Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Hosts Voter Registration Drive
Xi Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. hosted a voter registration drive on October 6th at Ringling College, targeting the college student population. The drive was the first of several to be sponsored by the fraternity in keeping with its national program, “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” – known as VPHP.
VPHP was initiated by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity during the 1930s when many African Americas had the right to vote but were prevented from voting because of poll taxes, threats of reprisal, and lack of education about the voting process. “We have always believed it is important to empower every citizen with the right to vote to improve our place in society,” said M. Rodney Robinson, the lead coordinator of the event. “With our roots as a college fraternity and knowing that there is no college chapter locally in Sarasota, it was important to have a presence on campus for students of color and demonstrate our leadership via action.”
The fraternity reached out and aligned with the Black Student Union and the Office of Volunteerism at the college to reach the student community.
“We knew that the students at Ringling had a history of recent activism as they were recognized as one of America’s best colleges for student voting,”
Robinson said. “This experience has allowed A Phi A to continue to advocate for our communities,” he said. The fraternity also reached out to the League of Women Voters of Sarasota for their support. “I had personally worked with the League of Women Voters in my local community in Rhode Island and knew about their willingness and ability to execute voter registration drives,” Robinson said. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, activist, grassroots organization that believes voters should play a critical role in democracy. Derrick Randall is Fraternity president.
Pictures:
1. Pictured left to right: Daphne Reynolds, a senior at Ringling College who is president of the Student Government Association, Michael Suarez, President of Alpha Phi Alpha Foundation of Manasota, Rachel Levey-Baker, Director of Student Volunteers at Ringling College and Derrick Randall, President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
2. Alpha Phi Alpha members: Michael Suarez, Charles Stephens, Rodney Robinson, Myron Robinson, Larry Thompson, President of Ringling College, Derrick Randall, Michael Chambers and Lou Murray.
