For more than a century, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Beta Lambda Chapter, has been a leader in community service, mentorship, and education in Kansas City. The local chapter, established in January 1919, continues that legacy through programs that uplift and empower youth. When Lead to Read KC learned the fraternity was interested in introducing our Reading Mentoring program at Hogan Preparatory Academy, we couldn’t wait to partner with the respected group so rooted in service and impact.
“Our chapter has been involved with lots of schools and outreach events through Project Alpha and other initiatives,” said Alpha Phi Alpha Chapter President Albert Ray. “But I thought—what if we concentrated our collective efforts at one school?”
That idea of focused, sustained mentorship led to a collaboration between Lead to Read KC and Alpha Phi Alpha that is bringing consistent reading support to Hogan students. Ray and Dr. Tyrone Bates invited the brothers to join them at Hogan with one goal: not just to inspire a love of reading, but to follow a cohort of students through their academic journey and be a steady presence in their development.
Many fraternity brothers don’t live near the schools they serve, but that hasn’t diminished their impact. “There’s a need to recreate community,” Ray explained. “This is one way we do that. By showing up, reading with students, and building trust.”
Thanks to Alpha Phi Alpha’s leadership, more students are getting the one-on-one time they need to grow as readers, and more volunteers are seeing the powerful ripple effect of mentoring.
Join Alpha Phi Alpha and many others in making a lasting difference. Apply to be a reading mentor at leadtoreadkc.org/volunteer.