Alpha Greenville Foundation

Leadership Development Citizenship Education Initiative

(also known as LDCEI, or Leadership Development Initiative LDI)

LDCEI sponsors the annual Leadership Development Institute held at Alcorn State University.

The Leadership Development Citizenship Education Initiative (LDCEI) seeks to equip high school students, primarily sophomores to seniors, with vital leadership skills. LDCEI aims to develop a 21st century generation of leaders. Its mission starts with young people, particularly those who demonstrate the potential to comprehend and apply the fundamental principles needed by leaders, as well as those who, by virtue of their age and education, are often looked upon as role models. This Institute is sponsored by the Southern Region of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and is one of five institutes across the nation held annually.

The LDI curriculum is designed around three central components: (1) Leadership, (2) Citizenship, and (3) Higher Education. In addition to the workshops on Leadership skills, the Institute has Oratorical, Poetry, and Talent competitions as well as other scholarship activities.

AGF's first Institute Class from the Upstate in 2013

Our 2024 LDCEI Class before the travel to Morris College on June 12

In 2023, the LDCEI was moved to the state level, and the SC District of Alpha sponsored its first Institute in SC since the program's creation in the 1980s. GGL and AGF were proud to have sponsored a group of 13 students and two chaperones. AGF/GGL has sponsored more than 60 Students since 2014.

As a part of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's larger Initiative to give deserving high school students Leadership Development and Education Training, the Foundation sponsors local high students to an annual regional event called the Leadership Development Institute (LDI).

AGF & GGL brothers brief parents & students

LDI's program and events have been conducted since 1980's

Current Status

June 25-29, 2025 - (Details are pending)

Past Scheduled Event:

2024 SC Leadership Development Institute (LDI)

June 12-16, 2024 | Morris University | Sumter, SC

Event Deadlines:

Local Sponsorships & Applications are due to Mike Chatman by 9 AM on May 31st.
There will be a Coordination Meeting for potential applicants before June 12th. Location: TBA
Alpha Greenville is sponsoring only 5 students to the Institute from Greenville. sponsorship includes travel and registration fees. Applicants must bring their applications to the Coordination Meeting.
Don't register online if you want to be sponsored by AlphaGreenville.
AGF Travel arrangements will be sent to accepted participants in early June.

Event News:

LDCEI's History

The Leadership Development and Citizenship Education Initiative is a national effort of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. that aims to develop a 21st century generation of leaders. This program was initiated in the Southern Region during the administration of Dr. A.M. Witherspoon, Southern Regional Vice President.

Because of the history of leadership and modeling leaders in Alpha Phi Alpha, Dr. Witherspoon inspired that Alpha to be the vanguard organization for assisting young people in becoming leaders. Dr. Henry Ponder, the program's first coordinator, and future General President began working with a group of high school students on parliamentary procedures and public speaking in the early 1980s.

Between 1988 and 1990, focus areas were expanded under the leadership of Dr. John Kelley and Dr. Clarence Christian to include many of the Fraternity's national and special programs including voting education, responsible sexual activity, and going to college.

For more information about AΦΑ LDCEI, please visit the Alpha Phi Alpha's National website, www.alpha-phi-alpha.com.

Event Coordinator:

Don Weston | 864-505-0420 or (864) 735-0880 | contact@alphagreenville.org

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