Dignitaries join Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as thousands of members return to Detroit, MI for Official Installation of New General President on January 4-6, 2013
The world’s oldest intercollegiate fraternity founded by African-American men – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity – celebrated the official installation of new General President and Detroit resident, Mark S. Tillman. The celebration and recognition attracted the well-known community and national names like Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia, Congressman John Conyers, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon Keith, news anchor Vic Carter, and Fox Detroit’s very own Huel Perkins. The inauguration ceremony was a weekend filled with greetings, celebrations and community involvement including Brenda Lawrence, the mayor of Southfield, Michigan, who declared January 6, Mark S. Tillman Day in the city of Southfield.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s mission is to “develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service and advocacy to the community.” Alpha has served as the community in multiple facets including its members being outspoken political advocates for the African- American community. In-service community efforts, national programs and partnerships include: Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, who recognized General President Tillman for being a three-time big brother and leading by example as a mentoring brother. He was also recently honored as Detroit 2020.com’s “Person of the Week” for his dedication to mentoring young men.
“After more than a decade, Alpha Phi Alpha returns to Detroit to celebrate another milestone in our fraternal organization. I honor the legacy and assume a post to lead every Alpha man to remain connected to providing service to the communities we serve,” explained President Tillman.
Mark Tillman has dedicated over 2 decades of service to making Alpha Phi Alpha a leader in the eyes of its membership and the communities it serves. A resident of Detroit for the past 24 years, Tillman is also dedicated to uplifting the community and remains actively involved. Tillman has a passion for empowering young African-American men and spoke to a group of local Detroit youth that are members of the mentor program Alpha Esquires. The 2,000 members of Alpha Phi Alpha in Michigan plan to celebrate along with the over 100,000 members across the nation.
