BRO. RON C. RICE, FORMER NEWARK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER &
EDUCATIONAL LEADER ENDORSES BRO. CLEVELAND E. BECKETT, JR.
for 29TH EASTERN REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

 

November 23, 2020 – Washington, D.C.: Bro. Ron C. Rice expressed his support and endorsement of Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. of Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter (New York, NY) as his candidate and best selection for 29th Eastern Regional Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

“I have known Cleveland for over twenty-five years and he possesses keen insight on the current conditions of the fraternity. He is a thoughtful leader and recognizes the fraternity as a catalyst for change within our communities. Cleveland is approachable, honest and possesses the capacity of vision to facilitate the Brotherhood’s next chartered steps into the future. I urge the Brothers of the Eastern Region to consider his candidacy, and for the Chapters and their Delegates to vote Bro. Cleveland. E. Beckett, Jr., as our Eastern Regional Vice President at the 89th Eastern Regional Convention in Newport News, VA from April 8-11, 2021.

His campaign platform, “Alpha Ideals: Building the Future” encompasses the type of robust ideas, guided by program objectives and milestones, we need in the Eastern Region and indeed throughout Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  Bro. Beckett possesses vision, capacity and relationships to secure resources and advance our mission statement goals. He especially recognizes the need to enrich our signature education program, Go-to-High School-Go-to College” Program, as it approaches 100th years in operation in 2022.  Additionally, he is committed to transparency and will serve as a knowledgeable effective representative on the National Board of Directors, and place special emphasis on ensuring the academic success, engagement of our College Brothers, and their professional and fraternal transition to the alumni ranks. 

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Bro. Ron C. Rice is the current Senior Director of Government Relations at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C.  He served as a 2-term City Council Member in the City of Newark, NJ’s West Ward and authored ground-breaking legislation related to educational, criminal justice, ethics and housing reform.  Bro. Rice graduated from American University with a degree in Political Science and Public Administration and graduated from Seton Hall University, School of Law in Newark, NJ. He is an initiate of the Nu Beta Chapter at American University and currently holds membership in Omicron Eta Lambda chapter in Washington, DC. Bro. Rice serves as a member of the fraternity’s National Commission on Political & Civic Engagement and has advised the Alpha Community Education Initiative of the Western Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

MAAC DISTRICT VI LEADER, BRO. DR. RYLE BELL ENDORSES
BRO. CLEVELAND E. BECKETT, JR. for 29TH EASTERN REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

December 4, 2020 – Washington, D.C.: Bro. Dr. Ryle Bell is pleased to add his wholehearted support and endorsement of Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. in his campaign to serve as the 29th Eastern Region Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

I have known Bro. Beckett for many years. He has demonstrated his commitment, honesty and sincerity in support of brothers and advancement of the fraternity’s mission statement and goals. Cleveland has excellent communications and interpersonal skills, which are critical in engaging all Brothers – college and alumni to remain active and supportive of our national programs and initiatives. Most importantly, he is a Brother’s Brother, knowledgeable, approachable and maintains the true spirit of fraternalism, while engaged in servant leadership. Throughout our many conversations on fraternity subjects, Cleveland demonstrates his insight on a broad spectrum of issues, including both our membership retention, reclamation and governance concerns.

Many of the historical societal advancements made by African Americans are in danger, and the covid-19 pandemic outbreak has further dramatized inequities in education, healthcare, economic development and employment. As brothers and chapters attempt to maintain our relationships, our fraternity must still continue to navigate within our current environment and present a thoughtful path to advance the ideals of our Jewel Founders with purpose and commitment. His campaign Platform, “Alpha Ideals: Building the Future” is both dynamic and intentional to motivate and utilize the talents of Brothers within the Eastern Region, while providing continued opportunities for additional dialogue and engagement for action by brothers and chapters.

Bro. Beckett will continue to engage Brothers and Chapters within the MAAC District VI and the entire Eastern Region. He is committed to transparency and prepared to assume this leadership position on our National Board of Directors, at this critical juncture in the fraternity. These are some of the additional reasons, why I have agreed to serve on Bro. Beckett’s senior campaign team for his candidacy for Eastern Region Vice President.  I encourage Brothers of the Eastern Region to join me, and request your chapter delegates to vote for Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr., as our next Eastern Region Vice President, at the 89th Eastern Regional Convention in Newport News, VA from April 8-11, 2021.

Bro. Dr. Ryle Bell is a Professor Emeritus of Howard University, a retired Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs in the College of Dentistry and a past practitioner of Prosthodontics in Washington, DC. Currently, Bro. Bell serves as the Eastern Region’s Director of Rituals. He has served in numerous fraternity leadership positions, including National Chair of the Ritual Committee, Dean of the College of Brotherhood of Alpha University, Eastern Region Director of Protocols, and as a MAAC District VI Area Director for fifteen years. Bro. Bell is a forty-three year member of the fraternity and holds active membership in both Omicron Eta Lambda Chapter and Mu Lambda Chapter located in Washington, D.C.

BRO. LEO H. ROSS, Past VACAPAF District VII Director & Brother of Bro. William Ross, Jr. Endorses BRO. CLEVELAND E. BECKETT, JR. as 29th Eastern Region Vice President

December 27, 2020 – Richmond, Virginia:  The current environment represents a critical period within our nation, Black America and the position of our fraternity to address issues of importance. This has been made more difficult for us, as we navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, I am especially pleased to announce the enthusiastic support and endorsement of Bro. Leo H. Ross of Xi Delta Lambda Chapter in Henrico County, Virginia. Bro. Ross served as the 10th VACAPAF President from 1995-1999, as well as past District VII Director.  Bro. Ross and his family are not strangers to positions of service within the Eastern Region.  His deceased brother, Bro. William Ross, Jr., an initiate of Rho Chapter in Philadelphia, and namesake of the foundation that bears his name, served as Eastern Region Vice President from 1983-1987.    

In providing his endorsement, Bro. Leo H. Ross stated the following, “I have known Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. for over twenty years. Over the years, he has impressed me with his energy, consistent leadership and true thoughtfulness of many of the issues facing our fraternity.  He tendency is to truly understand the important issues and then build a framework to address them. We need honest and capable brothers, with the ability and willingness to make difficult decisions, develop partnerships and motivate others to return to the House, for the overall benefit of the Brothers.  All brothers within current leadership or aspiring to greater leadership, should possess a track record of transparency, conveying the true concerns of the Brotherhood, and exercise thoughtfulness in their administration of authority. Bro. Beckett has relayed his thoughts, concerns and planned actions to improve overall membership development and commitment to better corporate governance practices. Lastly, Cleveland will remain approachable and display the true spirit of brotherhood as our next Eastern Region Vice President. The Eastern Region needs a strong presence on the National Board of Directors and Bro. Beckett is that brother! I look forward to having chapters and their delegates throughout the Eastern Region, join me in supporting and voting for Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr., to serve as our 29th Eastern Region Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.” 

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Bro. Leo H. Ross is a Spring 1966 initiate of Xi Chapter at Wilberforce University and a fifty-four year member of the fraternity.  Bro. Ross was employed in the pharmaceutical industry for twenty-eight years in research and development and operations. He was also employed as a staff pharmacist for CVS pharmacy for fifteen years.

Educational & Philanthropic Leader, Bro. Michael T.S. Wotorson
Supports for Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. as 29th Eastern Region Vice President
of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Bro. Michael T. S. Wotorson states his enthusiastic support and endorsement for Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. of Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter of New York, NY, for election to serve as our next and 29th Eastern Region Vice President at the fraternity’s upcoming 89th Eastern Regional Convention from April 8 – 11, 2021. In announcing his support, Bro. Wotorson shared:

 “I have known Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. for thirty years, and we have held countless conversations on ways to enhance the leadership goals and membership capacity of our fraternity. In these critical moments within our history, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., must remain aspirational in our goal setting and continue to work within our local communities and meaningfully engage with our international stakeholders, to create beneficial partnerships for our chapters and general organization. Cleveland is prepared to lead and most importantly, expresses the willingness to broadly engage brothers, identify and cultivate a leadership team dedicated to supporting Eastern Region Chapters to enhance membership and revenue capacity. He has already demonstrated success during this campaign, in assisting one chapter with their nomination process in their successful grant award with the Community Connections Campaign at the World Bank, an international non-governmental organization. Bro. Beckett is focused, approachable, possesses an expansive vision, and has articulated his support for the fraternity’s appropriate international growth, consistent with the vision and actions of Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones. 

Over the years, Bro. Beckett has demonstrated his commitment to both political engagement and advocacy in providing academic achievement opportunities for African American and Latino male youth, especially at the middle school, high school and college level. These attributes are critical to ensure our success in fulfilling the fraternity mission statement: “Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. develops leaders, promotes Brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.”  Whether facilitating policy panels on education, as a ministry leader at The Abyssinian Baptist Church, or prior service as a college administrator for a Black Male Initiative mentorship and academic support services program, Cleveland understands the challenge facing our emerging fraternal and community leaders, and is skilled at developing partnerships with college administrators, philanthropic leaders and organizations.”  Join me in supporting the “Alpha Ideals: Building the Future” campaign platform and have your chapter delegates vote for Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. as Eastern Region Vice President, at the Eastern Regional Convention held April 8 – 11, 2021.

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Bro. Michael T.S. Wotorson is a Fall 1987 initiate of the Zeta Alpha Chapter at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Past Midwestern Region Assistant Vice President of the fraternity. Bro. Wotorson serves as Senior Officer with The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, a community foundation for Hartford, CT and surrounding communities, which has awarded grants more than $700 million since its founding. He has held multiple positions within the Republic of Liberia, including Chairman of the National Investment Commission. Additionally, he served as Executive Director, Campaign for High School Equity in Washington, D.C., and National Education Director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Bro. Wotorson holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is also a Ph.D. candidate at American University

Bro. James M. Trent, Former General Treasurer Endorses Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr.
for 29th Eastern Region Vice President

The often quoted notion of esprit de fraternite by Past General President, Bro. Charles H. Garvin, represents the truest tenet of service to our fraternity. We particularly embrace those brothers who have demonstrated their commitment to the Brotherhood with grace. Bro. James M. Trent, Past General Treasurer of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., a member of Kappa Epsilon Lambda Chapter in Fort Washington, MD within Prince George’s County, is indeed such a brother. Bro. Trent, Life Member #818 was initiated on November 15, 1956 into Beta Omicron Chapter at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been an active member for sixty-four years.

In providing his endorsement of Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. for Eastern Region Vice President, Bro. Trent stated, “I have known and observed Bro. Beckett from his service on the National Board of Directors as an Assistant Regional Vice President and throughout his time as an alumni brother. His tenure coincided with the last time, we had a management team tasked with the daily administration of duties at the Corporate Office Headquarters, under my leadership. 

I am confident that Cleveland will ask the correct questions, obtain answers to issues of concern to the Brotherhood, and advocate for better and equally applied corporate governance policies to enhance the fraternity’s financial position. He understands and is committed to improving communications and examining opportunities to foster collective membership and economic development within the Eastern Region and the Fraternity. Join me in this endorsement and request your chapter and its delegates in voting for Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr., as our next Eastern Region Vice President, at the 89th Eastern Regional Convention from April 8-11, 2021.”

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Bro. James M. Trent served as General Treasurer of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from 1979 to 1992.  He  retired as a federal finance administrator within the United States Department of the Interior, following several years of distinguished service.

BRO. DR. SILAS H. CHRISTIAN, III, DISTINGUISHED EDUCATIONAL LEADER,
LIFE MEMBER& LIEUTENANT COLONEL ENDORSES BRO. CLEVELAND E. BECKETT, JR.
as 29th EASTERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT


 “The Alpha Ideals: Building the Future” campaign is pleased to announce the enthusiastic support and endorsement of Bro. Dr. Silas H.  Christian, III of Nu Omicron Lambda Chapter in Fort Lee, Virginia.

Bro. Silas H. Christian, III, Life Member # 5158, is well regarded educator at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. In providing his endorsement, Bro. Christian stated the following,

“Brothers with military experience understand and appreciate leaders, who offer clear directions and milestones to achieve mission success.  Bro. Beckett has these traits, and most importantly is enlisting brothers to further define and implement tangible platforms and practices.” Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. demonstrated a sincere and clearly focused plan to assist College Brothers and College Chapters with increased support for fraternity operations, developing pathways to improve the transition from college to alumni brother, and affirmed his willingness to partner with college and university administrators to improve academic and career opportunities for College Brothers, through career coaching and experiential learning. Bro. Beckett is prepared to utilize the diversity of the Brotherhood.”

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Bro. Silas H. Christian, III is a Spring 1975 initiate of Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter in Washington, D.C and a forty-five year member of the fraternity. Bro. Christian Bro. Christian serves as Professor for Internship and Dissertation for Doctoral Studies at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia.

BRO. BISHOP ROBERT H. KELLEY, III, RELIGIOUS LEADER & ENTREPRENEUR
ENDORSES BRO. CLEVELAND E. BECKETT, JR. as
29th EASTERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT

“The Alpha Ideals: Building the Future” campaign is pleased to announce the enthusiastic support and endorsement of Bro. Bishop Robert H. Kelley, III of Rho Phi Lambda Chapter in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Bro. Kelley also serves as Chaplain for District One, International District of Alpha Chapters (IAAC).  Rho Phi Lambda Chapter was chartered on February 3, 2011, and became the first chapter established in Southern Africa, as well as the 1st chapter established on the continent in the 21st Century.  In providing his enthusiastic endorsement, Bro.Bishop Kelley stated,“I am very impressed with the clarity of vision of Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr., as it pertains to elevating the brand and platform of the fraternity on an international scope.  During the District One, International District of Alpha Chapters (IAAC) Conference and additional opportunities to hear him speak, Bro. Beckett highlighted his plans to seriously engage and partner with international chapters, especially in targeting corporate sector diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities in procurement, supplier diversity, marketing and identifying cultural immersion as well as study abroad programs for interested college brothers. Additionally, Bro. Beckett was outstanding in his presentation to the Brothers of Rho Phi Lambda Chapter last week; and he demonstrated his actions by assisting Brothers in real time with their endeavors and projects before federal agencies. Bro. Cleveland E. Beckett, Jr. has demonstrated his capacity to serve as our 29th Eastern Region Vice President, and I urge your chapter delegates to elect him at our Eastern Regional Convention from April 8-10, 2021.

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Bro. Bishop Kelley is a Spring 1977 of Nu Beta Chapter at American University and a forty-three-year member of the fraternity.  Bro. Bishop Robert H. Kelley, III serves as Executive Chairman, Crest Mount International