Aiken Alpha Phi Alpha brings leaderships, education and economic empowerment to the community

Feb. 11—For 37 years, the Aiken Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity — Aiken Alphas — has been making a difference in the lives of young men and the community.

"Being able to see people who look like me and doing positive things in the community are providing services in the forefront in the community," Dr. Jamel Hodges said.

Hodges is one of many members of the local chapter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., which serves through acts of philanthropy and various programs.

The Black Greek organization was founded by seven Black men in 1906 at Cornell University as a way to recognize the need for a strong bond of brotherhood for African descendants in the United States, according to a fraternity website.

The fraternity is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is includes nine historical Black fraternities and sororities, and many more.

Its mission is to develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence, provide service and advocate.

The Aiken Alphas started in 1981 but didn't become a chapter until 1986 and was granted its charter in 1987. James W. Moton served as on the chapter's first presidents and was one of the founding members. Other founding member include Robert Brooks, Wilar Hightower, Curtis Moody, John Osby, Thomas Payton, Charles Ray, Arthur Smith, Augustus Stephens, Raul Thomas and David Walker.

The chapter held its first initiation ceremony Jan. 27, 1990 and established the Sigma Tau chapter at USC Aiken in 1991.

Hodges, who works on diversity and initiatives at USC Aiken, joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity when he was a student at the college in the fall of 2007. Hodges said he was inactive after graduation, but he became more involved in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic to connect with the graduate chapter.

"The young men here have very high moral code and values and are strong in the community," he said.

College students are part of the undergraduate chapters while professionals or those who have graduated are part of graduate chapters.

Moton joined the fraternity in the fall of 1970 at Voorhees University, a historically Black college in Denmark, South Carolina.

"What I saw was a group of men who came together and it included brotherhood, they were forward thinkers, they were presented as leaders and I saw myself in that capacity," Moton said. "I saw myself being part of that structure."

Hodges said each year the organization raises money for scholarships for the area students who plan to go attend a post-secondary option, but the pandemic has made it harder to become engaged with the youth.

Hodges said ever since the pandemic it has become harder for the organization to engage with younger students because it is hard to get inside the schools. He said the organization is looking at more ways to get people involved.

Hodges said working with Successteam with during a summer retreat and also taking part in the Aiken County Public School District College and Career Fair are some ways the fraternity has been able to reach the youth.

Moton said the fraternity and those similar to it are great platforms for helping people young people develop leadership skills and to give back to their community in positive way.

"It just puts you in a position where you are exposed to so many things which you may not have been exposed to at an earlier age," Moton said.