EPA HISTORY
It all started…
ON AUGUST 27,1993 EVERGREEN PARK ALUMNI CHAPTER OF KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY WAS CHARTERED IN CHICAGO,IL. THE EVERGREEN PARK ALUMNI CHAPTER FOCUSES ITS EFFORTS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, MENTORING THROUGH OUR GUIDE RIGHT PROGRAM, COMMUNITY SERVICE, ECONOMICS, POLITICAL AWARENESS AND THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
ABOUT EPA
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a College Fraternity comprised of functioning Undergraduate & Alumni Chapters on major campuses and in cities throughout the country. It is the crystallization of a dream of ten (10) astute men on January 5, 1911 on the campus of Indiana University. On August 27, 1993, Evergreen Park Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was chartered in Chicago, Illinois. EPA celebrated their Twenty Fifth Year Anniversary on August 27, 2018. The fundamental purpose of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is Achievement. Our mission is to unite college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of Fraternity. To encourage honorable achievement in every field of human endeavor. To promote the spiritual, social, intellectual and moral welfare of its members. To assist the aim and purpose of colleges and universities and finally to inspire and perform service in the public interest.
EDUCATION
One of the fraternity’s initiatives to inspire and promote service in the public interest is Guide Right, a program for the educational and occupational guidance of youth. It is primarily an inspirational and informal program seeking to develop and build character. Its reach extends to high schools and colleges alike. The mission of the Guide Right program is to promote goals, aims, and objectives of the fraternity. The objectives of Guide Right is to inspire service in the public interest through the cultural enrichment & character development; to develop leadership skills while monitoring, encouraging, and rewarding academic performance; to refine self-esteem, social skills and environment awareness; to refine self-esteem, social skills and environment awareness; to assist parents in handling of their children success in their chosen vocation; to afford the less fortunate youths a respite from the drudgery of the streets through sponsored/cultural enrichment, and to inform youth of the value of higher education, assistance available for continued educational pursuits, scholarship, loans, professional counseling and fellowships.
Evergreen Park Alumni Chapter’s Guide Right Program is under the direction of Charter Member, Brother Gerald Jones. We mentor 20 young men at Rich Central High School located at 3600 203rd Street, Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461.
The structure of our Guide Right Program consists of one meeting each week during the school year usually from August – May. Also a social and/or a community service outing once a month. A 90% attendance rate is required of all students to remain active, unless they are involved in extra-curricular activities at school. Currently thirteen of the young men are student athletes maintaining over a 3.0 grade point average while participating in football, basketball and baseball.
Guide Right meetings update the young men of past, present, and future activities and expectations concerning the program. During these meetings, students are taught how to speak publicly and set goals for future success.
They also participate in conversations to help them understand their respective positions as young men in the world today. Students receive tutoring, life and etiquette skills necessary to become functioning members of our society.
All the Kappa Leaguers participating in Guide Right are taught the GUIDE RIGHT CODE:
Distinction, Honor, Integrity, Fortitude & Justice
Distinction – Characterized by excellence or being distinguished.
Never accepting second best. Always achieving in every field of human endeavor.
Honor – Esteem and respect for self and others. Forever practicing codes of chivalry.
Integrity – Personal honesty and independence. Remaining of high moral and character. Doing the right thing at all times.
Fortitude – Opposite of cowardice. Able to endure adversity with courage.
Justice – Upholding what is just or fair. Seeking just treatment and due rewards for all mankind.
Along with the educational component in Guide Right, EPA provides social development activities to our Guide Right students also known as Kappa Leaguers. These consist of recreational activities we provide to reward Kappa Leaguers for doing good work, respecting their parents, achieving high grades, avoiding behavioral & discipline problems and exemplifying leadership at school. These activities allow the brothers of EPA to bond with the students and enjoy time together outside of the educational setting. They are beneficial in that they allow us to lead by example and build healthy relationships. Kappa League students in turn become comfortable with our mentorship. Last year EPA gave two $1000.00 scholarships to graduating Kappa Leaguers Ryan Calvin (Ohio State) and Nilan Cussic (Uof I) to further their education. Both participated in the Guide Right program at Rich Central H.S.
Evergreen Park Alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity participated in the Board of Education for School District 149 annual All Male Youth Summit in Dolton, Illinois. The purpose of the Male Summit was to empower manhood, encourage self-respect, and nurture resilient African American males. There were over 500 young male ages 11 – 14 participating in the Summit. Under the EPA Guide Right Program, we have adopted School District 149 and will be developing a mentoring curriculum to address and support middle school students along with our high school Kappa League students in 2014.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Brothers of Evergreen Park Alumni organize, collaborate, and participate with our Kappa Leaguers in community service projects. We refer to this as volunteerism and believe volunteerism builds character and self-esteem. It is important for us to lead by example while emphasizing the important impact giving back to communities can have on one’s life. Throughout the year, EPA collaborated with companies, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies to support and strengthen communities in Chicago. EPA collaborated with Blacks Affairs Advisory Council of the Social Security Administration (BAAC) to address hunger in communities by providing food baskets to needy families during the Thanksgiving Holiday. In 2013 our Turkey Harvest feed over 80 families. We annually host a “Toys for Tots” Christmas Toy drive and for 2013 we provided toys to 25 families .We have also volunteered time and service to Chicago Food Depository, Roseland Cease Fire, and Habitat for Humanity in Chicago Heights, and the Chicago Park District at Jackson Park. We have participated in environmental Earth Day activities with School District 225 and neighborhood cleanup days to beautify the Woodlawn & Roseland communities.
ECONOMIC
Evergreen Park Alumni has supported the fraternity’s national initiative related to the Kappa Kamp at the Piney Woods School in Mississippi. This camp seeks to assist in the development of young boys to men. The camp runs 4 weeks at a time during the summer months and can accommodate up to 75 young men during each session of the Kamp. We donated funds towards furthering this effort. Our goal for 2014 is to increase our donation to help sponsor the total expense of an EPA Kappa Leaguer at a cost of $850.00. EPA also supported the Diamonds in the Rough Program through mentorship with our Guide Right Program. This program is designed to help financially strapped families in their endeavors to provide higher education for their children. We pay fees for pre ACT testing preparation classes. We offer monetary assistance to Kappa League students to pay their high school activity and registration fees. Additionally we provide stipends for books, school supplies, and will pay for professional tutoring when needed.
HEALTH
Through our Health initiative, Healthy Kappa's/Healthy Communities, locally we have participated in health and wellness fairs. We hosted guest speakers to present at chapter meeting to educate brothers on healthy lifestyles and eating alternatives. Brothers of EPA participate in health screenings at fraternal functions.
POLITICAL
For the last three years, the brothers of EPA have been active in their local unions, political campaigns and have acted as deputy registrars during voter registration drives in several communities in Cook County. We work with Roseland Ceasefire helping them distribute literature for neighborhood action related to stop the violence campaigns, about upcoming CAPS meetings, and community resources provided through social service agencies.
Meetings are held every 1st Thursday at 7PM
Jackson Park Fieldhouse
6401 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL