The brothers of the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted their annual Founders Day Program on Sunday, December 7, at historic Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi, pastored by Dr. Lee E. Morris Jr. The service brought together fraternity members, church leaders, community supporters, and residents to honor and reflect on the legacy of the nation’s first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity, founded for African American men.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded on December 4, 1906, on the campus of Cornell University by seven visionary young Black men known throughout the fraternity as the founders, or “Jewels”: Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy. What began as a study and support group at a predominantly white institution during the era of segregation grew into a powerful movement centered around scholarship, leadership, service, and advocacy for the African American community and beyond.
More than a century later, Alpha Phi Alpha remains committed to lifting communities through education, civic engagement, mentorship, and service initiatives. Sunday’s program served not only as a historical commemoration but as a reminder of the continuing responsibility the fraternity holds in Mississippi communities.
Brother Aljay Thompson, Mississippi Alpha Network Director, delivered an inspiring keynote address titled “Making an Impact With Your Dash,” focusing on the meaning of the time between birth and death—the dash that represents the legacy one leaves. Brother Thompson challenged attendees to consider how they are using their gifts, talents, and purpose to elevate communities and create meaningful change. He emphasized that the true measure of a man is not simply how long he lives, but what he contributes while he is here.
During the program, chapter members reflected on the fraternity’s foundational aims—Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind—and highlighted the chapter’s ongoing commitment to mentorship and education throughout the Delta region.
As Alpha men across the world close out Founders Day celebrations this month, the message delivered in Greenville remains clear: Alpha’s legacy is not just history—it is a living responsibility passed down from the Jewels to every generation that follows.
