Project Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation began collaboratively implementing Project Alpha in 1980. This collaborative project is designed to provide education, motivation and skill-building on issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for young males ages 12-15 years. Designed to provide young men with current and accurate information about teen pregnancy prevention, Project Alpha consists of a series of workshops and informational sessions conducted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers. The three goals of Project Alpha programs are:

• Sharing Knowledge by combating ignorance and fear with factual information.
• Changing Attitudes by providing motivation toward positive changes in sexual behavior.
• Providing Skills by creating a sense of empowerment and self-esteem.

Project Alpha week, which started in 2000, targets the second week of October every year. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. chapters all across the country execute the program with their local March of Dimes to implement Project Alpha programs.

Program Highlights:

• Provides education for young males 12-15 years old on sexuality, fatherhood and the role of males in relationships.
• Motivates young men to make decisions about their goals and values, and act in ways that support their decisions.
• Builds young men's skills through role-playing. Utilizes appropriate male role models and mentors.

A Voteless People, Is A Hopeless People
"A Voteless People is a Hopeless People" was initiated as a National Program of Alpha during the 1930's when many African-Americans 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. Voter education and registration has remained a dominant focus of this outreach activity for over 65 years.

The Iota Delta Lambda chapter focuses on voter’s registration drive targeted at increasing the number of African-American voters in Illinois, and increasing overall awareness of the importance of actively participating in the formal democratic process.

Go-To-High School, Go-To-College
The "Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College" program, established in 1922, concentrates on the importance of completing secondary and collegiate education as a road to advancement. Statistics prove the value of this extra impetus in making the difference in the success of young African-American men, given that school completion is the single best predictor of future economic success. Through the Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College educational initiative, young men receive information and learn strategies that facilitate success. Alpha men provide youth participants with excellent role models to emulate.

Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity have goals and objectives which make for a "natural alliance" between the two organizations. Through this alliance, the two organizations are achieving their goals by utilizing the Scouting program to its greatest potential as a programming resource.

The Iota Delta Lambda chapter sponsors Cub Scouts Pack #350 and Boy Scouts Troop #350, both located in Dalton, Illinois.

Real Men Read
Real Men Read, sponsored by the Chicago Public Schools system, brings men into the classrooms and schools to read to students for one hour each month.  The purpose of the program is to show students who real men are, that real men do in fact read and that real men value education.  The MENtors of the program also seek to encourage and improve literacy skills of the students while also providing direct and meaningful mentoring relationships between the volunteers and the CPS students.

The Iota Delta Lambda chapter currently has members volunteering at three area schools.

Oratorical Contest
The Oratorical Contest is a program aimed at assisting in the continued development of public speaking and writing skills among African-American male youths in the Greater Chicago area.  The contest will expose youth to historical and contemporary oration, writing and creative verbal and theatrical expressions by males across the African Diaspora.

The 2010 Oratorical Contest will be entitled “Young Voices of Power”.

Leadership Development Institute
The Leadership Development Institute (LDI) aims to develop a 21st century generation of leaders. This mission starts with young people, particularly those who demonstrate the potential to comprehend and apply the fundamental principles needed by leaders as well as whom, by virtue of their age and education, are often looked upon as role models. Thus, the Institute, which is implemented in five regions, seeks to equip high school students, primarily sophomores to seniors, with vital leadership skills. To this end, the members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., who organize and facilitate the regional LDIs, working along with other professionals/experts, instruct the participants in parliamentary procedures, conflict resolution, models of leadership, public speaking, community and civic engagement, and educational enhancement skills.

The Iota Delta Lambda chapter will sponsor seven students to participate in the LDI program, and provide a direct mentoring relationship between each student participating and a member of the chapter.