BY CLEVELAND FERGUSON III INFORMED, INVOLVED & INVESTED THE 86TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING SHOWCASED HOW BROTHERS CAN BREAK BARRIERS AND BUILD BRIDGES IN THE FRATERNITY AND THEIR COMMUNITIES
A mid the implementation of significant policy changes in Florida in 2023, the 34th Administration, under the leadership of Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq., made a strategic decision. Instead of making news for a cycle due to a potential boycott of the State of Florida, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., made history as the first Divine Nine organization to partner with the city, its small busi- nesses and historic communities to make a lasting impact. The Administration believed that the educational work- shops, health and job fairs, international participation, and economic impact of the 86th Grand Chapter Meeting would counter the concerns of withdrawing the conclave from the state and deliver a powerful message to the Tampa Bay area. This led to successfully hosting the third largest Grand Chapter Meeting from July 18-23, 2023. The Tampa (FL) Alumni Chapter (Tampa Alumni) hosted the meeting in the Southern Province and was assisted by the University of South Florida Chapter, the Zeta Chi of Kappa Alpha Psi, and the Tampa Silhouettes. The Host Commit- tee was led by Local Planning Committee Chairman David Christian (Tampa (FL) AL 2016), Tampa Alumni Polemarch
and Southern Province Board Member Collis H. Ivery III. Visit Tampa Bay, the fraternity’s convention partner, estimated that the conclave had nearly 20,000 attendees and generated $15 million to the local economy. “These distinguished men and their families took over ‘Kappa Bay’ by exploring our world-class attractions, new hotels, and excellent culinary scene,” said Santiago C. Corrado, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. For over 90 years, the Tampa (FL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Inc. has been a beacon of service and leadership in the Tampa Bay community. Tampa Alumni stands as the oldest Black Greek-letter organization in Hillsborough County. The significant contributions of local members have enriched the fraternity and inspired a legacy of service and leadership that has served as a cornerstone since our founding in 1911. Tampa Alumni’s Circle of Achievers covers Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor. The 26 men depicted in the following advertorial, continue to influence the Tampa-re- gion’s greater quality of life. They are a microcosm of the fraternity, impacting neighbors, communities, and policies where chapters exist.
SUMMER 2023 ♦ THE JOURNAL 43
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