Purpose of Alpha Expansion Through
International Engagement
When Jewels Eugene Kinckle Jones and Vertner W. Tandy established our first international chapter over 112 years ago, they identified the need to “serve the needs of large masses of people, hungry for leadership and in need of honest, altruistic guidance.” This need is even greater today with the attacks on people of the African diaspora around the world. The need is also heightened with the increased number of Americans who are taking overseas military, business, and study abroad assignments. Having additional chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha to “Hold out a Light” for our brothers and their families who may find themselves thrust into foreign lands is critical to our mission.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Phase 1)
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1908 -- Delta Chapter #4 at University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada and the name was later relocated to Huston- Tillotson University in Austin, Texas in 1954.
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1938 -- Beta Psi Chapter Hybrid Chapter #66 in London, England with brothers from the military stationed in London and students from Oxford, Cambridge, and London Universities. The chartering was facilitated by Bro. Dr. C.B. Clarke. In 2006, the chapter name was relocated at the University of Oregon in Portland, Oregon and in 2011, the chapter name returned to London, England with the founding of a chapter at the American International University in Richmond, England.
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1950 -- Epsilon Theta Lambda Chapter #219 in Hamilton, Bermuda.
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1958 -- Eta Epsilon Lambda Hybrid Chapter #260 in Monrovia, Liberia. In 1980 Eta Epsilon Lambda Chapter Monrovia, Liberia became inactive due to military overthrow of the government. It would be 32 years before the chapter would be permitted to be reestablished in 2012 during the 105th General Convention in Chicago, IL, themed “A Global Vision for Brotherhood – Gateway to the Dream,” by Bro. Sean McCaskill, 26th Eastern Regional Vice President, and Bro. Sam Gregory, Theta Theta Lambda Chapter President who advanced international expansion to spread Alpha throughout Europe.
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1963 -- Theta Theta Lambda Military Chapter #285 in Frankfurt, Germany.
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1968 -- Iota Epsilon Lambda Military Chapter #506 in South Vietnam. In 1977, the chapter relocated to Nassau, Bahamas and in 1985 the chapter petitioned William E. Ross Jr., the 18th Eastern Region Vice President, to realign from the International District and the Eastern Region to the Florida District of the Southern Region.
INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION (Phase 2)
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1975 -- The International District was created and in 1976 Bro. Sylvester Shannon was appointed as the first District Director. In 1979, the International Association of Alpha Chapters (IAAC) District 1 was officially established by the Eastern Region and first appears in the Sphinx Chapter Directory.
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1976 -- Kappa Phi Chapter #439 in Monrovia, Liberia University of Liberia and Cuttington College (now Cuttington University).
INTERNATIONAL REALIGNMENT (Phase )
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1999 -- The 85th Anniversary Sphinx published the International District was renamed to the European District 101 with only one chapter and realigning the other international chapters into three other regions.
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2010 -- Rho Phi Lambda Chapter #674 in Johannesburg, South Africa
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2010 -- Rho Chi Lambda Chapter #675 in London, United Kingdom
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2020 -- Inaugural IAAC Eastern Region’s District 1 Conference establishes the district’s first Constitution and By-Laws; elects and appoints the District’s Leadership and inaugural Staff.