Bloomingdale # CIVIC’ ASSOCIATION June 25, 2020 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mu Lambda Chapter 2405 First Street, N.W. Washington DC 20001 Attention: Mr. Eddie Neal, President Letter of Support of the Symbolic Designation on the 2400 — 2500 Block of First Street, N.W.: Alpha Phi Alpha Way Dear Mr. Neal: Bloomingdale Civie Association (“BCA”) would like to voice its support of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Ine., Mu Lambda ("Mu Lambda”) Chapter, request for support to symbolically designate First Street, N.W., between Bryant Street, N.W.,. and Michigan Avenue, N.W., as "Alpha Phi Alpha Way.” A symbolic naming is for ceremonial purposes only and shall be in addition to and subordinate to any name that is already deemed an official name. Ata time when this pandemic is having a profound impact on all of our lives, we also recognize that this request can serve as an opportunity to uplift not only Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (“Alpha” or “The Fraternity”) but the very residents that we serve. It is also an opportunity to show our resilience as an organization that has provided public service to residents of the District of Columbia for nearly 100 years. Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha is an Alumni Chapter and was chartered on October 1, 1923, in the District of Columbia. Mu Lambda Chapter will be celebrating 97 years on October 1, 2020. Alpha Phi Alpha celebrated 113 years on December 4, 2019; and held its centennial celebration in the District of Columbia in 2006. Beta Chapter located at Howard University celebrated 112 years on December 20, 2019. In April 1998, Mu Lambda purchased its headquarters in the Bloomingdale Neighborhood at 2405 First Street, N.W. The house has been a center of social activity, activism, and philanthropy for African Americans for decades. Symbolically designating the block of First Street fronting the Mu Lambda House will recognize the cultural significance and history of Alpha. ‘The proposed official designation is located in the Bloomingdale neighborhood. Thus, Mu Lambda is sought the BCA's support to symbolically designate the subject portion of First Street, N.W., as Alpha Phi Alpha Way. PO Box 1438 | Washington, DC 20013 wwnwbloomingdalecivicassociationorg | ReachBloomingdaleC. facebook com/BloomingdaleCA | @BloomingdaleCA @gmailcom‘The Adopt-A-Block sign is prominently displayed at the comer of First and Bryant Streets, N.W. Mu Lambda is an active participant of the Clean City Program. Not only has the Chapter adopted First Street between Bryant Street, N.W., and Michigan Avenue, N.W,, where a bi-monthly clean- up day is conducted to maintain the cleanliness of this area, but members of the Chapter also clean ‘numerous other surrounding blocks as part of the Clean City Program, including other portions of Bryant and Channing Streets. The Fraternity has a service organization mission and provided leadership and service during the Great Depression, World Wars | and II, and the Civil Rights Movement. Alpha addresses social issues such as Apartheid, AIDS, urban housing, and other economic, cultural, and political issues of interest to people of color. National programs and initiatives of Alpha include: A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People, My Brother's Keeper, Go to High School, Go to College. Project Alpha, and the World Policy Council. Alpha also conduets philanthropic programming initiatives with the March of Dimes, Head Start, the Boy Scouts of America, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Mu Lambda received the 2020 Best of Washington Award in the Philanthropy category It was recognized as the 2019 Partner of the Year by the House of Ruth, and it is also a member of the Bloomingdale Civic Association. Mu Lambda is working diligently to ensure that our programs and social activities continue to impact the community in a positive way by being a catalyst of change. On June 15, 2020, a request for this Letter of Support came before the Bloomingdale Civic Association at a Zoom Virtual Public Meeting. BCA unanimously voted to support the Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha on its request for a Symbolic Designation of the 2400 - 2500 block of First St N.W., between Bryant and Michigan Avenue N.W., as the Alpha Phi Alpha Way. Best, eats loi nats QA President, "in Civie Association