The "Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College" program, established in 1922, concentrates on the importance of completing secondary and collegiate education as a road to advancement. Statistics prove the value of this extra impetus in making the difference in the success of young African-American men, given that school completion is the single best predictor of future economic success. Through the Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College educational initiative, young men receive information and learn strategies that facilitate success. Alpha men provide youth participants with excellent role models to emulate.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the March of Dimes Birth Defect Foundation began collaboratively implementing Project Alpha in 1980. This collaborative project is designed to provide education, motivation and skill-building on issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for young males ages 12-15 years. Designed to provide young men with current and accurate information about teen pregnancy prevention, Project Alpha consists of a series of workshops and informational sessions conducted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers. The three goals of Project Alpha programs are:
• Sharing Knowledge by combating ignorance and fear with factual information.
• Changing Attitudes by providing motivation toward positive changes in sexual behavior.
• Providing Skills by creating a sense of empowerment and self-esteem.
"A Voteless People is a Hopeless People" was initiated as a National Program of Alpha during the 1930's when many African-Americans had the right to vote but were prevented from voting because of poll taxes, threats of reprisal, and lack of education about the voting process. Voter education and registration has remained a dominant focus of this outreach activity for over 65 years. In the 1990's, the focus has shifted to include political awareness and empowerment, delivered most frequently through town meetings and candidate forums.
My Brother's Keeper Program is a service program developed with the mission of advocating for and improving the quality of life for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. brothers, their spouses, and widows who are retired, elderly, have disabilities and are ailing. Limitations caused by advanced age place a large demand on family members, caregivers, and the larger community as they strive to ensure that elders remain independently functional. The goal of the Brother's Keeper Program is to promote dignity and independence among Alpha family and community members by providing help in keeping their lives and homes functional. There are seven objectives to the program:
Objective 1: Assist in maintaining living environments that are compatible with participants' levels of functioning
Objective 2: Assist in maintaining the upkeep of participants' properties
Objective 3: Assist with health care decision making;
Objective 4: Provide companionship;
Objective 5: Provide legal services;
Objective 6: Provide transportation;
Objective 7: Ensure adequate supplies of food, water, and clothing, with special emphasis on disaster management and recovery.
