First and foremost, I am humbled and thankful to be the 22nd Chapter President of Delta Epsilon Lambda (DEL).  I'm equally excited about what lies ahead as we navigate through known and unknown territories.  As we hold the Light of Alpha high, let us never lose focus of the fraternity’s mission which is to develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy to our communities.  In addition, Jewel Charles Henry Chapman spoke on the supreme purpose of the fraternity in a 1931 speech at the General Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. He said:

 

 “I mean by this, that regardless of the many, many purposes each of us may devise as the activating principle in our lives and the many goals toward which we may be striving, I can see, nevertheless, that we do have one supreme purpose for our existence as a fraternity, and that is the recognition, as well as the development and thereby the making of better men. You can realize, Brothers, that this can be only accomplished by the raising and elevating the lives of other people. I have listened to the accusations that this group is self-centered, thinking only of its own interests as individuals and as a group. If this is true, we are losing sight of that thing which will give us the greatest joy of existing as an organization as well as the greatest joy of living—the transformation of humanity—the making, as I have said before, of better men.” 

 

The mission statement and the words of Jewel Chapman continue to inspire me and hopefully you as well.  I truly believe that DEL can be a major catalyst for social and economic development in the city of East St. Louis if not now, soon.  We have what it takes for the better making of men.  Specifically, we must be intentional in empowering African American males to serve as leaders and change agents for the betterment of their communities. With all hands-on deck, I believe we can accomplish these things and more.   

 

Stronger together...Serving together!

 

 

Bro. Jeffrey A. Williams, PhD

22nd Chapter President