On Wednesday, December 19, 2018, the Iota Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated joined the Miami-Dade National Pan-Hellenic Council to distribute Christmas gifts to the entire student body of Florida City Elementary School. The Miami-Dade National Pan-Hellenic Council hosts an annual toy collection drive to provide Christmas gifts to children who reside in low income communities.

The Council’s holiday gift market included books, action figures, balls, dolls, remote control vehicles, Legos and electronic learning devices for primary school age children. The students were allowed to select their personal gifts to take home. In total, over 400 toys were collected by NPHC local affiliate organizations (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority) and distributed at the school site. A surplus of toys which included featured hot items - two bicycles and a drone - were allocated to the school administration to serve as achievement prizes to inspire and reward student performance during the remainder of the school year.

On Friday, November 30, 2018, twelve days after embattled Broward County Supervisor of Elections (SOE), Dr. Brenda Snipes, submitted her letter of resignation — effective January 4, 2019 — Florida governor and US Senator-elect Rick Scott issued an executive order suspending her from office. Scott’s Order cites reasons for the suspension; prohibits Snipes from receiving any pay or allowance; and appoints her replacement, Peter Antonacci.

Scott could have allowed Snipes to leave her position quietly, but no. Snipes has not been publicly humiliated enough for him; Scott wants her punished. During the midterm elections, Snipes became the face of election fraud, corruption and incompetence depending on to whom one spoke. After Scott quickly accused Snipes of fraud, without any proof, Republicans, the far right and some Democrats called for her to be jailed or fired. Snipes was accused of sabotaging Senator Bill Nelson, whom Scott defeated, and also being a double agent working for the Republicans.

Dr. Snipes and her legal team held a press conference yesterday. It was attended by a few black elected officials, some black ministers and several black women dressed in red as identified by mainstream media. For the record, the ladies in red and Snipes are members of Delta Sigma Theta, a black Greek-letter sorority. During the press conference, attorneys Burnadette Norris-Weeks and Michelle Austin Pamies refuted the claims outlined in Gov. Scott’s executive order. The suspension of Dr. Brenda Snipes is on the verge of becoming a one-dimensional racial issue when it is that and more. The suspension of Brenda Snipes is a power play. For whatever reason, white critics of Gov. Scott’s executive order were conspicuously missing.

Not condoning any missteps by Snipes and her staff, recognize what’s at play by targeting her and heavily-Democratic Broward County. The new Broward SOE has the power to easily suppress the vote just in time to deliver Florida and the presidential election to Donald Trump and other down-ballot Republicans in 2020. The SOE determines the early voting sites, hours, precinct staffing, etc.

Lest we forget, Dr. Brenda Snipes was appointed SOE in November 2003 by then Gov. Jeb Bush. She was subsequently elected in 2004 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Does Gov. Scott not respect for the will of the people of Broward County? If the people were not satisfied with her performance, there were several opportunities to elect one of her opponents. As a candidate on the ballot, Scott really should not have made the inflammatory and potentially slanderous statements about her.

The immediate suspension of Dr. Snipes by Gov. Scott placed the final decision on her removal from office on the agenda of the Florida Senate and prolonging this unpleasant situation. Gov. Scott’s decision to suspend Dr. Snipes after she had already submitted her resignation demonstrates poor leadership. Suspending Dr. Snipes and withholding her pay is the height of pettiness and maliciousness.

@vanessawbyers

Related Link: Executive Order of Suspension 

The men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity will be hosting voter mobilization and education events across Florida on Saturday, October 27. The Miami Alumni Chapter’s event will be held at Miami Dade College North Campus, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Come out and learn more about the ballot, cast your vote and fellowship with the brothers of the frat so nice they had to name it twice. Don’t miss the free food, entertainment, games and much more. For more info, visit #ItsAKappaPartyFL on Facebook! 

@vanessawbyers
 

Deborah Catchings-Smith

CARY, N.C.  - National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) announced the installation of Deborah Catchings-Smith, International President, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, as chair of the NPHC’s Council of Presidents (COP) for a one-year term effective immediately. 

Iota Pi Lambda Chapter's 2018 scholarship recipients with Alpha Phi Alpha members from across South Florida.

The Iota Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated honored several local high school students at its annual Golden Affair Scholarship Fundraiser  at the University of Miami Newman Alumni Center.  In recognition of their demonstrated academic excellence and civic contributions to the community, scholarships were awarded to three high school seniors - Khalil Davis (Coral Reef Senior High School ), Brandon Love (Coral Reef Senior High School), and Tyler Regalado (New World School of the Arts). In the Fall, Davis will attend the University of Central Florida with a major in Biology; Love will attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University to study Business, and Regalado will attend Florida International University to pursue a degree in Finance. 

Register NOW for tonight’s webinar as the Divine Nine collaborate with the NAACP to effect positive change via voter engagement. During its annual public board meeting in New York City earlier this year, the NAACP announced several key partnerships designed to expand the reach, impact and effectiveness of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organizations.

The NAACP signed agreements with announced partnerships with the NNPA: The Black Press of America; the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC); the African-American Institute, and The Links, Incorporated. As part of an overall strategy, the NAACP will shift resources towards mobilization efforts for the 2018-midterm elections and beyond.

“Working with partners remains a critical part of unifying the Black community as we prepare to make our voices heard at the polls and on ineffective public policies,” said NAACP National Board Chairman Leon W. Russell. “These groups have answered the call to work with us to expand membership and our ability to educate our community on the need for aggressive civic engagement.”

“These partnerships are part of our strategic plan to unite the various strands of our community into powerful forms of operational unity,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “We have come to understand that elections have consequences and if the consequences of the most-recent presidential election means we recognize the need for greater unity among people and organizations of color; then we are moving in the right direction,” added Johnson.

Calling all members of the Divine Nine - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated to join tonight’s webinar. Register at https://www.anymeeting.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=ED54D888884C3A . 

As the NAACP strategically rolls out this mobilization and voter engagement plan, the North Carolina Legislature has already witnessed the power of the NPHC as the NC Divine Nine gathered recently for Legislative Day. As, Delta Sigma Theta member Terry Spicer wrote: “Hundreds in the majestic and powerful Colors of the Divine Nine were a sight to behold!”

Gathering of members for the North Carolina Divine Nine Legislative Day. Photos: Terry Spicer (Facebook)

MOU between the NAACP and NPHC (leaders of black greek-letter organizations).

 #OurVotesMatter

From left, chapter member Chris Stevenson, unidentified school faculty member and chapter member Gerson Sanchez with donated supplies for the 2016-17 school year.

Thank you to the men of the Iota Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as they recently adopted Dr. William A. Chapman Elementary School as their 2016 Adopt-A-Classroom grant recipient. The organization showered the school with much needed school supplies for the students. Dr. William A. Chapman was one of Miami's first black physicians. Known for his educational programs on communicable diseases, Chapman's home stands as an iconic landmark and educational resource center in Overtown, the center of Miami's historic African-American community.