Five Los Angeles-area alumni chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., sponsored a fundraiser to help residents impacted by the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan.
The event, held at the Bugatta Super Club in Los Angeles, featured participation by members of the Los Angeles Alumni, Pasadena Alumni, Long Beach/Inglewood/South Bay Alumni, Beverly Hills/Century City Alumni, and Santa Clarita/San Fernando Alumni Chapters. Proceeds collected are earmarked for two non-profit organizations in in Flint, Grace Emmanuel Church Outreach and Metropolitan Baptist Church Housing Development Corporation.
Assemblymember Mike Gipson, a Kappa member, addressed the gathering about concerns in Flint and added that his office is investigating and taking action on local health concerns.
Also, John Marshall Jones, a Kappa member and actor on Amazon’s “Bosch” series, served as emcee. A native of Flint, Jones has been active in finding solutions and raising awareness about the water crisis.
In April 2014, city of Flint, under orders from the State of Michigan, temporarily switched its water supply from the Detroit Water and Sewage Department to the Flint River. This caused seepage of lead into the water supply from an antiquated water pipe system.
Nearly 12,000 Flint residents have reported high levels of lead in their bloodstream because of the seepage. An outbreak of Legionella, a bacterial disease, has also occurred resulting in 10 fatalities and 77 infected.
Kappa Alpha Psi raised the funds to supply water, food, medical care, and other necessities for the people of Flint. The event coordinators were Marc Alexander and Rhen C. Bass, Sr., of the Los Angeles Alumni Chapter. The committee members were Darryll Holmes, Jimmy Stewart, Dijon Jackson and Rhen C. Bass, II.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1911, has over 150,000 members worldwide. Notable members of the fraternity include NBA Hall-of-famers Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson, famed attorney Johnnie Cochran, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, tennis great Arthur Ashe, astronaut Bernard A. Harris, and billionaire businessman Robert Johnson.
To donate to the Kappa’s fundraiser, visit kalikappas4flint.eventbrite.com/.
