Project Alpha - Community Highlights On April 26, 2003, 60 middle and high school young men participated in a daylong mentoring program co-sponsored by the Beta Sigma Lambda Educational Foundation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, and the March of Dimes Connecticut Chapter. Funding for the program was provided through a grant from the Travelers Foundation. Eastern Connecticut State University was the host site where 20 members of its M.A.L.E.S. club (Men Achieving Leadership, Excellence and Success) served as youth mentors and program assistants. Project Alpha is a national program of Alpha Phi Alpha, which educates African American males, ages 12-17, about the importance of personal responsibility for sexual behavior. Participants were from 22 middle and high schools and nine towns within Greater Hartford. Dr. Merwood Jones, a local OB/GYN and a member of the Beta Sigma Lambda Chapter, was one of several featured presenters. Dr. Jones provided graphic and illustrative information about the dangers of unprotected sex in terms of STDs, HIV and teen pregnancy.
The program also featured discussion about choices for college and related career interests. Aaron “Pop” Lewis, a former Hartford gang leader, drug dealer and founder of Youth on Youth, Each One Teach One, spoke to the youth about his personal tragedies, living a reckless and dangerous life. He admonished the students to remain in school, have goals, stay focused on the positive, and to seek out mentors like the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha. State Representative Kenneth Green (Hartford) gave a detailed lecture from a legal perspective on the consequences and harsh realities youth face by engaging in irresponsible sexual behavior. The final workshop, communications and public speaking, provided time for the students to offer reflections and observations on lessons learned. It became obvious, through their reflections, that they learned much about dealing with the dangers and temptations within their world, and about the wonderful possibilities that the future holds for them. The college setting was an ideal place for the students to begin visualizing their own potential.
Program coordinator Bro. Rufus Jones stated “The success of the day was in large measure, due to the role the M.A.L.E.S. club members played as they interacted with the students. Their presence offered the students positive role models they could view as successful and future productive members of the community.” Many of the M.A.L.E.S. members were from socio-economic backgrounds similar to the students’ and had faced similar challenges growing up.
Educational material distributed was developed through a joint initiative between the March of Dimes and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Area school guidance counselors as well as representatives from several faith-based organizations and civic groups coordinated registration.
A similar Project Alpha day will be organized during the week of October 4-11 2003, the traditional national awareness and recognition time frame for this essential and vital program for our male youth.
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