THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT

The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter,

Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC December / January 2010 Vol. 3, No. 2

Fall 09 – The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte

THE WALL ST. ALPHA REPORT

The official Wall Street Alphas newsletter,

Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter, NYC

The REASON for the Seasonby Bro. Brian Pruitt

By far my favorite time of year is the holiday season,

kicking off with Thanksgiving, moving through

Christmas and Kwanzaa, and culminating in the

biggest party of the year on New Year‘s Eve. This is

a time to be thankful for what we have, remember

those less fortunate than us, and rededicate

ourselves to making the next year a better one. This

is also the time of year when you have an opportunity

to support two of the biggest Alpha community

service events in the city.

Bro. Kevin Powell‘s 9th Annual Holiday Party and

Clothing Drive will be held on Friday, December 11th

at Tribeca Cinemas. The following week on Friday,

December 18th at Bogart's on Park, the Wall Street

Alphas will be hosting the STOCK-ing Exchange

Holiday party. Toy donations will be accepted to

benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree program which

provides toys to less fortunate children in NYC

during the holiday season. Come out and celebrate

the holiday season AND support two great causes.

Bring friends, bring family, and let‘s finish the year off

right.

The Wall St. Alphas would like to thank our

Promotional Sponsor Grae Enterprises for their

support of the STOCK-ing Exchange. Please log on

to their website for upcoming events as well as their

online publication GraeGram.

President’s Letter

Dear Brothers and Guests,

The holiday season is upon us. During this

time, millions of Americans crisscross the

country to share these special times with

their families and friends and renew their

kindred spirit. For the Wall Street Alphas,

this has been an extraordinary year and we

have much to be thankful for.

We are thankful that seven (7) years ago,

Kappa Xi Lambda chapter came out of

retirement and was re-chartered by nine

Brothers (Bro. Andre Allen, Bro. Frantz Jean-

Baptiste, Bro. Marcus Broadhead, Bro.

Shawn Curwen, Bro. Roy Anthony Williams,

Bro. Nicolas Rosello, Bro. Leeroy Miller, Bro.

Michael T. Smith and Bro. Serge Devilme,

Jr. with Bro. Darren Morton serving as re-

chartering officer) and provided the

Fraternity with a strong presence in Lower

Manhattan. Since then, Kappa Xi Lambda

has grown to roughly 70 members and has

joined other Alpha chapters to provide

extraordinary service to New York City.

We are thankful that the Brothers of Eta

chapter introduced Greek Life to New York

City 100 years on June 5, 1909. Since then

Alpha, as well as our fellow Brothers and

Sisters in the Divine Nine have provided

leadership and vision to our local, national

and worldwide communities.

We are thankful for the privilege of working

with the young men of our Alpha G.E.N.T.S.

(Gaining Essential Networking Tools for

Successful) mentorship program who inspire

Continued on Page 3

December / January 2010 Vol. 3, No. 2

President’s Letter

Continued from Page 2

and challenge us more each day. We are

extremely grateful for those that support this

program with their time, teamwork and

treasury. Without their contributions, we

could not begin to prepare these young men

to become tomorrow‘s leaders.

We are thankful to have welcomed 5

outstanding Brothers into this great

Fraternity of ours: Bro. Geshawn Williams,

Bro. Thomas Mabry, Bro. NaQuinton

Gainous, Bro. Matthew Montgomery and

Bro. Imonitie Okhiria. Goodwill is the

monarch of this House, Men unacquainted,

enter, shake hands, exchange greetings and

depart friends. It is always a joy to welcome

new Brothers into the House of Alpha.

We are thankful to all the support we receive

throughout the year with our programs;

without it the chapter would not be nearly as

successful as we are.

I pray that you and your family celebrate the

holidays safely. Happy Holidays!

Fraternally,

Jioha Amatokwu

President, KXL Chapter

―Wall Street Alphas‖

Visit the “Wall Street Alphas” on Facebook or My Space or at

www.wallstreetalphas.com

Fall „09, “The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte” is here! Check out the article on page 13 to learn more

about our new bruhs!

Mark your Calendar!

12/04: Founder‟s Day12/08: Chapter Meeting12/11: Bro. Powell‟s Holiday Party12/18: The STOCK-ing Exchange12/25: Christmas1/12: Chapter Meeting1/17: The 17h Annual Alpha Affair - ZZL1/18: Bro. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day2/15: Chapter Meeting

Inside this Edition

President‟s Letter Editor‟s Report G.E.N.T.S. College Tour Miles 4 Mentorship ….Toward the Light The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte Brother of the Year

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Brothers and Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving

and a safe Black Friday. December is here and

that means it‟s a sprint to the end of the year as

we all try to get in some shopping, take a little

vacation, and hopefully try to brighten someone

else‟s day who might need a hand especially

during the holiday season. Our neo‟s got right to

work, joining ZH, Eta Chapter, and other Alpha‟s

and NY Greeks in participating in the annual

Project Homeless on Thanksgiving Day. Hot

meals and warm smiles were in abundant supply

as Brothers spent a little time serving the

homeless on Thanksgiving morning.

But before I get ahead of myself, I want to

welcome our third line, “The Third Resurrection

of Sanakhte” into the House of Alpha. Bros

Geshawn “Lou” Williams, Thomas Mabry, Jr.,

NaQuinton Gainous, Matthew Montgomery, and

Imonitie Okhiria came over on Halloween night.

These Brothers worked extremely hard to get to

where they are and should be proud of their

accomplishment. That being said, the real work

begins now. Bros Gainous and Williams have

joined the newsletter committee and the other

neos will soon find themselves with plenty to

keep themselves occupied. Be sure to check out

their background and bios in this newsletter and

reach out to them if you have not already.

State University. Taking a slightly different

approach this year, the young men were exposed

to a large university and a smaller state college,

enabling them to compare and contrast and get a

better feel for what level of higher education

might fit them best. Congrats go out to Bro.

Ingram, Simmonds, and all of the other Brothers

who dedicate so much of their time to working

with the young men.

And speaking of congratulations, I can‟t forget to

shout out Bro. Shawn Curwen for besting his

previous time in the NY Marathon AND

representing the Miles 4 Mentorship initiative. If

you don‟t know what Miles 4 Mentorship is all

about, be sure to read all about it and visit the

website for the Wall Street Alphas Charitable

Foundation at www.wsacf.org to make a donation

today! You can also support the Foundation by

visiting the Chase Community Giving page on

Facebook and supporting the WSACF.

Finally, the Samuel C. Parker, III Brother of the

Year Award is an annual Chapter award

bestowed on the Brother who has represented

the Chapter in service and dedication and as a

result is recognized by his peers at the end of the

fraternal year. I was fortunate enough to win the

award in 2008 and Bro. Tony Thompson recently

won the award for 2009. We recently posed a

few questions to one another to give Brothers an

THE EDITOR’S REPORT

Intake wasn‟t the only

thing going down

October 31. Bro.

Ingram and several

Brothers were finishing

up this year‟s college

tour with the Alpha

G.E.N.T.S. This year‟s

destination was the

University of

Connecticut and

Eastern Connecticut

opportunity to have

more insight into our

backgrounds, our

thoughts on the

fraternity, and our

interests and future

aspirations.

„06,

Brian Pruitt

Newsletter Ed. in Chief

Wall St. Alphas

Note: The Editor‘s report reflects thoughts or opinions of the Editor and are not necessarily

shared by the chapter or the Fraternity as a whole.

College days may swiftly pass….but at least I got to marry my college

sweetheart.

AP

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The 4th annual “Go to High School, go to College” tour was a success as they traveled to Storrs, Connecticut to visit the University of Connecticut (UCONN) and Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU). The weekend of Halloween was far from boo-tiful, but educational, as 8 Kappa Xi Lambda brothers and 18 high school students stayed overnight and experienced a little bit of college life.

Team building activities during the bus ride helped the G.E.N.T.S. foster stronger relationships with one another and Alpha brothers. When they arrived on campus they were greeted with the University‟s version of Halloween on campus. There was karaoke, pictures taken with creatures, and an open game room. Saturday started off with a guided tour of UCONN by the admissions department where students were informed about admissions requirements and all the university‟s offerings. Students had the opportunity to meet UCONN forward, Ater Majok, who is from Australia. He captivated the G.E.N.T.S. attention as he shared his experience of being a student athlete at a Division 1 school. Shortly thereafter, the G.E.N.T.S. had an interactive panel discussion with the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity who are currently enrolled at UCONN and ECSU. The discussions covered, but were not limited, to choosing a major, time management, campus life, and post graduation plans.

Halloween with the G.E.N.T.S.

By Education Committee Chairman, Bro. Ted Ingram

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Halloween with the G.E.N.T.S.

Continued from page 5

Following the session, G.E.N.T.S. and Alpha chaperones ventured 20 minutes to the ECSU campus. Brothers of the Kappa Delta Chapter (University of Connecticut, Trinity College, Eastern Connecticut State University) gave the group a guided tour of the campus. This allowed the G.E.N.T.S. an opportunity to note the differences between the two institutions. From our post-tour discussion, we found that most G.E.N.T.S. were clearly able to identify several differences between a large private institution and a smaller state university.

It is our anticipation that the G.E.N.T.S. who are with the program during their entire high school tenure will benefit significantly from the program as they will be able to gain exposure to the various types of colleges and universities that we will visit in the coming years. Special thanks to Brother Malik Simmonds for organizing the entire trip and recognition to Bros Aaron Allen, Damon Culcleasure, Amir Figueroa, Sean Henry, Ted Ingram, and Steven Messam who led as chaperones.

UCONN basketball player Ater Majok provided some real life insight into the

life of a student athlete at a major academic institution.

Meet the Alpha G.E.N.T.S.!

Get involved with the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. programming. Visit the foundation website to view a video and slideshow on the Alpha G.E.N.T.S. program.

Support the G.E.N.T.S. by making a donation at www.wsacf.org.

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2009-2010 Chapter Officers and Board Members

Kappa Xi Lambda Executive Board

President: Brother Jioha Amatokwu

Vice President: Brother Damon Culcleasure

Recording Secretary: Brother Christopher Hunt

Corresponding Secretary: Brother Jamel Maloney

Treasurer: Brother Keith Harvey

Financial Secretary: Brother Mel Myrie

Chaplain: Brother Dwight Tindall

Historian: Brother Jesse Owens

Coordinator of Intake: Brother Nicolas Rosello, Jr.

Sergeant-at-Arms: Brother Lael Chappell

Parliamentarian: Brother Lino Solis

Dir. of Educational Activity: Brother Ted Ingram

Assoc. Editor to the Sphinx: Brother Tony Thompson

Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation Board of Directors

President & Chairman: Brother Shawn A. Curwen

Secretary: Brother Tony Johnson

Treasurer: Brother Roy A. Williams

Board Member: Brother Derrick Crawford

Board Member: Brother Samuel Parker

Newsletter Committee

Editor in Chief: Brother Brian Pruitt

Assistant Editor: Brother Tony Thompson

Contributors: Brother Lino Solis

Brother NaQuinton Gainous

Brother Geshawn Williams

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Continued on page 9

…Toward the Lightby Bros. Brian Pruitt and Bro. Rev. Jay Williams

In this holiday season as we prepare to close out another tough year and get ready for a

new year and a better tomorrow, Bro. Jay Williams, a KXL Spr 08 Brother and the current

Pastor of the Glendale United Methodist Church in Everett, Massachusetts , has

prepared a special message on ―hope.‖

Keep on Pressin‟

If we are honest with ourselves,

we all might admit that, at times,

we want to give up. Throw in

the towel…stick a fork in me,

I‘m done. The job is stressing

you out beyond belief. Or you

still can‘t find a job. The

marriage or relationship is not

all that you expected it to be;

the honeymoon is a distant

memory. The money situation

is…well, enough said. You

expected to be much better off than you are…the five-year plan has turned into the ten-

year plan. So on and so forth. And then you look around, and things do not appear

much better. Despite all the volunteer hours and rallies and government promises,

our communities and cities—yes, even our world—still are pretty screwed up. Or

perhaps, when you look around it seems like everyone else is light years ahead of you.

Whatever the case, life is not what you thought it would be. So you ask: what‘s the

point?

Well, if we all will not admit to these bouts of despair, then I will. Even as a pastor, I have

had those periods of pain and questioning, of disappointment and frustration. I have

experienced countless days when there was nothing but ―dark nights of the soul‖. But I

have come to know that whatever my circumstance I still must hope. In a way it is not an

option, I have to—I am compelled to—hope. I have learned to believe that the situation

will change, and that tomorrow will get better. Yeah, it must get better. Hope is

believing…trusting…striving…and praying.

Why hope? Because we have no other choice. We are ―prisoners of hope,‖ says

Brother Dr. Cornel West. We live not for our sake alone, but for the brothers and sisters

with whom we struggle. Even if we do not always realize it, someone is depending on

you to make it. A sibling or a parent, a friend or a Brother needs you to succeed. In our

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www.glendaleumchurch.org

living we honor all those who came before us and paved the way—the mothers and

fathers, the Jewels (the founder‘s of Alpha Phi Alpha or our fraternity) and ancestors

without whom today‘s light would be much dimmer. And we fight for the future of those

whose story is yet unwritten.

Look, I am the last one to deny that life sometimes seems unbearable. We have all heard

enough empty words of so-called encouragement. But when others‘ seem

shallow, hope teaches us to ―encourage ourselves‖ and ―to speak words of life‖ in the midst

of death, to borrow Donald Lawrence‘s lyrics. The thing is: true hope does not ignore life‘s

realities. It does not pretend that all is well or that things will be better in the ―sweet by and

by‖. Instead hope wrestles with all the things that try to defeat us. True hope confronts

them and struggles against the heartbreak. It reminds us that though ―weeping may

endure for a night, joy does come in the morning.‖ And when the night is long and the

morning is too far away, hope compels us to seek help.

….Toward the Light

Continued from page 8

In the next newsletter, a special message from Bro. Reverend David Jackson, Senior Pastor and Founder of High Place Assembly of Christ in Atlanta, GA

The bottom line is this: let‘s start giving ourselves permission to keep dreaming and

believing. And when we have to, give ourselves permission to cry and to lean on the

Shield in a spiritual way. Jesse Jackson got some things wrong, but he‘s right about one

thing: we must keep hope alive. It is up to us. We can make it….we can, because we

must. ―Brothers, this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind, and straining to what is

ahead, I press toward the mark…‖ (Philippians 3:14).

We do not live by or for ourselves

alone, so we ought not to struggle

alone either. Counseling and

mental health is not just a white

thing…black folk should turn to

professionals and pastors during

their times of need. In fact, with

all that‘s stacked against us, we

may need them even more. And

men have emotions too. Just

because many of us have been

taught not to cry does not mean

that we do not hurt. As Brothers

let us support each other and stop

pretending. Many churches have

men‘s only groups where we can

be honest and talk stuff through.

Perhaps we might do the same

within the brotherhood?

Bro. Williams was part of the distinguished

“Eternal Reflection of Djoser” line.

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Miles 4 Mentorship is a charitable runner program which raises money through donations

and sponsorship to provide educational programming and scholarships for the ALPHA

G.E.N.T.S. mentorship program. On November 1, 2009 Brother Shawn Curwen

completed the marathon in 3hrs 41 minutes, crushing his time of 4hrs 17 minutes in 2008.

The committee ―Miles 4 Mentorship‖, which consisted of the Fall 2009 neophytes, who

wore their ―Miles 4 Mentorship‖ tee shirts to raise awareness for the fundraiser by

handing out beverages to runners as they passed mile 19 as volunteers at the Marathon.

As of November 16, 2009 we have raised $2,500. The goal is to exceed $5,000 worth of

donations by reaching out to Brothers, friends, family, and co workers utilizing FaceBook,

Twitter (http://twitter.com/mile4mentorship), and our blog site

(http://miles4mentorship.blogspot.com).

Miles 4 Mentorship debuts at the NYC Marathon

by Bro. NaQuinton Gainous

Please note we are still accepting

donations and your generosity is greatly

appreciated. We have time to make a

difference in advancing an inner city

youth‘s educational progression. Please

use the link below to donate online

quickly and securely

(http://www.wsacf.org/miles4mentorship.

php).

We are also recruiting volunteers who

have experience in blogging for track and

field events, website designers and

photographers and videographers.

Going forward we plan to continue to

raise money by having

membership/charity runner drives, in

which we will collect donations and

recruit volunteers and charity runners.

Tentatively, we are looking at the half

marathon in Miami, FL for our next Miles

4 Mentorship event. There are currently 4

runners interested, but we‘d love to have

more. Come join us in Miami and help

support Miles 4 Mentorship as we raise

money for our G.E.N.T.S.!

Bro. Curwen posted a personal best time while representing Miles 4

Mentorship in this his second NYC Marathon.

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12

13

AP

#1 - *A-Train*

Geshawn Williams

#2 - *3 The Hard Way*

Thomas Mabry

#3 - *Roc Steady*

NaQuinton Gainous

#4 - *LockDown*

Matthew Montgomery

#6 - *Mos Def*

Imonitie Okhiria

The Third Resurrection of Sanakhte. ―Third‖ illustrates the third intake line for the Kappa

Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. ―Resurrection‖ symbolizes the

history that each of the members of the line had with regard to their consistent pursuit of

membership into The House of Alpha. ―Sanakhte‖ was the first Pharaoh of the third

Dynastic Period in Egypt whose name means ―strong protector.‖

THE THIRD RESURRECTION OF SANAKHTE

There is significant historical

evidence connecting Sanakhte

to the Pharaoh, Djoser.

Historians have concluded that

they were brothers or blood

related in some capacity. Djoser

succeeded Sanakhte and was

the most famous Pharaoh of the

third Dynasty who

commissioned Imhotep to build

the first step pyramid in

Saqqara. Our Kappa Xi

Lambda‘s prophytes‘ line name

was the Eternal Reflection of

Djoser. We see our place as

part of a continuous link that

follows the great lines of Kappa

Xi Lambda from The Seven

Sons of Sobek to The Eternal

Reflections of Djoser and now

The Third Resurrection of

Sanakhte.

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AP

Geshawn “Lou” Williams graduated from the University at Albany, State University of

New York with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management Information Systems

from the School of Business in 2000. While at the University at Albany, he was on the

Dean‘s list, maintained a Resident Assistant position and was the VP of the Resident

Assistant Association. In addition, he was the Treasurer of the National Association of

Black Accountants (student chapter). He is currently a Financial Operations Specialist

with the Department of Health and Human Services and specifically within the

Administration for Children and Families agency where he has fiscal responsibilities for

child custody enforcement in New Jersey.

THE THIRD RESURRECTION OF SANAKHTEBiographies

Thomas Mabry Jr. graduated from Long Island University – C.W. Post in 2001 with a

Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Biology with a specialization in Clinical Laboratory

Science. While at C.W. Post he was a Residence Hall Director and a Faculty Director for

Black Students United. He is currently working at New York Presbyterian – Columbia

Hospital as a licensed Medical Technologist providing highly accurate and reliable test

results for use in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease.

NaQuinton Gainous graduated from Fordham University‘s College of Business

Administration in 2005 with a degree in Management of Information and Communication

Systems. While at Fordham University, he received academic and athletic honors as a

member and captain of the football team. He works for Viacom as an Application Support

Specialist for the legal department. His desire to become an Alpha began at a young

age, as a student of the Alpha Leadership Program for Higher Achievement (A.L.P.H.A.)

back in Florida.

Matthew Montgomery graduated from Old Westbury University, State University of New

York in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology. While at SUNY Old

Westbury, he worked for the Police Athletic League as a Site Director. He works for the

City of New York Department of Corrections as a Corrections Officer.

Imonitie Okhiria graduated from University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Science: Health and Human

Service, Community Mental Health. He is currently working on his Masters in Public

Health and works at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center as the Manager

for the Department of Medicine and Hospital Administrator. He aspires to attend medical

school and become a medical doctor in the near future.

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AP

THE THIRD RESURRECTION OF SANAKHTE

The crossing celebration Halloween night (above) was done

in true KXL style……and then the work began the very next

day as the neos represented Miles 4 Mentorship with Bro.

Nick Rosello at the NYC Marathon (below).

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AP

Greetings from Zeta Eta!

Fall 2009 has truly been one of the most exciting and uplifting seasons for Zeta Eta. Despite

being prohibited to independently host programs, we have undertaken the role of active

participants in events hosted by Greek and non-Greek organizations on various campuses in

New York City and Long Island.

This strategic decision along with our close partnership with the Delta Chi Chapter has allowed

us to increase the visibility of our beloved fraternity in the NYC college market, while

demonstrating our faithfulness to the creed of companionship. Given the number of young men

that attended our awareness seminar and our most recent outing to Buffalo Wild Wings, our

strategic plan has proven to be highly effective, which is vital to the sustainability of the chapter.

Zeta Eta has also been active within the organization on a State level, as a member of the

chapter has served as the chair for the African American Day Parade and Founder‘s Day

Celebration, while also winning the Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest at NYACOA. Without

question, the Brothers of Zeta Eta are continuing to hold the light of Alpha as high as possible in

their journey onward and upward.

- Giovanni Gallaread, President Zeta Eta

Bro. Gallaread is pictured with Delta Chi brothers (from left to right); Jerrold Luberis Fall '08 DX (President), Handel Edwards Spr '09 DX

(Vice President), and Jason Hannibal Fall „09 at the "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" program hosted by the Lambda Chapter of Alpha

Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated at Columbia University.

17

Bro. Pruitt („08 BOTY) and Thompson („09 BOTY) at our

inaugural KXL Masquerade Ball.

Introduction by Bro. Tony Thompson:

A brotherhood or fraternity is a group of men

united together by a common goal or

interest. Although not related by blood, the

bonds can be just as strong. On the night

that I crossed ―the burning sands‖ a brother

told me ―remember every brother ain‘t a

brother…‖ It didn‘t take long for me to

realize what he meant by that statement.

There are members of the organization –

and then there are brothers. Those who

demonstrate brotherly love in their actions;

those who not only live up to the aims of our

great fraternity but who genuinely show

concern for their brother and are willing to go

above and beyond to prove themselves a

friend, strengthening the ties that bind them.

The epitome of a fraternity brother was none

other than Mr. Samuel C. Parker. It was not

only because of the aforementioned qualities

but his graciousness and humility that he

was named the Wall Street Alphas Brother

Of The Year for 3 years straight. It was no

surprise to anyone when the chapter decided

to name the annual award after him. Sadly

in early 2008, we suddenly lost Bro. Parker

but his spirit will continue to live on in each

and every member of Kappa Xi Lambda.

Now the question becomes who can ever live up to the standards that Sam had established to be

considered for Brother of the Year? Who among us possesses the qualities of a brother we all

hold in such esteem? The answer was simple – Bro. Brian Pruitt. In the fraternal year 2007-2008

the chapter began producing its chapter newsletter, ―The Wall Street Alpha Report‖ which was the

brainchild of Bro. Pruitt. Brian is a quiet yet very effective brother. In the past 6 years that he has

been a member of the chapter he has served in several capacities and has been a major

contributor to the growing success of ―The Wall Street Alphas.‖ He held the position of Financial

Secretary for 2 years, chaired our 4th annual wine tasting, ―SIP‖ and was co-chair of our

Masquerade Ball in the Fall of 2006.

As Editor, Brian has created the design and layout for each edition and has also written a majority

of the articles. The newsletter has received rave reviews from brothers around the country,

including our General President, Brother Skip Mason.

Brother Pruitt is a graduate of the University of California Riverside and was initiated into the Iota

Chi chapter in the Spring of 1991. He and his wife Lissa moved to New York in 2000 when she

Continued on page 18

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was accepted into Medical school in the area. In January of 2007 they welcomed their first child,

a son named Aaron. Brian worked at Deloitte & Touche for 8 years and is currently working for

Chase. He is also studying to become a CPA.

I posed several questions to Brother Pruitt to learn more about his history with the fraternity and

gain some insight on his thoughts about the organization.

What inspired you to become a member of Alpha?

My road to Alpha was an unconventional one I think. I didn‘t have any family members or friends

who were in fraternities or sororities. In school I had a steady girlfriend at the time so it wasn‘t

about getting girls. And the handful of Alphas on campus weren‘t notably prominent or anything

as far as campus leaders. I think I was more intrigued with the idea of pledging because I really

DIDN‘T know anything about Greek life and wanted to step out of the box a bit. My girlfriend was

actually surprised when I told her what I was going to do as I recall. So I did some research and it

seemed that if I did decide to pledge, Alpha Phi Alpha was the choice for me. We had Kappas

and Ques on campus, but that wasn‘t for me. Once the decision was made, I wasn‘t going to quit

no matter what.

What brought you to KXL considering you live in Rockland County?

Upon relocating to New York I was away from Alpha for a bit by choice. It wasn‘t so much that I

was turned off by some bad experience, but more so that I think I just needed a few years away to

return on my own terms. I reached out to Bro. Shawn Curwen and did some email tag for about a

year before I drug myself to a meeting. At the time I was working in the World Financial Center so

KXL was the local choice as they met only a few blocks away and right after work. I was actually

shocked when I sat through my first meeting. The meetings were extremely efficient and the age

of the brothers averaged around 25 – 35 years old. It was unlike any other grad chapter I‘d ever

seen that‘s for sure.

Within the last couple years, however, I started having an interest in connecting a bit more with

where I live in Rockland County. I had run across members of the Rockland Alphas from time to

time so I decided to begin to formally affiliate with that chapter as well. The dynamic in that Eta

Chi Lambda is completely different. Those brothers are a bit more seasoned and are all

extremely involved in the Rockland community so I‘m actually learning a lot and am enjoying what

HXL has to offer.

You have been a diligent worker and faithful member of this chapter for quite a few years.

Do you think the chapter has changed? How so? Is there anything you would like to see

us do more of/less of? Anything you would change?

One of the main challenges of the chapter is in the retention of brothers. Now, that‘s really no

different than the fraternity on a national scale, but it bothers me nonetheless. The odd thing is

that we‘ve steadily grown from a chapter of 20 or so brothers when I first came on board to a peak

of around 60 when I was Financial Secretary a couple years back. We‘ll probably be in the

neighborhood of 50 brothers by the beginning of 2010 once all of the dues come in. But I think in

our case it has to do with where we live and the type of brother that KXL attracts - an achievement

Continued on page 19

Brother of the Year…

Continued from page 17

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oriented brother. We‘ve had so many brothers relocate and move on to bigger and better careers.

Many have gone back to obtain graduate degrees. Also, many new brothers have moved to New

York and looked us up. We‘ve just completed our 3rd line since 2006. So there are a lot of

reasons for brothers coming and going. So I guess in our case there are many reasons for the

fluidity of the chapter and we just might not be able to do much to control it.

Are you involved in any activities/organizations outside of the chapter?

When I‘m not taking care of my 2 year old, between the Wall Street Alphas and the Rockland

Alphas, my calendar stays pretty full. However, as my wife is a very active member of Zeta Phi

Beta Sorority, Inc., I find myself doing a lot of activities with them as well. Everything from

walkathons, backpack giveaways for needy school kids, serving weekly meals to the poor at a

church near our house, etc. I tend to keep pretty busy with all of that. For whatever reason, I

believe in social responsibility and try to do as much as my schedule allows.

Brother of the Year…

Continued from page 18

Do you think fraternities

or sororities are still

relevant in today’s

society? If not how do

you think we can

change that?

I think that they could be.

It just depends on where

the focus is. I‘ve often

wondered why when

something controversial

goes on involving the

―black community‖ I can

be assured that when I

turn on CNN I‘ll see Rev.

Jackson or Rev. Sharpton

being interviewed. Those

brothers have been in the

trenches for so long and

Riverside, CA 1992 – Iota Chi after a step show exhibition during Greek week.

have always tried to stand up for what‘s right, but I think having a diversity of ―go to‖ black leaders

would be a good thing. The good thing is that there are signs that that dynamic may be slowly

changing. I think that when Bro. Skip Mason can write to President Obama and suggest that there

need to be a White House Council on Men and Boys, or when Alpha brothers can lead the effort

to have a memorial erected on the National Mall to honor Dr. King, or when Bro. Matthews can get

involved in the Jenna 6 situation, or Bro. Mason can be invited to the White House for a Town Hall

Meeting on Fatherhood, then there is clearly a visible national role that fraternities can play and

have an impact on society. On a more local level, the work that chapters do mentoring young

people is where we on the alumni and undergraduate level can make a difference. We of course

have our Alpha GENTS program. The size and organization of that program has grown

tremendously in just a few years. But it‘s not just Alphas. To use an example close to home, my

wife has an active role in mentoring and developing the Zeta Archonettes (14-18 year olds) into

Continued on Page 20

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the finest young ladies possible. It was a rare weekend this past summer when my house didn‘t

have a sea of blue and white ladies involved in some activity or another. Another perfect example

of leadership is how Bro. Mason and Kevin Powell have taken active roles in speaking out against

domestic violence. Young people can look at what happened recently with Chris Brown and

Rihanna and relate to that. Local chapters of fraternities and sororities could easily use the

publicity of that horrible story and have workshops with the youth that they mentor. So I think that

both on a national and local level, there are opportunities for fraternities and sororities to better

society.

You are a very focused and organized brother. Have you always been that way and what

advice would you give brothers who may need assistance in this area?

I think this one‘s simple. The way I look at things is Alpha business should be treated like any

other business. If your boss gives you a deadline of next Tuesday, I bet you‘ll have that report

done by next Tuesday. He‘s not chasing you down on Wednesday and saying ―where‘s my

report?‖ Well why should Alpha work any differently? Whether it be working on a task for a

committee or fundraising or completing a report for a chapter meeting, other people are depending

on it. We‘re not kids anymore. If there‘s eight brothers on a committee and two blow off a

meeting and two more decide to show up 20 minutes late, then all you‘re doing is wasting

people‘s time and you‘re obviously not going to be able to accomplish half of what you are

capable of. When we have committee meetings we‘re more than likely trying to work on a

mentoring initiative, or work toward putting on a big event, or simply work on some aspect to make

the chapter run better. In any event, the meeting or the report, or whatever the case may be, is

important and brothers should respect one another enough to put in the same kind of effort that

they would at the office. And in some cases I might think brothers would put in MORE effort

because more often than not you can‘t stand your boss, but in Alpha we love our brother!

Introduction by Bro. Brian Pruitt:

The great thing about Alpha Phi Alpha is the diversity of Brothers who cross the burning sands.

Some are more outgoing than others, ready to start a stroll line at a party before the DJ is barely

warmed up. Some are more community service oriented, having a knack for bonding and

mentoring young people through our mentorship work. Still, others may be more task oriented,

focused on leading a project to it‘s successful conclusion. Bro. Tony Thompson, our 2009

Brother of the Year, is a soft spoken leader who is driven to see projects through to their

completion and who is unafraid to get his hands dirty. Serving as KXL‘s Corresponding Secretary

and leading the Communications Committee from 2007 - 2009, Bro. Thompson oversaw the

Newsletter Committee, Website Committee, and Marketing Committees. These committees all

grew in importance under his leadership as KXL expanded its activities and its outreach. The

challenges of the recession over the past couple years added even more emphasis in effectively

communicating our message to keep in line with our annual fundraising goals. Tony also served

on the Fall ‗06, Spring ‗‘08, and Fall ‗09 Intake Committees as well as on the last two wine tasting

committees. When Tony was finally ready to relinquish the demanding job of Chairman of the

Communications Committee I immediately asked him to join my team as assistant editor of the

Newsletter Committee.

A graduate of North Carolina A&T with a BS in Management (May, 95 ) and a BS in Marketing

(May, 96), he currently serves as a Technical Support Manager at Corbett Accel Healthcare

Continued on Page 21

Brother of the Year…

Continued from page 19

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Group. In his free time he serves on the Trustee Board and the Finance Committee at Union

Chapel Church, in Union, NJ and is the Co-Founder of Reaching for The World Productions . I

recently finally had time to ask Tony a few questions .

Brother of the Year…

Continued from page 20

Bro. Thompson and Parker take a break in between Convention meetings.

Bro. Samuel Parker, the

original KXL BOTY,

served as a mentor to

many brothers. Tell me

what he meant to you.

Words cannot express how

honored I am to be named

the ―Samuel C. Parker

Brother of the Year.‖ As

many people have said in

the past Sam was the

epitome of what a fraternity

brother should be but to me

he was more than that.

Sam was someone who I

admired and looked up to.

Tony Johnson and Sam Parker were the ones who invited me to come check out Kappa Xi Lambda

and were instrumental in me becoming active again. Whenever I had a problem Sam was someone

that I could go to for advice on a myriad of subjects; no matter how busy he was he would always

make time to listen and counsel me. Sam was highly intelligent and successful but he was also very

down to earth and humble. Whenever I was down he knew how to make me laugh and when I

needed a shoulder he was always there. He was just one of my favorite people. He was my big

brother, my mentor…he was my friend. I have never met anyone like Sam before and I will never

forget him.

KXL has changed a lot just in the short amount of time I've been affiliated with it. Tell me

something the chapter does well and something that could be improved.

One of things that first attracted me to the chapter was its energy. It‘s a graduate chapter with the

youthfulness and mindset of an undergrad chapter. The members at the time I joined the chapter

made me feel welcome. I believe that the sense of brotherhood is by far one of the strengths of the

chapter. When Brothers relocate to the NYC area oftentimes the adjustment can be difficult but

having a group of young men like we have in our chapter can make a difference. Another thing that

the chapter does well is develop excellent ideas and programs and are enthusiastic about

implementing them. In my opinion the area we need improvement in is for brothers to become more

involved in the planning and execution of our events. It‘s the 80 / 20 rule – 20 % of the chapter does

80% of the work. I would really like to see more involvement from everyone in the chapter. If they

have ideas for a program or an event then present it to the chapter. I would also like to see the

chapter perform more community service outside of the good work we do with our Alpha GENTS.

Continued on Page 22

22

Brother of the Year…

Continued from page 21

College days swiftly pass. Why do you think the fraternity struggles to retain brothers as

they transition to the workforce?

I think there are several reasons why brothers do not transition to grad chapters once they leave

college. A great deal of them do not really ―pledge‖ the organization but their individual chapter. So

once they graduate there is no desire to join an alumni chapter. I personally know brothers that

graduated years ago but are still involved with the activities of their undergrad chapters. It needs to

be instilled in brothers during their college days that the organization is bigger than their chapter. I

was always told that this is a lifetime commitment and that you should be prepared to associate with

a graduate chapter not long after you graduate. Then there are the financial expectations of an

alumni chapter. It is expensive to be active in an alumni chapter and a lot of brothers cannot afford

to meet those demands. A lot of brothers plan to join a grad chapter when they are doing better

financially but there will always be something to delay them from joining. Finances should never be

a reason a brother is not active. If possible he can try to setup a payment plan with a chapter in

order to get his dues paid off.

I personally was not active for several years after graduation because of the politics that plague

some chapters. Just before I graduated my undergrad chapter had an issue and the resulting actions

left me disappointed with the organization. It was the politics that drove me away for quite some

time and it‘s those same politics that keep brothers from seeking out a grad chapter. The realization

is not all chapters are the same and each brother needs to find the one they feel most comfortable

with.

Tell me something about your love for the stage and if you have any future performances in

the works.

When I was younger, like a lot of kids, I dreamed of being an actor but as I got older I set my sights

on more realistic goals. But a few years ago a friend asked me to help out with a short film she was

doing for film school and I guess you can say I was bit by the acting bug. Believe it or not I am

somewhat shy but when I‘m on stage it allows me to transform into someone else. It‘s a good

feeling – it‘s a different kind of high. I haven‘t done as much as I would like but that‘s going to

change. I‘m in the process of forming a production company with a fellow actor and writer and will

begin writing and producing our own productions in the future.

You've been in the game a bit. We just recently crossed our 3rd line. What tips might you

offer to our neos who are just starting off and have a lot to learn about being good Alpha

men.

I believe every brother should do what they promised they would do. Interests make a lot of

promises about what they would do once they become members of the organization. Alpha Phi

Alpha is an organization of leaders and leaders should lead by example. Why go through the

process of becoming a member only to sit on the sidelines. We have several events and programs

throughout the year and I think that the neos should not only be present but take the lead in doing

whatever needs to be done to ensure the program is a success.

There are also a lot of successful brothers in the chapter and they inspire me to be a better

brother…to be a better person. There are experts in finance, law, and culture. The neos should take

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INTRODUCING: “All Points Bulletin” - the Beta

Epsilon Spring ‟94 probate

Brother of the Year…

Continued from page 22

advantage of the opportunity to learn from some of, not only the greatest brothers around, but some

of the greatest men in general.

You were #12 on a line of 13. Coming from the west coast I can't even imagine such a thing.

Tell me about your Alpha experience in college.

In the south, fraternities and sororities are more visible than they are in the north so large lines are

more or less the norm, especially at HBCUs. I pledged the Beta Epsilon chapter in the Spring of

1994 on the campus of North Carolina A&T. It was the brothers of this chapter that instilled in me

the sense of brotherhood and commitment that I hold close to my heart even to this day. I‘m not

sure if it was the fact that we were in undergrad and saw each other more often or if it was because

we were young and idealistic but we not only had a tight bond but also took our commitment to the

aims of the fraternity very seriously. We were dedicated to community service on a regular basis

whether it was tutoring or doing highway cleanup. We also sponsored several forums throughout

the school year on various subjects. We established tight bonds on road trips to conventions and to

parties hosted by different chapters throughout the state. Beta Epsilon will always be my home

chapter and it was – and still is – a special chapter and the friendships I established there are

friendships I sill treasure. KXL made me feel right at home.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Kappa Xi Lambda Chapter

P.O. Box 5382

New York, NY 10185-5382

Contact us at WSANews@gmail.com Visit us at www.wallstreetalphas.com and www.wsacf.org

ΑΦΑ - A Century of Leadership - ΑΦΑ

Thanksgiving Day 2009 – The neos came out with the “old” KXL bruhs, joining Eta Chapter and other Greeks

to serve food to the homeless.