BROTHER RODNEY D. WELCH, PhD
INNOVATIONS AS LOUISIANA DISTRICT DIRECTOR
“DIGITAL FOOTPRINT”
Corporate Sector of Fraternity
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Created the District of Louisiana Nonprofit Educational Foundation 501(c)(3) for the diffusion of communal education, literacy, and scientific outreach. This foundation implements Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s national programs and special projects to promote children’s academic, social, and personal development.
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Implementation of the District of Louisiana Nonprofit Educational Foundation’s acquisition of a property in New Iberia, Louisiana. This 13,000 sq. ft. building also contains a parking lot, two 3,000 sq. ft. metal buildings, and two 1,200 sq. ft. frame buildings. The site will serve as a community center with after-school programming for K-12 students. It will also serve as a community disaster relief shelter as part of the Brother’s Keeper program. This facility has been valued at $1.4 million.
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Pioneered the mental health component of the National Brother's Keeper Program.
Fraternal Partnerships and Agreements
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Initiated and actualized the national fraternal partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program (formerly known as “Be the Match”), impacting over 3,000 new donors to the national registry.
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Advocacy work for National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) led to the adoption of Louisiana Senate Bill 98, which added bone marrow as an option on driver's license applications and renewals.
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Led the Southwestern Region’s first historically black college and university (HBCU) fair in which approximately five hundred high school students attended, and were awarded $3.2 million in scholarships.
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Created corporate partnerships with Humana, Centerwell, and AT&T in the Louisiana district, which have been expanded to Southwestern Regional level partnerships.
Fraternal Conferences and Training
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Hosted the first district-wide IMDP virtual training in the Southwestern Region.
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Hosted the first hybrid conference in the Southwestern Region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Hosted the 60th Louisiana District Conference (“Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present, and Shaping the Future”). Eight out of ten living Louisiana District Directors were recognized, and named the life member in honor of Brother Joseph K. Byrd (Charter member of Omicron Psi Lambda, Sigma Lambda, New Orleans, LA)
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Implemented the Youth Trail Blazer Award for high school male students.
Chapter Chartering and Reinstatements
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Chartering of Omicron Psi Lambda Chapter, LaPlace, LA.
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Led the reinstatement of Beta Sigma (Southern University), Nu Psi (Louisiana State University), and Rho Iota (Tulane University).
Intramural and Extramural Fraternal Service
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Led the disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, dispatching more than eighty college and alumni brothers throughout the Southwestern Region, and student organizations from Southern University. Provided hot meals, emergency resources, and disaster debris clean-up for Alpha Brothers and citizens of Lake Charles.
