Week 7 - Distinguished Gentlemen's Club online content

The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club: Empowering the Next Generation of Men

OVERVIEW

Since 1919, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. national program, Go-To-High School, Go-To-College, has focused its efforts through this educational initiative to teach young men strategies that facilitate success by completing secondary, as well as post-secondary education. 

Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers are mandated to educate young men on the importance of higher education, community service, cultural exposure and public presentation.

Omicron Lambda Alpha Chapter (OLA) is an alumni chapter, based in Washington, D.C., charged to increase the betterment of the community through education, political involvement, social awareness, and economic and professional development.  

The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Club (DGC) is OLA’s extension of Go-To-High School, Go-To-College.  The DGC is a two-year program for college-bound high school juniors and seniors in the D.C. Metropolitan area, charged to prepare young men to be leaders within their families and communities, as they transition to higher education and the professional world.  

Program Requirements and Objectives:  The DGC program targets, but is not limited to, African-American high school students who wish to continue their development in preparing for college outside of their normal classroom setting. Each young man is required to have a minimum cumulative GPA 2.5 and desire to attend college. Their leadership potential should be recognized by teachers, guidance counselors, and/or community leaders. The program has a maximum of 12 participants.

The DGC program objectives are to:

• Develop leadership skills through development workshops and skills implementation opportunities
• Teach participants socially acceptable etiquette including dress, dining, and public speaking
• Teach the importance of community service through participation in projects within the Washington, D.C. community along side Brothers of the OLA
• Enhance participants cultural exposure and awareness 
• Assist young men with raising scholarship funds for college

• Create a mentorship relationship between Gentlemen and OLA sponsors

Gentlemen Responsibilities:  Gentlemen are expected to attend all workshops, community service events, social outings and programs.  There are 2-3 monthly sessions.  If a gentleman misses three sessions, two of which are consecutive, he will be removed from the program unless there are extenuating circumstances.  

In order to obtain the full experience of the program, Gentlemen are expected to:

• Maintain contact with mentors in person, via phone or e-mail on a regular basis
• Work closely with mentors to develop successful strategies for fund solicitation
• Discuss any issues or additional needs requested from the program

At the start of each year, the gentlemen will hold an election where they will elect a president, vice president, secretary and chaplain for the year.  The duties of each position will be presented prior to the election. Each year the Gentlemen will plan and execute one community service project which will conclude the fiscal year.

Scholarship Fundraising: Each participant will have a fundraising goal of $1,500.  During their senior year of high school, gentlemen and their chapter sponsors will solicit donations through fundraising projects.  All donations earned will be provided to the Gentleman in the form of a scholarship check upon completion of the program.

SUMMARY OF SEMINARS

Leadership Team Building

In many facets of life, you are expected to work with others towards a common goal.  A leader may become a follower and followers become leaders depending on the task at hand. This workshop discusses ways to be an effective follower, as well as, a leader.

Effective Communication/Public Speaking

Effective communication is a key element to being successful in school and business.  These skills must be developed, honed and perpetually built upon.  This workshop discusses how communication happens, ways to make it effective, improving communication skills and conflict resolution.

Preparing for the SAT/College Application Process

Many students are first-time college applicants in their families and are unaware of which avenues are available to the them to increase their success.  This workshop discusses standardized testing, program and scholarship research, fee waivers and deadlines.

Transitioning to College

It may be overwhelming if departing for college is the first time leaving home for an extended stay.  This workshop discusses best practices for selecting classes, being active in campus clubs and interacting with roommates and faculty.

Dressing for Success

Young adults should be presentable and know the appropriate ways to dress for success.  Many participants enter the program not even knowing how to tie a necktie. This workshop will show the differences between casual, business casual and business styles and share best practices for dressing.  

Financial Responsibility

Financial instability can limit an individual's progression in life and affect his/her future long after his/her career starts to develop.  This seminar will teach participants the dangers and benefits of credit, how to create a budget and adhere to that budget in order to live within their financial boundaries.  They are also taught to not only look at the present but to prepare for the future.

Spirituality and Men

The focus of this workshop is not to convert anyone from one religion to another, it is to make participants aware of the differences and the values of religion and spirituality.  The goal is for the participants to be sensitive to those differences and respect the beliefs of others.

Respect of Womanhood

A man is expected to be the leader of the family and protect his family.  This quality is also reflected in the way he treats the women around him.  This workshop is geared around showing young men to value the women in their lives the way they value material possessions, hip-hop and sports.

Sexual Responsibility

There are too many sexual transmitted diseases in present day for an individual to leave the responsibility of safe sex to another person.  During this workshop STD stats and descriptions, the chances of producing a child and how those responsibilities can alter his/her future will be discussed to take a proactive approach towards sex.

LEADERSHIP PROFILES

Brother Vincent G. Walford is the chair for DGC.  His duties are to implement the Alpha Phi Alpha national programs on a chapter level, deliver to the OLA Brothers available avenues to participate with in DGC and delegate responsibilities to execute various components of the program.  Bro. Walford has earned a bachelors degree in public health from Morehouse School of Medicine and is currently a counseling psychology doctoral student at Howard University.  He enjoys studying, reading and being involved in the community.

Brother Brocklin Qualls is the co-chair for DGC.  His duties are to manage the parent support component and assist the applicants will completion of their applications.  He has been involved with DGC for four years and is the immediate-past chair.  Bro. Qualls is a self-employed professional development consultant and enjoys poetry and mentorship.

FAQs

Who is eligible to apply?

College bound high school juniors and seniors in the D.C. Metropolitan area.

How long is the program?

This is a two year program and runs during the normal school year. 

How often does the program meet?

There are 2-3 meetings per month

How many new participants are accepted each year?

The chapter budgets for 12 applicants.  Once a Gentleman complete the program, his spot is filled with a new applicant the following year.

When is the application deadline?

Applications should be submitted no later than April 15, in order to be considered for the new fall class.

Can a participant be ejected from the program?

If at any time a Gentleman’s participation decreases to a point where successful completion of the program can not be achieved, enrollment for the program will be terminated in order to identify a replacement.

Does the parents have to participate?

Parents are not mandated to participate in the program.  There is a parental consent form that is required for all applicants.

What materials should each participant purchase after the application is approved?

All materials will be provided by the OLA chapter.

What is the fee for participants?

There is no fee.  This program is funded through the OLA education committee budget.

Who should I contact for more information?

Bro. Vincent Walford, chair of DGC