Alpha Esquires is the official mentoring program of the Akron alumni chapter (Eta Tau Lambda) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Our Esquires, diverse males between the ages 12-17 in the Akron and surrounding communities, will be gain leadership, citizenship, personal growth and professional skills centered on promoting their success. The Alpha Esquires program is committed to the development of diverse young men academically, socially and personally with a central focus on higher education and service to mankind. The program aims to prepare young men to become the most respected and sought after socially conscious, college educated, black men who are leaders of our communities.

The core of the program is the monthly “Success Seminars” held for approximately 1 ½ hours. These sessions are monthly life skills seminars and interactive meetings focusing of different aspects of positive growth and development (e.g. personal responsibility, health and wellness, anger management, etc.). Along with these seminars Aces participate in mandatory community service projects, social activities and academic monitoring. Primarily, the mentoring aspect of the program creates relationships across meaningful stations of development; 1) secondary education, 2) collegiate enrollment and 3) professional life.

Major Aspects of the Program

Success Seminars

These seminars are Monthly Life Skills Seminars and Interactive Meetings focusing on a different aspect of positive growth and development (e.g. personal responsibility, time management, etiquette, grooming, anger management, etc.)

Community Service Projects

Bi-monthly Community Service Events will be coordinated and participated in by program staff and esquires. In this component esquires will learn the value of helping others whom are need of assistance. The goal is that in helping others whom lack, they may begin to value what they are in possession of and receive the personal benefit gained by serving others.

Group Social Activities

These group social activities are focused on building a sense of community, a sense of belonging and a sense of care and concern for each other outside of the bounds of formal success seminars. Fun, wholesome and productive activities are planned throughout the 2014-2015 program year. Examples of social activities are laser tag, college football game, movie night, etc.

Leadership Development Institute

The Midwest Regional Leadership Development Institute (LDI) offers qualified students a weekend of training in leadership development, civil responsibility and professional preparation. Conference activities have been planned to fulfill the following objectives:

  1. To provide students with a diverse social and cultural setting that fosters academic and cognitive development, cultural awareness, and intellectual progress.
  2. To expose students to various leadership opportunities and discuss pressing social, political, and cultural issues.
  3. To equip students with significant leadership tools and life skills that will prepare them to become effective servant leaders.
Education & Scholarship Recognition

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Eta Tau Lambda Chapter has held an annual student scholarship luncheon recognizing not only the academic improvement of young black males in Summit County schools but also providing monetary scholarships to a number of graduating high school seniors each year. The Aces will participate in this annual recognition event in order to increase the number of students we recognize and honor in our community. At this luncheon, the Esquires will showcase various items and abilities they will have developed during the year’s mentorship (e.g. etiquette, public speaking, key takeaways).