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Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations and leaders who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations and leaders embody "Be the change you want to see in the world".
Hear from Greek fraternities and sororities and their national presidents who are global change agents. We will also hear from CEOs of social enterprise businesses who are changing communities and college educators who are taking their students out of the classroom and into surrounding neighborhoods for real world life lessons and to serve others.
On Saturday, April 28, 2012, we will hear from Kappa Alpha Psi's Grand Polemarch (President and CEO), William "Randy" Bates. President Bates will share the rich history of the 101 year old fraternity and how the fraternity focuses on achievement, its fundamental purpose.
Along with Mr. Bates will be (Bro.) Rodney C. Perkins, Healthy Kappas Healthy Communities;(Bro)Jeremy Williams, Senior at Vanderbilt University; (Bro.) L'Mani Viney, National Guide Right Commission Chairman; and (Bro.) Jwyanza Nuriddin, Director of Kappa's Undergraduate Leadership Institute (ULI). Each gentleman will shine the spotlight on programs that have changed the lives of young men around the world and have produced tomorrow's leaders today. Focus on education as well as new community healthcare initiatives will also be discussed.
The men of Kappas Alpha Psi will share how their philanthropic accomplishments strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and how leading by example is the key to success in all of their endeavors.
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More About Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is an international organization founded on the campus of Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana on January 5, 1911. Since its inception, it has trained men, particularly undergraduates, for leadership roles in their communities and the attainment of a high degree of excellence in their academic pursuits. Its membership represents some of the most outstanding Americans in our country's history including Arthur Ashe, Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, Johnnie Cochran, Jr., a host of Mayors and other elected officials, and five (5) current members of Congress. The International Headquarters is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For additional information, go to
www.KappaAlphaPsi1911.com.
William "Randy" Bates, Jr. Esq. Grand Polemarch
Mr. Bates has been a member of the Texas Bar for 30 plus years. He practices in the area of public finance, which includes acting as co-bond counsel, co-special disclosure counsel, underwriter’s counsel and co-underwriter’s counsel. Bates is committed to the area of public finance, spending most of his time and efforts representing issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of bond transactions. Bates is also licensed in the state of Missouri.
Bates undergraduate studies were completed at Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He received his Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 1981. Bates was elected President of his freshman class at law school and later served as Law Student Director to the Texas Young Lawyers Association. In 1997, Bates was selected as "Outstanding Texans" in the field of education by the Texas legislative Black Caucus.
Bates is a law partner with Bates & Coleman, PC., and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Lone Star College System. He was elected chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1996, 1998, & 2008 where the College system received 9 separate credit upgrades for Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.
A Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Bates went on to become the Polemarch of Houston Alumni, and soon after served as Board Member of the Southwestern Province. From 1994 – 1998 Bates served as the Senior Vice Province Polemarch of the Southwestern Province, and moving into the role of Polemarch of the Southwestern Province from 1998-2003.
As Senior Grand Vice-Polemarch, Bates served on the Executive Committee and also served as the Chairman of the Council of Province Polemarchs and Senior Province Vice-Polemarchs. Working with the Province Polemarchs they made history with donations of over $1,000,000 to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Bates is the 32nd Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpa Psi. His administration's theme: “100 Years and Building: The Journey Continues.”
Jeremy Williams, Vanderbilt University 2012
Jeremy L. Williams is an Economics and Religious Studies double major from Huntsville, AL. He has been actively involved in VSG, VUcept, BSA, MLC and Kappa Alpha Psi where he currently serves as International Vice President (Junior Grand Vice Polemarch).
As Junior Grand Vice Polemarch, Williams, serves as an undergraduate member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s National Board of Directors. He’s already reached one of the highest achievements for an undergrad. Williams (Spring 2009) was a 2010 Kappa Fellows for the Fraternity's Undergraduate Leadership Institute (ULI). Williams took part in an intensive week-long institute in Cincinnati, OH sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi and GE. He was one of only 47 undergraduate brothers to receive this prestigious honor nationwide.
Williams is a member of the Nu Rho Chapter at Vanderbilt University. Attending ULI helps younger members learn more about what it takes to lead in the fraternity, in the marketplace and in the community. As a young twenty something, William is recognized as being a part of the forefront of leadership in Kappa Alpa Psi.
L-Mani S.Viney, National Guide Right Commission Chairman
L'Mani S. Viney is widely known and respected for his passion and zeal for mentoring young men of color. As an educator and national chair of the Kappa's Guide Right programs, Viney is focusing his energy to ensure the Guide Right programs provide positive impact needed to help young men of color throughout the nation. Viney adopted “Our Kids, Our Responsibility” as the theme for Kappa’s Guide Right efforts. “To truly judge if we are making an impact, we, as Kappa men, have to influence the policies and programs and discussion about young men of color,” Viney explains. Guide Right’s focus will be the national campaign known as the
Diamonds in the Rough which focuses on empowering the achievement of young men of color by providing greater opportunities to attend college and access scholarships.
Viney goes on to state, “Young men of color are labeled ‘at risk’, which triggers the perception that someone needs to ‘save the day’; but you can’t tell a kid ‘You can go to Harvard’ without the tools, support and parental engagement,” Viney says.Guide Right will provide those tools. Grand Polemarch Bates'
Diamond in the Rough program is designed to guide Kappa Leaguers to more than $1,000,000 in scholarship awards. We will also pursue an aggressive SAT and ACT prep program to increase scores,” he continues. To learn more about the program go
here.
Jwyanza Nuriddian, Director of Undergraduate Leadership Institute
Jwyanza Nuriddian, a graduate of Florida State University and Georgia Institute of Technology, is the director of the Undergraduate Leadership Institute (ULI).
Since its inception in 2004, the biennial Undergraduate Leadership Institute (ULI) has trained over 200 undergraduates for leadership and bestowed the designation of Kappa Fellow to the Fraternity’s best and brightest leaders. The ULI is a highly structured and intense leadership experience designed to increase undergraduates’ capacity to lead in multiple contexts—in the fraternity, on campus, and/or in their communities. Small group discussion, large group lecture, and case study analysis provided a rich learning environment for brothers to reframe or reinforce their approach to leadership. Social media, movie clips and an instant polling system support the curriculum. Invited speakers complemented the Institute by reinforcing the curriculum with practical examples based on their extensive leadership experiences and knowledge. The Institute format requires long days and structured time for socializing and exploring the host city. In recent years, General Electric has sponsored several days which focus on engaging the participants in a broad understanding of leadership in Corporate America and transitioning from college to career. The participants quickly learn that the ULI is not limited leadership in their current community, but also life beyond college.
The ULI has gained popularity and notoriety since its inception and is unlike any other program the Fraternity offers. Evaluations consistently tout the ULI as “the best undergraduate experience Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity offers.”
Rodney C. Perkins, Healthy Kappas Healthy Communities Program
Rodney C. Perkins is the newly appointed Health Coordinator for the Eastern Province
Healthy Kappas Healthy Communities program, a new fraternity initiative developed by the 32nd Grand Polemarch William "Randy" Bates, Jr. As coordinator, Perkins provides leadership for promoting health and wellness within the province.
Under Perkins' leadership, The Eastern Province began screening for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity during the 2009 Eastern Province Council Meeting to raise awareness about health disparities among African Americans and promote screening to emphasize the importance of early detection. Within three years, the initiative has become a vital part of the Eastern Province during C. Roger Wilson Leadership Conference and Province Council. During the 79th and the 80th Grand Chapter Meetings, the
Healthy Kappas Healthy Communities program provided mobile medical screening service to fraternity brothers attending the event. To date, over 1000 Kappa men, silhouettes, and members of the community have been screened.
Perkins holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. He is also a Master of Public Health degree candidate at the George Washington University School of Public Health with an emphasis in Epidemiology and HIV studies with an anticipated completion in Summer 2012.
To make contributions to support the Kappas Alpha Psi programs, contributions can be made online
here or contact their national office
here.
Special thanks to
College Crib,
Mocha Market Magazine , Dwayne Murray (31st Grand Polemarch), the Indiana University
Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpa Psi, Walter Searcy and Caldwell Ramsey.
Big Thanks to my mom, Dr. Stringer, who inspired this series.
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