KAPPA PHI LAMBDA CHAPTER • COLUMBIA, MD • WWW.APAKPL.ORGBro. Kerry G. Johnson, Associate Editor to The Sphinx - e-mail: caricatureKerry@verizon.net

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C .

THE KPL SPHINXMARCH 2013

FROM THE KPL PRESIDENT

Dear Kappa Phi Lambda Brothers, On March 14, there will be a Call To Action Forum spon-sored by the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County held at St. John Baptist Church. The roundtable is composed of different organizations in How-ard County. I am Kappa Phi Lambda’s representative on the group.

I’m asking all brothers of KPL to attend this forum to dem-onstrate our support for improving academic achievement in the Howard County School System and to learn about: strategies for eliminating achievement gaps, state reforms, and college and career readiness for every student. Signs will be posted in the sanctuary in the same manner that is

used at conventions to demonstrate the different organiza-tions that are present. I know that Kappa Phi Lambda will help to fill the sanctuary to indicate we are serious about our school system continuing to be ranked number one in the country. Many organizations are participating and we want a strong representation of Alpha men. Numbers do matter and the roundtable committee would like to see standing room only. I am asking Brothers to confirm that they will attend. Please email me to let me know if you’re planning to attend the important event. For more details, go to Page 2.

Fraternally, Bro. Norris T. JenningsPresidentKappa Phi Lambda ChapterAlpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

LET’S SHOW UP AND SUPPORT OUR HOWARD CO. STUDENTS

Day At TheRACES

River Hill Alpha Achievers recruit new membersBro. Harry Evans, III (second from left, in back) and Bro. Dave Campbell (far right) attended an informal meeting held at River Hill High School for young men that are interested in participating in KPL’s Alpha Achievers program. The Alpha Achievers is an education program for African-American males in grades 9-12. There are Alpha Achiever programs in every Howard County high school. The program has been at River Hill since 2011.

See Page 3 for details >>

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C . • T H E K P L S P H I N X • M A R C H 2 0 1 3

A Call to Action:Delivering the Promise

of PreparationSponsored by

The African American Community Roundtable

Come learn about the state of academic achievement in Howard County schools, strategies

for eliminating achievement gaps, state reforms and college and career readiness for every student.

Thursday, March 14, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.St. John Baptist Church • 9055 Tamar Drive

Columbia, MD 21045

Featured Guest Speakers

Lillian M. Lowery, Ed.DMaryland State Superintendent of Schools

Renee A. Foose, Ed.DHoward County Public School System Superintendent

Jon Fullerton, Ph.DExecutive Director of the Center for

Education Policy Research

For more information contact (410) 992-6977

_____________________Child care will be provided for ages Pre K through Grade 5.

Hypertension program for screening adolescents and children

The Alpha Foundation Hypertension Screening Program screened 260 children between the ages of 3 and 19

years from March 2011 through September 2012. The chil-dren were predominately African American and screening sessions occurred on weekends at a local barbershop or at church picnics and community health fairs. Measurements of blood pressure (BP), height and weight were taken and parents were asked to provide information on the child’s diet, intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, amount of physi-cal activity and family history of hypertension.

Body mass index (BMI), percentiles for height, weight and BP were calculated based on the child’s age and sex and re-corded for the parents. Parents whose children were noted to have BP readings in the pre-hypertensive or hypertensive ranges as well as obese and overweight children were ad-vised to follow-up with the child’s healthcare provider or to the local Howard County Health Department if there was no provider identified. General recommendations given to the parents were to limit sugar-sweetened beverages and to en-courage physical playtime activity while limiting sedentary activities like computer games. Parents whose children had elevated BP readings were also advised to limit the child’s intake of salty snacks and processed foods.

Feedback from the community on the screening program was positive. One 7 year-old male was noted to have had elevated BP readings during a screening at the barbershop. Similarly elevated readings had been reported during vis-its to his pediatrician. At a return visit to the barbershop the child was rechecked and his BP was within the normal range. The child’s mother reported that in the interim she had followed the general recommendations given during the first screening and had decreased the amount of processed meats she served. She had begun making homemade pan-cakes instead of giving him the prepared version. Parents of-ten expressed surprise when told that hypertension can start during childhood and were appreciative of the service the Alpha Foundation provided to the community.

ON THE MENUAt the March 9 KPL meeting, dinner will be prepared by Kloby’s Smokehouse.

• Smoked chicken• Beef brisket• Green beans• Corn bread• Cole slaw• Rolls• Beverages (tea and juice)

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C . • T H E K P L S P H I N X • M A R C H 2 0 1 33

Bro. David H. Barrett (third from right); immediate past chairman of the board of the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) at a brunch with other board members in honor of Irish novelist, Column McCaan, (third from left). McCaan read from and discussed two of his nov-els before an audience of over 400 people at Howard Community College on March 1, 2013. HoCoPoLitSo is one of the community organizations Kappa Phi Lambda supports financially.

ALPHAS IN THE COMMUNITY Save the date!The Alpha Foundation of Howard County, Inc.

present its

7th Annual Golf ClassicMonday, June 3, 2013

The Timbers at Troy Golf CourseElkridge, MD 21075

www.alphafoundationofhowardcounty.org /

For more info, contact: Bro. Derrick Leak E-mail: dleak10@yahoo.com

This is a family friendly event; both women & children are welcome!

Print out and provide this invitation to your guest.

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C . • T H E K P L S P H I N X • M A R C H 2 0 1 34

Brothers,

This is a quick reminder to bring your money from the St. Mary’s Raffleticket sales.

If you need more tickets, the committee have more tickets at the meeting on March 9.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

This same flyer is available for download from the KPL Yahoo Group.

Fraternally,

Bro Jason F. TateSt. Mary RaffleChairperson

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C . • T H E K P L S P H I N X • M A R C H 2 0 1 35

A L P H A P H I A L P H A F R AT E R N I T Y, I N C . • T H E K P L S P H I N X • M A R C H 2 0 1 36

“Funding for this activity was made possible in part by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health. The views expressed in written materials or publications, and by speakers and moderators at HHS co-sponsored activities, do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.”

RED ALERT SHOWCASEA non-traditional coffeehouse of artistic expression in support

of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Sponsored by the Columbia (MD) Alumnae Chapter

of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and co-sponsored by

the HCC Office of Student Life

Monday, March 11, 2013, 5:30-7:30pmHoward Community College

Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall

10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia MD 21044For more information and to participate in the Open Mic portion of the program, please contact redalert311@colmddst.org

PO Box 2395, Columbia MD 21045, http://colmddst.orgLike us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter: @cacdst1971 #RedAlert #HIV #AIDS