The Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter provides a comprehensive mentoring program for young males ages 12 – 17 called The Esquire Leadership & Mentoring Program (ELMP). The program is committed to the development of Black young men academically, socially, and personally with a central focus on higher education and service to mankind. ELMP 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, schools, businesses, politics, churches, and families.
ELMP Mission
The Esquire Leadership and Mentor Program (ELMP) is committed to the development of young black men academically, socially, and personally with a central focus on higher education and service to mankind.
Our Vision
To prepare young men to become the most respected and sought after socially conscious, college educated, black men who are leaders of our communities and families.
Goals
1) To have the participating young men enhance in the areas of social development and self-esteem.
2) To enrich the participant’s academic performance and achievement while increasing their chances of completing a college education.
3) To engage the participants in community service.
4) To prepare the young men to compete in a diverse society.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Success Seminars
These seminars are focused on Life Skills and Interactive Meetings focusing on a different aspect of positive growth and development.
Community Service Projects
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 in need of assistance. The goal is that in helping others, 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 and care for each other outside of the bounds of small group mentor/esquire connections. These fun and wholesome productive activities will be planned throughout the program year. Examples of social activities are laser tag, college football games, movie night, etc.
Mentor/Esquire Connections
All esquires will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and converse with all of our mentors during the planned esquire activities and success seminars. It is the goal of these interactions to increase the overall benefit to the esquire while also creating beneficial relationships across these three meaningful stations of scholastic development; 1) secondary education, 2) collegiate education and 3) professional life.
Project Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation began collaboratively implementing Project Alpha in 1980. This collaborative project is designed to provide education, motivation and skill-building on issues of responsibility, relationships, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases for young males ages 12-15 years. Designed to provide young men with current and accurate information about teen pregnancy prevention, Project Alpha consists of a series of workshops and informational sessions conducted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity brothers.
The three goals of Project Alpha programs are:
– Sharing knowledge by combating ignorance and fear with factual information
– Changing attitudes by providing motivation toward positive changes in sexual behavior
– Providing skills by creating a sense of empowerment and self-esteem
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. chapters all across the country execute the program with their local March of Dimes to implement Project Alpha programs.
Student Recognition and Year End Awards Luncheon
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated – Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter has held the annual student recognition luncheon recognizing not only the academic improvement of young males in Ann Arbor schools but also providing monetary scholarships to a number of graduating high school seniors each year. The ELMP participates in this annual recognition event in order to increase the number of students we recognize and honor in our community. At this luncheon, Esquires will also showcase various items and abilities they will have developed during the year’s mentorship (e.g. etiquette, public speaking, key takeaways). Esquires will also receive certificates of recognition for their various service and academic achievements based off of their life plans.
Saturday Morning Tutorial Sessions (Optional)
An existing tutoring program run in conjunction with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People provides comprehensive tutoring in a variety of subjects for students K-12. A number of mentors serve as tutors in this program and is presented here as an optional component of this program. This portion is not a mandate for young men in the mentor program but is highly recommended.
Bro. Jared Clark
ELMP Program Director