The birth of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in the West Georgia Region was the visionary mindset of Brother Dr. Said Sewell, a professor at the University of West Georgia, who convened eight other Alpha Brothers on Saturday, February 25, 2006. The meeting centered on discussing and laying plans for re-establishing a college chapter at the University of West Georgia and an alumni (mentoring) chapter in Carrollton, Georgia. The Brothers noted an Alumni chapter in Carroll County was needed because the county had seen a population increase of over twenty-two percent in the last decade, specifically sixteen percent of the Carroll County population in 2000 was African-Americans with projections the numbers would continue to grow due to urban sprawl, the growth of the University of West Georgia, and various other industries coming into the region. It was noted in their discussion there was no chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from the western part of Atlanta to Birmingham, Alabama and most of them had been active in other chapters. However, due to the distance of these chapters, it became increasingly difficult for them to stay active in the House of Alpha. Thus, the service area for the new chapters will include the entire western section of Georgia.

This body of eight astute Brothers became known as the West Georgia Alpha Coalition of Alpha Brothers. It was moved by Brother Dr. George Rolle and seconded by Brother Dr. Price Michael that the Coalition starts the formal process of submitting a Chartering Application for both a College and Alumni chapter. It passed. The fee necessary for the applications was $750 ($250.00 college and $500 alumni). Without hesitation the Brothers gave to this most worthy cause. The Brothers moved and approved a motion that the Brothers who paid the fees necessary for the chapters’ applications and presented their names as Petitioning Members on the Alumni application would be considered “Charter Members” and other Brothers who would join the House later would be considered “Charter Beginning Members.” The Coalition elected officers:

Jack Jenkins President
George Rolle Vice-President
Price Michael Recording Secretary
James Blackmon Treasurer
George Rolle Historian
Jermaine Jackson Director of Membership Intake
Jonathan Beverley National Programs
Rev. Charles White, Jr. Chaplain
Antonio Burkes Brotherhood Affairs
Said Sewell College Advisor

The Coalition submitted both applications to the National Headquarters for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. on March 12, 2006.

Although the Brothers had not received notice of the status of their applications, they began to let the light of Alpha shine in the western part of Georgia.  They developed and implemented several community service projects, such as “A Voteless People is a Hopeless People” in the county and sponsored a partnership with the Center for African-American Male: Research, Success and Leadership, the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series which featured Brother Dr. Cornel West.  The lecture serried which attracted over 2,000 students and community was the largest academic event in the history of the University of West Georgia.  This partnership has continued to this day.  In addition to community service, the Coalition has participated in various District, Regional and National Conventions as well as celebrated the Fraternity’s 101st Founders’ Day with a dinner celebration on December 6, 2007.  On Thursday, March 28th, 2008, the Coalition hosted an Informational Seminar for undergraduate aspirants on the campus of West Georgia.  The seminar attracted over 65 college men.

At the General Convention in Kansas City, the National Body approved our applications and on July 21, 2008, we became the Rho Pi Lambda and the Tau Chi chapters, both seated in Carrollton, Georgia.