The Power of School and Community Partnerships

With a belief that school, and community partnerships are essential for fostering holistic and well-rounded educational experiences for students, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Rho Pi Lambda chapter recently visited Arbor Station Elementary School to recognize the academic excellence of students and the dedication of staff. The visit, a part of the fraternity’s education commitment to serve students in Douglas County, was welcomed! At a time when school budgets are limited, members of the fraternity provided a generous donation to support enriched experiential learning opportunities for members of Ms. Buchanan’s 2nd grade class. Students were excited to see the members and were all smiles as they received pizza and a special guest appearance from Mayor Rochelle Robinson, who accompanied the men of the fraternity. Andre Burgess, the chair of the fraternity’s educational committee said, “Our commitment to serving the students and staff of Arbor Station Elementary is an exciting new partnership for our chapter. The commitment to education is deeply invested in our fraternity’s mission and activities.” In addition to the classroom donation, the fraternity will support literacy for all students by building a book donation drop box at the entrance of the school. School Principal, Dr. Emily Felton welcomes the partnership with the fraternity. When asked, she shared that “It is my belief that community partnerships have proven successful in creating a supportive learning environment that promotes student learning and success. We are thankful to the men of Alpha Phi Alpha and look forward to the continued partnership.”

******** About Alpha Phi Alpha ***********

The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and is headquartered in Baltimore, MD. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community’s fight for civil rights. Chartered in 2008, the Rho Pi Lambda Chapter of the fraternity is seated in Douglas, Carroll, and Paulding Counties. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. To learn more about the Rho Pi Lambda Chapter in Douglas County, visit www.rhopilambda.org.