Memorable Moments of 2022: #4 “I Attend Alfred Street!”
I always enjoy opportunities to speak for different institutions and organizations. As a president, it is always an opportunity to introduce some to your organization who may not be familiar with it.
When I decided to take a break from the presidency I knew I would be able to do more speaking. I signed on with Campuspeak to help facilitate the engagements. That has been a great decision.
I had a range of presentations this year. I participated in a workshop for fraternity and sorority headquarters staffs on risk management and use of data…
… as well as a campus hazing awareness week presentation.
I discussed HBCUs and LGBTQ students in DC, and issues of free speech in Wisconsin.
I served on the dissertation committee for Dr. Mea Ashley, and then presented with her in December at the Association of Fraternity Advisors conference which was her first national presentation. Very proud of her!
I also closed out the year giving commencement addresses at Claflin University and Albany State University.
But the engagement that I have heard the most about was the opportuity to be the HBCU Sunday speaker at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, led by Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley.
Alfred Street has a robust higher education ministry, giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to colleges and universities. After Hurricane Katrina, Alfred Street was a major donor to Dillard University. They supported us again in 2022 with a $50,000 gift.
I flew to DC so that I could give the message in the church, even though they were still virtual at the time. So the service was aired that weekend but available after on their YouTube channel. Alfred Street is a mega church, but I didn’t fully appreciate the reach of the church until after my message aired. I literally heard from people all across the country who said they saw me at Alfred Street. A local bed and breakfast operator called me and said he didn’t realize we were both members of Alfred Street!
Around 5 am boarding a flight in March a young man stopped on the way to his seat saying he was a member of Alfred Street. I kept having these kinds of encounters all year long (even this month as well). It was a blessing to be able to give that message. It was definitely a highlight for me for the year.
You can hear my message below.
Walter
