Pope
Vice President: James McCurtis
Secretary: Charles Whitehead-Tillery
Treasurer: Benjamin Brown
Mission Statement:
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities since 1906
The history of Kappa Delta Lambda
In the early 1970s, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., who lived in the
Lansing area, had the vision to establish an alumni chapter in the Greater Lansing community for brotherhood, scholarship, and community service. Some of these men graduated from Michigan State University (MSU) and were members of the Gamma Tau Chapter on campus. Others had lived and worked in Lansing for several years. Unfortunately, none of them had an alumni chapter to call home. On that date, after a long, tedious process led by Bro. Don Coleman, the Kappa Delta Lambda Chapter (KDL) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., became the 527th House of Alpha. Goodwill is the monarch of this house. Along with Coleman, the charter members are Brothers Theodore Chavis, Charles Dillard, Rod Gillum, William Harrison, James Theodore Jones, Kirby Kirksey, Blanche Martin, Jeffery Moss, Harry Scott, Lonnie Williams, and Rodney Watts. Coleman served as the chapter’s first president, Bro. Williams was vice president, and Bro. Kirksey was secretary. The chapter would be later known as the Lansing Alphas. They would continue the esteemed ideals of the fraternity’s national founders known as the Seven Jewels. In the spirit of developing leaders and promoting brotherhood and academic achievement, the community’s educational, political, economic, and social injustices drove these men to make a difference. While serving the Lansing area, these men were trailblazers and examples of excellence. Harrison became the first black doctor in Lansing. Coleman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and is the first Michigan State Spartan to have his number retired. Martin became the first black trustee at MSU. In 1964 Bro. Robert Green and his wife, Lettie, became the first black family to purchase a house in East Lansing after a long battle of fighting housing discrimination in the city. In 1981, in partnership with the city of Lansing, Bro. Richard Letts started one of the nation’s first commemorative events recognizing Bro. Dr. Martin L. Continuing the tradition, KDL and the city of Lansing held its 41st annual Memorial Observance of Rev. in January. During the virtual event, the chapter awarded area high school students with the Dr. Martin L. Citizenship Award. When fundraising began in the 1980s for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., KDL donated more than $15,000 to lead the effort. Since its inception, the chapter has served the greater Lansing community as political and social advocates, mentors, and leaders. In 1979, the chapter began awarding scholarships to deserving high school seniors. This tradition continues today as we reward six students with $1,000 scholarships. Our chapter continues to spearhead community service programs throughout the Greater Lansing area, including voter registration drives, book drives, and food deliveries to the elderly and shut-ins. In addition, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lansing Alphas distributed more than 2,000 masks and hand sanitizers to Lansing area residents. KDL has been a beacon of hope by remaining true to the fraternity’s aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. Today, the chapter carries the torch ignited by the light of Alpha and continues to be first of all, servants of all, and yes, we shall transcend all. James L. McCurtis Jr., KDL Vice President 2022
