[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE XI LAMBDA CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI 
         ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC., ON ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay 
tribute to the numerous accomplishments and influences of the Xi Lambda 
chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity based in Chicago, Illinois.
  As we all know, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity stands as the oldest and 
largest fraternity for African-American men in the United States. As 
one of the most renowned chapters of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 
the Xi Lambda chapter proudly celebrates its centennial anniversary 
today, May 15, 2024. As a proud Alpha myself, I commend my brothers 
wholeheartedly on this monumental milestone.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On May 15, 2024, page H3213, in the second column, the following 
appeared: proud Alpha myself, I commend my bothers wholeheartedly 
on this monumental milestone.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: proud Alpha 
myself, I commend my brothers wholeheartedly on this monumental 
milestone.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  Established on May 15, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, by 22 community 
and organizational leaders, including Dr. Henry Callis, a founding 
member of the national Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Xi Lambda 
chapter has become one of the largest and most prestigious chapters in 
the world. Since its inception, the Xi Lambda chapter has made 
significant educational, social, financial, and cultural contributions 
to the city of Chicago and its surrounding areas.
  For example, the Xi Lambda chapter operates both local and national 
programs, such as the Xi Lambda Educational Foundation that encourages 
the education of our Nation's youth through scholarships and 
mentorships.
  Additionally, as leaders and pioneers of our communities, the members 
of the Xi Lambda chapter established a computer lab school for inner-
city youth back in the 1980s, well before the advent of mainstream 
computer usage. For decades, the chapter has also focused on 
eradicating the disenfranchisement and suppression of Black voters 
through its A Voteless People is a Hopeless People voter empowerment 
campaign.
  Currently, the Xi Lambda chapter serves as the home chapter of the 
sitting general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Dr. 
Willis L. Lonzer III, and notable business leaders including: John H. 
Johnson, Tom Burrell, Paul King, and Robert King.
  The Xi Lambda chapter also proudly claims many members who have 
served in the U.S. judicial system, as well as in the Congress, such as 
Senator Roland Burris and Representatives William Dawson, Bennett 
Stewart, and Ralph Metcalfe. Other notables of Xi Lambda chapter 
include: Jesse Owens, John Hope Franklin, and E. Franklin Frazier.
  It is worth noting that presently in the city of Chicago there are 23 
public buildings named in honor of Xi Lambda brothers, including 
schools, parks, and the downtown Federal courthouse that is named for 
Ralph Metcalfe.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I applaud the contributions, leadership, and 
service the Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha has provided to our 
communities, country, and the world at large over the past 100 years or 
more, all of the accomplishments that I expressed. I express my strong 
support in recognizing May 15, 2024, as Alpha Phi Alpha Xi Lambda 
Chapter Day in the United States of America.

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