The Kappa Alpha Psi® Journal: The Undergraduate Issue

UNDERGRADUATE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

From left: Watch The Yard’s Jonathan Rabb leading a session. ULI Lambda Class visiting Honeywell’s corporate headquarters.

participants worked alongside Digi- Bridge to build toolkits for youth that inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). In the afternoon, par- ticipants met with art and culture philanthropist Brother Dana K. Pace (LaGrange (GA) AL 2022) to learn the importance of cultural production and its relationship to society. Brother Pace stressed the importance of engaging with art as a historical and contempo- rary medium, particularly in telling the complex stories of Black life-making in the United States and abroad. Imme- diately following their session, the brothers undertook a cultural tour of Charlotte, visiting the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts, The Mint Museum, and The Bechler Museum of Modern Art.

The sixth day of the institute kicked off with a critical forum on the Membership Training Academy with Brother Watt. Brother Watt spoke about the opportunities and challenges presented by the initi- ation process and the importance of leadership and decision-making following the fraternity’s MTA guidelines. He also offered a series of interactive polls to gauge how participants understood their experi- ences with MTA and responsibilities to the fraternity’s future as gate- keepers entrusted to safeguard the organization through effective risk management. Following the forum, participants delivered informative presentations on personal finances, investing, financial planning, and debt management with corporate

partners J.P. Morgan Chase and TD Bank. Maj. Jeffrey B. McGinnis (Ret.) (Arlington-Grand Prairie (TX) AL 2006) also facilitated a session to help participants understand the importance of establishing good financial habits and a responsible credit history as undergraduates. The day concluded with the last Fireside Chat sessions, which included an executive leadership panel of alumni Kappas succeeding at the highest levels of their professions. The panel included Deputy General Counsel of Tepper Sports André S. Walters (Nu Xi 1998), State Rep. Brandon M. Lofton (Theta Omicron 2000) of the North Carolina House of Repre- sentatives, Hendrick H. Ellis (Zeta Epsilon 1991), a Senior Executive with Bank of America, and Kelvin K.

FALL 2023 ♦ THE JOURNAL 45

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker