Kappa Alpha Psi Holds Back to School Rally in Woodlawn
The Chicago (IL) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is once again serving the community.
Last Saturday, members of the fraternity held their first annual "Back to School" event at the Edward G. Irvin Foundation Achievement Center, 500 E. 67th St., in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. The chapter bought the building, formerly the Parkway Community House, earlier this year.
Over 300 area residents were treated to food, fun, dental screenings, free haircuts, and opportunities to get a Chicago Public Library card. Free health screenings from vendors such as Walgreen’s, Oak Street Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Black Girls Jump, and the Illinois State Department of Veterans’ Affairs were also offered.
Many of the young attendees were given golf lessons from the Chicago Women’s Golf Club, Inc. The Jesse White Tumblers also made an appearance.
Jennifer Webb, a resident of Chicago’s Pill Hill neighborhood, attended the event with her daughter, Faith. She came for the diabetes screening.
“I think this is an excellent idea. Sometimes, people think out of sight, out of mind,” Webb says.” It’s great they thought about doing something like this.”
Woodlawn resident Ajnat Sopys brought her nephew, D’Marean out to get a haircut. She says the appreciated the Kappa’s having an event like this in the neighborhood.
“This is an amazing experience and we are happy to be here. It’s a blessing,” Sopys says. “Good food and saving some money. I’m happy to be here. This is a safe environment.”
Dyahanne Ware, membership chairwoman of the Rotary Club of Chicago Southeast, partnered with the Edward G. Irvin Foundation Achievement Center.
“This is great for the community because it shows that the community can come together as one to show that they care,” Ware says. “This is a great thing. The event hasn’t even started and people are already here. This shows that events like these have great interest. “
Twentieth ward Ald. Willie Cochran, also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, understands how events like this can resonate out to surrounding communities.
“These events show how important the community is. This is a festive occasion as well as giving people supplies to go back to school and to have a good start,” Cochran says. “We are reducing costs for the parents.”
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, also a member of the fraternity, says that the Edward G. Irvin Foundation Achievement Center is a beacon of the community.
“I’m honored to be here. It’s a place that will be a safety net for young people,” White said. “It’s important for we as adults and leaders in organizations to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed. “
P. Scott Montgomery, the local chapter’s Junior Vice Polemarch, spearheaded the event along with Chicago Alumni member Glen Brooks. According to Montgomery, over 100 “back sacks “filled with school supplies were distributed to students. “We wanted to get something going to reach out to the community. We wanted to have some sort of health and back to school component. We decided to do something having to do with school starting back up soon,” Montgomery says.” At the end of the day, we wanted to do some outreach to the community to tell them that we are here for them. This is the beginning. Not the end.”
For more information on the Edward G. Irvin Foundation log on to http://www.egifoundation.org/.
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