The 2019 Kappa League Leadership Conference was held on February 23, 2019, hosted by the Brooklyn-Long Island (NY) Alumni Chapter at the Brooklyn College Student Center. More than 230 students were treated to a day of motivational speeches, workshops, and opportunity to network with mentors, industry professionals, and Kappa Leaguers from throughout the Northeastern Province.
The program began with a warm welcome message from Brooklyn-Long Island (NY) Alumni Chapter Polemarch, Dermal McCrear that encouraged the attendees to take advantage of the wealth of information they would receive. Following the welcome was the Opening Address from Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams. He advised the participants to stay focused in order to reach their goals. He provided an example on the importance of focus where he was given money to buy his school clothes and lost it all on the street card game, Three Card Monte. As punishment for the loss, he was required to wear old clothes the entire school year. He continued to explain how having the right focus has allowed him to become the Brooklyn Borough President and meet with leaders from around the world to make major decisions at the “grown-up table.”
The “Morning Motivation” was provided by motivational speaker and author of “365 Hip Hop: Daily Motivational Quotes,” Carl Michel (2007 Alpha Iota Initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi). He demonstrated through a pictorial collage the differences in his attitude, appearance, and resources during his journey to become the success that he is today. He used the biblical reference of the use of the phrase “I AM” to speak things into existence. He had students come to the stage and introduce themselves as the professions they aspire for the future.
The lunchtime keynote speaker was none other than CBS News anchor, DeMarco Morgan (2000 Delta Delta Initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi). One takeaway from his emotionally charged speech include how it is entirely possible to turn your life around even when going down a dark path. He also referenced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by explaining that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
The attendees were also treated to workshops that fostered both personal and academic growth which included:
- Color Coded Kids: a fundamentals of programming workshop
- Photoshop Fresh – Your Carbon Footprint
- So, what you sayin’ – The Fight to Belong
- Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) workshops: Engineering Design Thinking and Diesel Engine Design
- Financial Literacy
Special thanks to KLLC 2019 Chairman Shawn Mason and NEP Guide Right Chairman Kevin E. Boston-Hill for providing a tremendous opportunity for the youth to network and be exposed to a wealth of knowledge from leaders in industry, arts, and sciences.