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A RESOLUTION commending Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. on the historic milestone of 1
113 years of community activism and brotherhood, and recognizing February 13, 2024, 2
as Kappa Alpha Psi Day in Kentucky. 3
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was founded on January 5, 1911, on the 4
campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, by Elder Watson Diggs, John 5
Milton Lee, Byron K. Armstrong, Guy Levis Grant, Ezra D. Alexander, Henry Tourner 6
Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Paul W. Caine, Edward G. Irvin, and George W. Edmonds; 7
and 8
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is the oldest predominately African 9
American Greek-letter organization founded west of the Appalachian Mountains that is 10
still in existence today; and 11
WHEREAS, the founders of Kappa Alpha Psi were courageous and high-achieving 12
young men who possessed the imagination, ambition, and determination to defy custom 13
and cultural challenges in pursuit of college educations and careers during a period of 14
American history in which such opportunities were not broadly available for African 15
Americans, resolving to boldly organize in friendship and mutual support in the face of 16
racial discrimination; and 17
WHEREAS, since its founding, Kappa Alpha Psi has been a vehicle of community 18
and support for ambitious African American youth, instilling the ideals of leadership and 19
service to others in its members as they have gone on to become positive influences on 20
their communities and American society at large; and 21
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi has matured to an organization of over 150,000 22
college-educated men, with undergraduate chapters located on more than 360 college and 23
university campuses and alumni chapters in more than 340 cities across the United States 24
and five foreign countries; and 25
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi is committed to providing vital support to charitable 26
and community service across the United States and the world, including St. Jude 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1810
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Children’s Research Hospital, the United Negro College Fund, Habitat for Humanity, and 1
the National Urban League; and 2
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi has launched its own initiatives to better 3
communities and encourage educational excellence such as the Holiday Food Drive, the 4
Kappa Scholarship Fund, and the Kappa League and National Guide Right programs; and 5
WHEREAS, Kappa Alpha Psi’s national theme of "One Kappa, Creating 6
Inspiration: A Call to Service" has mobilized Kappa men across America who are leaders 7
in business, education, government, the humanities, arts and entertainment, science, and 8
medicine to become better servant leaders for their respective families and communities, 9
the United States, and the world; and 10
WHEREAS, Kentuckians can take special pride in the bonds between Kappa Alpha 11
Psi and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, as founder Elder Watson Diggs, known as "the 12
Father of Kappa" and "the Dreamer" due to his profound vision to create the fraternity, 13
was a native of Christian County, Kentucky, and educated in Louisville, and co-founder 14
Henry Tourner Asher was born in Owensboro, Kentucky; 15
NOW, THEREFORE, 16
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 17
Kentucky: 18
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby recognize February 13, 2024, as 19
Kappa Alpha Psi Day to highlight the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., for 20
their impressive history of community activism and their legacy of brotherhood. 21
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 22
Resolution to Senator Gerald Neal for presentation to the members of the Kappa Alpha 23
Psi Fraternity. 24