Norfolk (VA) Kappa Alumni Chapter Awarded For Work With Youth

HAMPTON ROADS
During the meeting of the Eastern Province Council of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. earlier this year, John JP Paige, was awarded the medium chapter Burt V. Watkins Guide Right Director of the Year for his innovative leadership and accomplishment as Director of Guide Right for the Norfolk (VA) Alumni Chapter.

The Norfolk (VA) Alumni Chapter was also recognized on the national level by being awarded Jay Crosby Guide Right Chapter of the Year Award for having the best Guide Right Program for medium size chapters.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s Guide Right Program was established in 1922 as its most important national service program. A year after Norfolk (VA) Alumni Chapter was established, the late Judge James Overton was appointed Guide Right Director on March 12, 1941. The purposes of the Guide Right Service Program are to place the training, experience and friendly interest of successful Kappa men at the disposal of youth needing inspiration and counsel regarding their choice of a life’s career. The Guide Right Service program has been the most important service program of the Chapter for 76 years.

Paige was instrumental in continuing the Chapter’s Guide Right program by motivating chapter members to establish Kappa Instructional Leadership Leagues at the YMCA on Granby Street and at Azalea Garden Middles School. He further extended the Guide Right program to engage youth in the community by sponsoring them to Norfolk State University Baseball, basketball, and football games, Nauticus Maritime Museum, and the Universoul Circus.

Paige was instrumental in organizing and planning College Signing Day annually at Booker T. Washington High School and awarding the graduates scholarships from the Chapter’s Foundation.
Currently, The Kappa Instructional Leadership League, coordinated by Mr. Valmond Hughes, is an ongoing mentoring program at Azalea Garden Middle School as well as the mentoring program at the Salvation Army’s Hope Village. The Kappa Instructional Leadership League helps school age youth grow and develop their leadership talents as well provide challenging experiences to enrich their lives.

During the 83rd. National Grand Conclave of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. held in July 18-22, 2017, in Orlando Florida, the Chapter’s Guide Right program won the National Jay Crosby Award for medium size Alumni Chapters. Kevin L. Burnett, chairman, National Guide Right Commission commended the Chapter’s leadership for its work with youth and reminded everyone to teach Kappa Leaguers that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not followers.