’s free four-week fellowship.
Through the program, students from charter, public and private schools spend three weeks in a sleepaway-style-camp located at the St. Columba Retreat Center. During the camp, students receive college-level instruction from artists at the University of Memphis, as well as time and space to create. During the final week of camp, the fellows go to New York to visit galleries, meet working artists and tour artist studios. The students then participate in year-round programming.
Fordjour’s own work can be found in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Miami’s Pérez Art Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and Harlem, New York’s Studio Museum. He graduated from Central High School, before attending Morehouse College, then Harvard University (for a master’s degree in art education) and Hunter College (for a master’s degree in painting).
Morehouse College Board of Trustees Appoints Bro. Frederick S. Humphries Jr. (Fall 1980) As Presidential Search Committee Chairman
Alumnus Frederick S. Humphries '83 has been officially appointed by the Morehouse College Board of Trustees as the chairman of the presidential search committee. His role will be to lead the process of selecting the college's 13th president.
Humphries serves as the Corporate Vice President of U.S Government Affairs (USGA) at Microsoft. He leads USGA in offering policy and regulatory knowledge, political involvement, and outreach to support the company’s advocacy objectives. Humphries is the primary public policy representative for Microsoft, both within the organization and externally, across federal, state, and civic matters. He engages with policymakers to highlight Microsoft’s role in promoting economic growth and job creation in the United States.
Humphries also oversees the Microsoft team responsible for engagement with the United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO), and he chairs the company’s Global Government Affairs Council, responsible for reviewing strategies and initiatives for Microsoft’s government affairs work worldwide. As part of his stewardship of a broad, multilateral team, Humphries sets the company’s government engagement strategy on the most pressing policy issues facing the technology industry to earn trust and adapt to regulation, enable inclusive economic growth, and use technology to solve big societal problems. This includes artificial intelligence, cloud computing, privacy, trade, cybersecurity, education, racial equity, immigration, and emerging technologies.
Bro. Harry E. Johnson Jr. (Spring 2005) Joins Board Of Directors At Oakland African American Chamber Of Commerce
Regarding his appointment, Johnson said: "As an East Bay resident and father of two, I'm deeply invested in fostering a thriving community where small businesses can flourish. My family sees these businesses as pillars of strength, and I'm committed to ensuring that remains true for generations to come. I'm excited to share that I have joined the board of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce. I am eager to leverage my network, advocacy expertise, and relationship-building skills to advance the Chamber's mission of empowering African American-owned businesses throughout Oakland."
OAACC was established in 2003 as a private non-profit organization whose mission is to advance economic opportunity and strengthen Oakland’s Black business community. They provide a number of services for our business associates and members including access to workshops, business development opportunities and advocacy. Members may also take advantage of business advising, notary and certificate of origin services.
2024 President's Lifetime Achievement Award Granted To Bro. Uzee Brown Jr. (Fall 1969) By 46th United States President Joseph R. Biden
APCAA Staff
President Joseph R. Biden has announced Bro. Uzee Brown, Jr. as a recipient of the 2024 President's Lifetime Achievement Award — the highest honor in the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program that recognizes citizens who contribute more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service to their communities over their lifetime. Brown, a native of Cowpens, South Carolina, is chair emeritas of the Department of Music at Morehouse College and director of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir.
He has enjoyed a diverse career in music, and the combination of his professional activities as singer/performer, composer/arranger, educator, and choir director has taken him to more than sixteen countries, including Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, Russia, five countries of Africa, and the Caribbean.
Dr. Brown is past president of the National Association of Negro Musicians. During his presidency he spearheaded the completion of the first official publication of a documentary history of the National Association of Negro Musicians by the Center for Black Music Research in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Brown is a respected educator and lecturer on African‑American music. For more than thirty years he has been immersed in researching and preserving the Negro spirituals. Recent commissions include a choral work for the 2004 Festival of New Music and Art in Ohio, and choral and instrumental works for the 2006 100th anniversary of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Bro. William A. "Bill" Clement (Fall 1961) Joins Board Of Directors For Midland Capital Holdings Corporation Following September 2024 Acquisition
William A. Clement, MBA '64 was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Midland Capital Holdings Corporation. Midland is the holding company for Midland Federal Savings and Loan Association.
Said Clement: "I am pleased to share that I was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Midland Capital Holdings Corporation. Midland is the holding company for Midland Federal Savings and Loan Association. As an investor in the acquisition group and subsequent to the purchase of Midland, I'm excited to assist in the new policy, direction and strategy for the holding company."
Clement is a former President and CEO of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Before joining Atlanta Life, Clement served as the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dobbs, Ram & Company. Clement is also a former Vice-President and Senior Credit Officer of Citizens Trust Bank and a former member of the Board of Directors of Radiant Systems, Inc.
Midland Capital Holdings Corporation (the "Company") (OTC Pink Marketplace: "MCPH"), the holding company of Midland Federal Savings and Loan Association ("Midland Federal" or the "Bank"), a federal savings and loan association headquartered in Bridgeview, Illinois, has been acquired by Midfed Acquisition Corp., a corporation headed by experienced bank executives and investors.
Bro. Patrick Carter (Spring 1999) Carter Eager To Lead Alcovy High School As New Athletic Director/Assistant Principal
By Garrett Pitts www.covnews.com
Excellence on the field and in the classroom is at the forefront for the Alcovy Tigers under new athletic director Patrick Carter. Carter took over as the school’s new athletic director and assistant principal early into the school year, but the plan to sustain a strong athletic program was put in place from the very beginning.
“I laid out my plan in terms of what the expectations and roles are for the athletic director and with also being the assistant principal and it meshed,” Carter said. “Thirteen days in, it is like drinking water from a fire hose as I like to say, but it has been great. It came about at the right time. Being a man of faith, it just spoke to me. I have enjoyed it greatly.”
Throughout the years, Carter has been involved with athletics and academics in many capacities. In 1996, Carter attended Morehouse on an athletic scholarship for football. Although his playing career may not have ended up the way he intended, Carter spoke and discussed the people he met along the way and the coaches specifically.
“I came here, played for four years at Morehouse. It was up and down — a turbulent time there. But, I was able to learn a lot from all my coaches,” Carter said. “In particular, Anthony Jones, Doug Williams, Todd Bowles who is now the head coach of the Bucs. He was my defensive coordinator. Mike Pitts who played at Alabama and spent some time in the NFL — God rest his soul, he was great. Even Derek Moore, who backed up Barry Sanders, was part of FCA while I was there. He is now the executive director of player and character development at South Carolina.”
BuildUp Students Give Back And Gain Leverage | Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge (Bro. David D. Hardin Jr. Spring 2008)
Meet some of the students and teachers at BuildUp Community School in Birmingham, Alabama. The unique high school prepares young people for a career in the building trades and launches them on a path to homeownership. BuildUp is a winner of the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge led by Enterprise with generous support from the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Build Up Birmingham and Beyond is a workforce development high school that provides students a robust education and paid work experience. The innovation equips young people for jobs and careers in the trades while preparing and empowering them to purchase a home in their historically disinvested communities. The result is a direct pathway to homeownership, economic mobility, and community stabilization.
Bro. George L. Lester III (Spring 2024) Joins Fellow Morehouse College Scholars At Harvard Business School's Summer Venture In Management Program
APCAA Staff
Four Morehouse Men, including George L. Lester III ’24, Gera Baano-Stewart II ’23, Porter Tynes III ’24, and Osco Williams III ’25, were chosen to take part in Harvard’s Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) in Boston, Massachusetts. Their selection for the SVMP at the Harvard Business School campus was based on their demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities at Morehouse College.
The SVMP is a unique one-week residential initiative designed to promote diversity and inclusivity in business education. It targets outstanding undergraduate and graduate students who exhibit leadership in their academic studies or communities.
Bro. Lester is now in his first year as an Equity Capital Markets Analyst at JPMorgan in New York City.
Alpha Rho Chapter's Step Team Kicks-off Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Third Quarterly Black Culture Movie Night Screening Of Spike Lee's "School Daze"
By Christopher A. Daniel www.AJC.com (abridged)
UATL, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s newly launched Black culture team, hosted its third quarterly Black Culture Movie Night at Plaza Theatre Tuesday evening with a public screening of Spike Lee’s 1988 feature film, “School Daze.” The classic HBCU coming-of-age story, full of music, satire and show-stopping choreography, is the filmmaker’s commentary on higher education and classism within the Black community. It stars Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, Jasmine Guy, Kyme, Ossie Davis, Kadeem Hardison and Samuel L. Jackson.
The evening kicked off with a 10-minute step routine performed by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., from Morehouse College. Dressed in black and gold fraternity jackets, they stomped, clapped and chanted onstage to songs like “Presidential” by Atlanta rap group YoungBloodz and “Wipe Me Down” by Trill Family.
UATL senior writer Ernie Suggs, wearing a Mission College T-shirt, moderated a live conversation before the screening, featuring actors Guy and Kyme, and “School Daze” choreographer Otis Sallid. The three panelists told stories about how “School Daze” changed their professional lives, and shared insights on the movie’s relevance in modern cinema and Black culture.
Sallid created dance routines for memorable musical sequences for performances of songs like “Be Alone Tonight” and “Good and Bad Hair.” He said working on the television series “Fame” helped him understand how to capture dancing on film. “I knew how to make it really pop,” the Juilliard-trained choreographer and Broadway veteran told the audience. “Spike was very open to let me go do what I do, and it came out really well.” The film, set at the fictional Mission College, was shot on the campuses of the Atlanta University Center.
Guy remembers the cast and crew’s responses when she and other dancers performed their steps during soundcheck for the first time. “We rose to the occasion, and those boys lost their minds,” she told the admiring crowd.
Guy, later starring as Whitley Gilbert in NBC’s hit HBCU-themed sitcom “A Different World,” grew up across the street from Morehouse College. The Emmy-winning actress and director said “School Daze” provided opportunities for emerging Black talent and showed Lee’s passion for Black culture. “It was his subtle way of getting the word out about Black college campuses,” Guy said.
Morehouse Homecoming 2024 Panel On Creative Directing Features Bro. James M. Jeter (Fall 2011) — Ralph Lauren Creative Director
APCAA Staff
The Morehouse Music Group recently hosted a panel presentation that allowed undergrads to explore the world of Creative Directing and hear from trailblazing alumni as part of the 2024 Morehouse College Homecoming experience at Morehouse College. Panelists provided insights on how to create the lifestyle you desire through design, branding, and entertainment.
James Jeter, who was recently elevated to serve as the first Black Creative Director in the 57-year legacy of the Ralph Lauren Polo label, was joined at the presentation by Morehouse College alums Thabiti Stephens (’14), Julian ‘Juju’ McLean (’14), and students as moderator Jonathan “Diz” Neal (‘26), and host Trysten Williams (‘25). Jeter, who has spent the entirety of his career with the brand, climbed the corporate ladder from intern to design associate to a lead designer of the watershed Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection by Polo Ralph Lauren that launched in 2022.
Bro. Aaron Hopkins (Fall 2013) Entrepreneurship And AI: Building Clinical Decision Support Responsibly
The use of generative AI platforms like OpenAI’s GPT-4 has spread rapidly into business, educational, and consumer software solutions in 2024. Yet compared with other industries, adoption in health care sometimes seems slow. In an interview for his Master of Health Care Innovation lab course, Addressing Challenges, Aaron Hopkins, MHSA talks with Dereck Paul, MD about the pace of technology adoption in health care, and about the advantages of entrepreneurship as a driver of health care innovation.
Aaron Hopkins, MHSA, is a healthcare innovator, strategist, and builder of health care solutions. Aaron currently works at Novo Nordisk in their US - Digital Innovation Hub where he helps to accelerate the digital transformation of the company via pilots and joint ventures, with digital health partners. Dereck Paul is the founder and CEO of Glass Health, a startup focused on AI-powered clinical decision support that combines generative AI with established clinical guidelines to identify potential diagnoses and draft clinical plans.
In the interview, the two discuss traditional pathways to achieve impact in health and health care: clinical practice, academic research, and health policy. And Paul explains why he has turned to entrepreneurship instead: because it can offer a faster route to impact. Whether or not a product succeeds at making an impact is determined by the entrepreneur, their team, and the market. Entrepreneurial ventures, in other words, are able to lead the way.
Bro. James P. Neal III (Spring 1986) Joins Panelists At 2024 Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit
Bro. James Neal was featured as a panelist at "Beyond the Divide: Best Practices & Collaborative Strategies in Digital Equity," the second annual Maryland Digital Equity Summit that brought together digital inclusion leaders, practitioners, and advocates from across the state to discuss critical issues, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions for bridging the digital divide in Maryland. In addition to this year's dynamic lineup of speakers and panel discussions, the selected Maryland Digital Equity Champion Award winners were recognized during a special awards ceremony.
James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and is a graduate of the MLIS program at the University of Maryland's College of Information. He worked for two years as a librarian with the Prince George's County Memorial Library System and maintains a strong interest in the future of public libraries. His background and experience include bookselling in several independent bookstores; volunteer service in the Peace Corps in Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo); graduate education in anthropology; publicity, marketing, editorial, and sales roles in academic and scholarly publishing; public school teaching; public relations; and user experience design for the web.
Currently as the Senior Program Officer at the Institute of Museum and Library Services, James manages and monitors a portfolio of grants and applications focused on building equitable digital communities, including open educational resources (OER), digital inclusion and digital equity, data privacy and security, open data, public interest/civic technology, and cybersecurity.
T. Rowe Price Canada Welcomes Bro. Tedd M. Alexander III (Fall 1981) As Keynote For Fall Symposium
Accredited Investors: Portfolio Specialist Tedd Alexander (at far right, above) recently spoke at the TD Fall symposium, an event that gathered advisors in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. It was insightful to hear Tedd’s perspectives on the markets and where there may be opportunities within the mid-cap space.
T. Rowe Price is a premiere global asset management organization, actively investing in opportunities to help people thrive in an evolving world. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, we provide a broad range of investment solutions across equity, fixed income, and multi-asset capabilities for clients around the world — from individuals to advisors to institutions to retirement plan sponsors.
Bro. Rodney Boyd Jr. (Fall 2011) Makes Panel Appearance At Chi Tech Collective's 2024 Black CS Success Summit
Bro. Rodney Boyd supported ChiTech Collective's's goal of increasing the retention of Black Computer Science talent in Chicago as a panelist at this year's "Black CS Success Summit." The transformative event was designed to empower Black computer science college students and high school students in Chicago and create a community amongst Black computer science majors in the area by exposing them to opportunities and networks within the city. Boyd is currently a Product Manager, Checkout, Returns & Exchange Journey at Under Armour.
This dynamic 3-day summit offered a wealth of opportunities, from career speed dating that exposed attendees to diverse tech roles beyond software engineering, to insights into entrepreneurship, local business engagement, and the Chicago startup scene. Workshops on open source contributions, resume strengthening, interview preparation, and networking essentials provided valuable skills, while a thrilling hackathon put their design thinking and teamwork to the test. The summit was a powerful platform for building connections, gaining skills and propelling careers in computer science.
ASLA 2024 Conference Welcomed Bro. DeShaun Bennett (Spring 2013) With Presentation On The Connection Between Landscape Architecture With Community Input
The ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture featured an innovative presentation by data scientist DeShaun Bennett entitled: "Canary in the Coal Mine: Reviving Landscape Architecture with Community Input." The October 2024 gathering is the largest annual gathering of landscape architecture and allied professional — all coming together to learn, connect, share knowledge, gain inspiration, and bring value to their practice. The ASLA 2024: InSight | Honoring our Past, Illuminating the Future conference offered sessions, professional development, networking opportunities, and a world-class EXPO featuring over 275 vendors showcasing cutting-edge products and services.
The landmark event celebrated the 125-year legacy of the American Society of Landscape Architects while setting sights on the future of the ever-evolving field of landscape architecture.
DeShaun (DB) Bennett is a data scientist and partner with Hummingbird Community Cooperation, a researcher, and equity subject matter expert with 15 years of experience in research, public & community engagement, and data analytics. His wide-ranging experience has afforded him the opportunity to become an expert in multiple areas, including program & policy evaluation, community engagement, and program design and implementation. DB has a vast amount of project experience ranging from work focused on AI governance and compliance for IBM’s Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic products, to designing, implementing, and assessing national program and frameworks. DB uses his diverse background to develop creative and data-based solutions.
Bro. James "Jay" Jackson (Spring 1984) Headlines October 2024 Rotary Club Of Oakland (California) Luncheon
The CEO of Alameda Health System, James Jackson, delivered the guest speaker address at the October 2024 Oakland Rotary Club luncheon. Jackson is the Chief Executive Officer for Alameda Health System. He oversees an integrated public health care system of five hospitals and four wellness centers with over 800 beds and 1,000 physicians. He previously served as COO worked at Seton Medical Center and has a BA in Economics from Morehouse College and a Masters in Public Health from U.C. Berkeley.
As the third oldest club in the world, Oakland Rotary has had an impact. As the first club to organize lunch meetings and an early and vocal proponent for the inclusion of women in Rotary, Oakland has launched Rotary traditions and initiatives that continue today.
HVTN Faith Initiative's Bro. Ulysses W. Burley III (Fall 2003) Takes Part In Vanderbilt University Medical Center's HIV Vaccine Trials Unit October Conference
The Vanderbilt University Medical Center's HIV Vaccine Trials Unit hosted a presentation by Dr. Ulysses Burley, Director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network Faith Initiative, as he explored how faith, spirituality, and HIV are creating powerful new partnerships. The HVTN Faith Initiative is a national program involving Faith Ambassadors across the U.S. who connect with diverse faith communities. They share the most current evidence-based information regarding HIV, vaccines, and antibodies being developed and tested in clinical trials for HIV prevention and treatment.
Dr. Ulysses W. Burley III is the founder of UBtheCURE, LLC, a Chicago-based consulting company on the intersection of faith, health, and human rights with expertise in HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. Although his formal training is in immunology and cancer epidemiology, Ulysses’ primary work has been in HIV and AIDS education, awareness, advocacy, and capacity building in the context of faith.
SBDC At University Of Georgia's Small Business Entertainment Summit: 'Booked and Busy' Features Bro. Kennard L. Garrett (Spring 1999)
Award winning, EMMY nominated producer, musician, arranger, educator, app developer, Recording Academy Trustee Kennard Garrett joined other entertainment industry leaders at the SBDC At University Of Georgia's Small Business' entertainment summit: "Booked and Busy." Whether your business supports the music industry, sports entertainment, tv/film production or all three, this event was your ultimate guide to navigating the bustling opportunities in the heart of Georgia.
From connecting with procurement channels to safeguarding your intellectual property in the age of AI, the intensive eight-hour workshop equipped participants with actionable strategies tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the entertainment sector.
Bro. Darren Wethers (Fall 1982) Leads Industry Forum On Transforming Regulatory Changes Into Opportunities At RISE Star Ratings Master Class Conference
RISE Star Ratings Master Class conference included a presentation by executive healthcare consultant Darren Wethers, a board-certified internal medicine physician and certified physician executive and CEO
Wethers Consulting, LLC. The conference offered a deep dive into how to improve your plan's Star ratings with content specifically curated for all professionals from Medicare Advantage health plans that touch quality measures.
Industry experts shared their insights on how to effectively implement upcoming Stars and quality changes to maintain or raise your current Star Rating, and take away a better understanding of why communication within your internal team and providers is the key to success.
One Village United's "Leveraging Loan Literacy Series" Features Bro. Adam L. Smith (Spring 1984) On Panel Event Supporting Growth Guidance For Small Businesses
APCAA Staff
One Village United, Inc. hosted an event in support of the growth of Black solopreneurs and microbusinesses by delivering targeted technical assistance and shared professional services that empower business owners to grow their operations and scale their businesses. Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Micro Enterprise Network ("GMEN") Adam L. Smith was joined on the October 2024 panel by Morehouse Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center Director Dr. Tiffany Rogers Bussey, and Alejandro Coss and Jewel Williams of LISC Atlanta.
In addition to the presentation from the panel of experts, One Village United provided interactive sessions that equipped the attendees with the tools and knowledge to successfully navigate the loan application process.
Our Village United, Inc. is a powerful force that is transforming the small business landscape in America. With a mission to provide culturally competent programs and community-centric wealth-building models, OVU aids small business owners across the country to build sustainable businesses. Through their unwavering dedication and commitment to innovation, OVU inspires a new generation of entrepreneurs to be community-centered in their pursuit of economic prosperity. Their core belief is that by serving the whole business, the entire community prospers economically and holistically.
MCABJ Founder Bro. Austin J. Byrdsell (Spring 2024) Taps Back In With Programming Following 2024 Graduation
APCAA Staff
The Morehouse College Association of Black Journalists (MCABJ) hosted a virtual workshop on the "Basics on Crafting Stories" as part of their 2024 SpelHouse Homecoming programming. MCABJ is a student affiliate chapter under The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Region III serving both Morehouse and Spelman colleges, and the Atlanta communities in their efforts advancing in journalism and multimedia. The idea of creating a college chapter was conceived in early 2023 when then-Morehouse senior Byrdsell, the first president and Founder of MCABJ, was introduced to Craig Allen Brown, the coordinator of the Journalism in Sports, Culture and Social Justice department and advisor for MCABJ.
Byrdsell is currently a reporter and development fellow at The Boston Globe Newspaper.
Bro. Ke’Aun Dent (Spring 2023) Joins Collegiate Voter Certification Panel In Advance Of Pivotal 2024 Presidential Election
APCAA Staff
In anticipation of the November 5 2024 election, poly-industry experts and Morehouse and Spelman students headlined a voter certification panel that included senior marketing major Ke’Aun Dent. “Understanding Voter Certification in Georgia,” was a collaboration between the Political Science Department, Refugee and Forced Migrations Minor, Spelman College NAACP, Spelman Social Justice Program, Spelman SGA, Spelman Democrats, and Morehouse Democrats and aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the voter certification process in Georgia. Attendees gained insight into how voter certification impacts electoral outcomes and civic participation, especially in the context of local and state elections. Through expert discussions and student perspectives, the event addressed both legal and social dimensions of voter certification, including challenges like voter suppression and access disparities.
Morehouse College senior Dent was chosen for the esteemed 2024 Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship program. The Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship Program is a beacon of collaboration between Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN), and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). This initiative was designed to pay homage to two iconic leaders, Frederick Douglass and Daniel O’Connell, whose legacies resonate deeply in freedom, equality, social justice, and economic mobility.
Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur-Business HUB Welcomes Bro. Grant Bennett's (Spring 2018) Workshop On Personal Branding
Founder of the The Two-Six Project and Lead Program Manager at Google, Grant Bennett, brought his industry acumen back to his hometown audience with the October 2024 workshop, "Your Path To Impact: Personal Branding with Greater Balance." The events was hosted by The Fayetteville-Cumberland Regional Entrepreneur-Business HUB which offers support and resources to provide on-site, one-stop assistance to help entrepreneurs launch new enterprises, small business training, access capital, obtain certifications, bonding, and win government contracts.
Additionally, the HUB Centers provide an array of services to established businesses including counseling in business planning; marketing and promotion; financial analysis; and accounting; procurement assistance program for companies that want to bid on university, local, state and federal government contracts.
Class Of 2020 Classmates Bros. Jaylon A. Johnson (Spring 2019) & Micah Holmes (Spring 2018) Featured In Homecoming 2024 Alumni Power Panel
APCAA Staff
"A 2020 Reunion: Reflections on Thriving Morehouse Men" saw the virtual return of 2020 classmates for a dynamic session for Morehouse students that brought together some of the most influential and inspiring alums, ready to share their stories, insights, and expertise. The 2024 homecoming discussion was packed with wisdom, motivation, and featured Alpha Rho Chapter Brothers Micah Holmes and Jaylon Johnson.
Holmes is a member of the MBA Class of 2025 at Harvard Business School. Johnson is a 2nd Year Dental Student at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and two-time class president.
Bro. Winston W. Roberts (Fall 2013) Contributes His AI Expertise To SLECoP's Access In Action Convening
The 2024 STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice (SLECoP) convening enacted Access in Action where passionate changemakers in STEM gathered to tackle challenges, build community and catalyze change during the October 2024 conference. Together, they co-created actionable solutions to bridge opportunity gaps and make STEM for all a reality. AI education strategist Winston Roberts provided expert analysis during the Chicago gathering.
As part of his insight, Roberts points out: "Our current education system is burning out teachers and preparing kids for industrial-era factory work. I am revolutionizing the system by empowering school leaders, district executives, and teachers to use AI in a simplified, transformative way. My approach equips students for tomorrow’s challenges and makes education future-proof."
APCAA Taps Centennial 23 AP Legacy Duo To Serve As 2024-25 Co-Guardians Of The Obelisk (Bros. Gavin A. Weddington + Daniel F. Buchanan Spring 2024)
By APCAA President BMaynard Scarborough I Fall 1980
In a first for the eight-year legacy of the APCAA's "Guardian Of The Obelisk" programming, two undergrad line brothers who carry deep chapter legacy roots have been named co-leads for the signature ceremonial programming on behalf of the 1,344 Morehouse College men who were initiated at the 38th house of Alpha.
Both new Guardians crossed into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as members of Alpha Rho Chapter's Spring 2024 line, The Centennial 23. Weddington, 23/Tail, is the son of Bro. Travis C. Weddington of the Enigmatic 17 (Spring 1986), and Buchanan, 10/Dime, has a chapter legacy that extends through his father Bro. Russell I. Buchanan of the Reviviscent 9 (Spring 1982), and further back to his grandfather, Bro. Isham Buchanan (Fall 1950).
Brothers Buchanan and Weddington follow in the AP footsteps of the inaugural Guardian of The Obelisk, Bakari Xavier Greene (2015), and subsequent designees Raheem Jessop (2016), Billy Cobb-Gulley (2017), Johnzel Hubert Smith (2018), Romen Rue Richardson (2019), Theodore Colbert IV (2021), and Rollin Fitzgerald Jackson (2023). The role of AP Guardian is bestowed upon an undergraduate chapter member annually, and is a legacy appointment made by the APCAA officers.
Bro. Caval Spearman (Spring 2024) Nabs Short Film Nod From 2024 NELAS International Film Festival
Creativity Justified Productions & Opinionation LLC's film short "Am I Okay?" was written, directed, and produced by Caval Spearman, Jr., a junior theatre major at Morehouse College. Nelas International Film Festival is a global stage for actors, filmmakers and content creators, an amazing international gathering of creative, cultural and media community with collaboration of multi-talented entertainment practitioners, social media influencers, filmmakers, film crew, content creators, screen actors and digital influencers. The festival is part of the Nelas Academy Awards (Nelas Awards) established in the 2003.
Nelas International Film Festival 2024 is expected to be the gathering of the who’s who in the entertainment, film, social media and the content creating industries three days under one roof. Accredited practitioners will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with each other to create new opportunities, develop tools for success and forge new alliances within the international film and entertainment industry.
Bro. Chad C.H. Sanders (Spring 2008) Self-Publishes First Children's Book: 'The Quest Cousins Go Camping'
This is a book for children ages 2-5 that will bring them along with the Quest Cousins as they learn the beauty of nature and the joy that comes with exploring, spending time with family and taking a break from technology. This book is for parents to read to their children daily to help them expand their growing vocabularies. The rhyme scheme in the writing and call-and-response animal noises will keep the book fresh for children and their parents each time they read the book together. And the children will see themselves and their own family and friends in the main characters, Baby Girl and Baby Boy.
This is a great book for parents teaching their children how to read. The themes in this book include adventure, family, loving animals, nature, exploring, curiosity, joy and freedom.
Bro. Fred Clark (Spring 2009) Joins Advertising Week Co-Founders To Ring The Nasdaq Opening During New York Advertising Week
To mark its 20th anniversary, Advertising Week New York visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. The globally recognized event (October 7-10, 2024) brought together thought leaders from across marketing, media, technology, and culture disciplines — and welcomed this year’s featured speakers, including Al Roker, Camila Cabello, Common, Drew Barrymore, Kenneth Cole, Michael Strahan and Terry Crews. In honor of the occasion, Matthew Scheckner, Chairman & Co-Founder of Advertising Week and Lance Pillersdorf, Co-Founder and CEO of Advertising Week, rang the Opening Bell.
Advertising Week’s best-in-class programming was truly unlike any other. Only Advertising Week presented presidents and CEOs; founders and futurists; influencers and Gen Z; all alongside lords, ladies, astronauts, pop-stars and Hollywood stars. The annual gathering provided an opportunity to learn from industry leaders, discover new trends and network with professionals from around the world — all woven together with their trademark sprinkling of culture, entertainment and surprise.
Alpha Rho Chapter Brothers Gather At Thomas J. Blocker Society's 2024 Living Legends Gala To Honor Award Recipient Dr. Harold W. Jordan (Fall 1955)
The Thomas J. Blocker Society Foundation's Living Legends Gala was an exceptional evening of elegance and celebration in honor some of our nation’s most prominent leaders in healthcare. This celebration paid tribute to distinguished honorees for their outstanding contributions in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and improving diversity in healthcare. The September 28th Living Legends Gala honored Dr. Harold Jordan, ‘58, well known Psychiatrist, former Department Chair at Meharry Medical College and the first black resident at Vanderbilt Medical Center, and Dr. Willie Underwood III, ‘88, an accomplished urologist, researcher and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association.
To date, thanks to the investment of alumni and corporate sponsors, the Society has grossed more than $1,000,000 with net proceeds benefiting the Blocker Society programming and the Morehouse College Office of Health Professions.
The Thomas J. Blocker Society is made up of alumni of Morehouse College, who serve in the Healthcare and Biomedical Science fields. Through summer programs, scholarships, guidance counseling and mentorship, the organization is committed to supporting Morehouse students entering advanced studies in healthcare, dentistry, pharmacy and biomedical sciences.
"Our Duty, Our Voice: Building Bridges To The Ballot Box For Gen Z" (Bro. Rollin F. Jackson Spring 2023)
By Dr. Keon N. Berry www.rollingout.com (abridged)
In a recent conversation with two emerging HBCU student leaders, RJ Jackson, SGA President at Morehouse College, and Simone Moales, SGA President at Spelman College, the importance of voter engagement on college campuses was discussed. Both students have used their platforms to encourage voting across the country, stressing the impact of mobilizing young Black voices in this pivotal election.
At colleges and universities, particularly HBCUs, it’s an opportunity to empower Gen Z students to exercise their fundamental civic duty and legal right, a right their ancestors fought for. Moreover, it’s a way to remind them of their power to impact the communities around them and the world at large. However, this call to action requires intentional and strategic engagement by faculty and staff.
As RJ Jackson, SGA President at Morehouse, put it, “Voting is our human right and fundamental duty to get out, make our voices heard, and beat them at the ballot box.” His words call attention to an ongoing need to support young voters, especially at HBCUs, where historical context, community connection, and a unique cultural ethos all play a role in shaping civic responsibility. While many students at HBCUs may feel a deep sense of social responsibility, not all are inherently politically active. Jackson emphasized the importance of students being “met where they are at” and faculty bridging the gap by initiating essential but sometimes difficult conversations, fostering spaces where political conversations feel both relevant and palatable.
Morehouse Students Enter Flipper Temple AME Church During The March To The Polls Event In Atlanta On Thursday, October 31, 2024 (Arvin Temkar / AJC.com)
Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association (APCAA) founded and maintains the only official research library collection of chapter artifacts within the entire roster of 686 active chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
New Acquisitions For The APCAA Archives From The Estate Of Bro. Charlie J. Moreland (Fall 1948):
APCAA Staff
Bro. Charlie J. Moreland held an active membership in metro-Atlanta's Eta Lambda graduate chapter at the time of his passing into Omega Chapter on December 12 2018. A Celebration of Life for was held in his honor on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Friendship Baptist Church, in Atlanta, GA.
Moreland earned a B. A. degree in Mathematics from Morehouse College in 1951. In 1954, he earned an M. A. degree in School Administration and Guidance from Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University). Brother Moreland served the community in many organizations, including being a member of several boards: Trustee Board, Morehouse College; Trustee Board, Morehouse School of Medicine; Trustee Board, Atlanta University Center, Inc.; Trustee Board, Atlanta Area Service for the Blind; Board of Directors, Eta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Board of Directors, Friendship Center Corporation; Member-at-Large, West Atlanta District, Boy Scouts of America, and Board of Directors, Southwest Community Hospital.
Established in 2023, Alpha Rho Chapter Alumni Association (APCAA) founded and maintains the only official research library collection of chapter artifacts within the entire roster of 686 active chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The entire 15-piece acquisition was made possible by Bro. Moreland's daughter, Lisa Moreland Overton (Spelman College c/o 1982), a Spring 1980 initiate of the Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and also the daughter of Dr. Lois B. Moreland, political scientist and Professor Emerita of Political Science at Spelman College.
ADDITIONAL NEW ACQUISITIONS:
Dr. Willis Braswell Sheftall Jr., 80 of Smyrna Georgia, former Provost of Morehouse College, passed away on November 4, 2024. He was born December 2, 1943, in Macon Georgia to Dr. and Mrs. Willis B. Sheftall, Sr.
His aunt, Professor Forbes, taught at Spelman and was the wife of Morehouse's athletic director Frank Forbes who was instrumental in his entrance to Morehouse to study economics at the age of 16.
He became a well-respected economist with a particular interest in the economics of higher education, local public finance, and U.S. Economic History. Dr. Sheftall served on the Atlanta's Mayor's Council of Economic Advisors, and boards of institutions such as Fisk University, American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, Atlanta Piedmont's Hospital, and Southeastern Library Network. He departed from Morehouse briefly to teach at Alabama State University and Georgia State University.
In 1981, he accepted the positions of Chairman of the economic departments and dean of the School of Business at Hampton University. He returned to Morehouse in 1986 and returned to the classroom as a professor of economics. Dr. Sheftall became Provost from 1999 to 2005, 2007 to 2011, and from 2012 to 2013, as well as acting President in 2013.
He was a member of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, following in the footsteps of his late father, Dr. Willis Braswell Sheftall, Sr.
Dr. Sheftall served his community well with his many accomplishments and accolades. He passed away peacefully on November 4, 2024, in Smyrna, Georgia. He leaves to cherish his memory his Wife, Wileanor Sheftall; brother Michael Sheftall and sister-in-law Mae Sheftall; nephew Mark Sheftall and niece Lisa Sheftall.
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