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Alpha Phi Alpha: soon to be known as the chicken fraternity
Fraternity, Church's partners in growth
Alpha Phi Alpha joins with a fast-food chain in an effort to spark black enterprise and revitalize neglected neighborhoods
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By Andrea K. Walker
Sun Staff
Originally published September 11, 2002
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the country's oldest black fraternity, has entered into a $30 million deal with Church's Chicken to acquire franchises in inner city neighborhoods and create a new pool of African-American business owners.
The Baltimore-based fraternity will acquire at least one franchise and help its members buy 49 others over the next five years. The agreement is part of an initiative by the fraternity to develop neglected neighborhoods and open the door to business opportunities for minorities.
"We [African-Americans] don't own many franchises now because of roadblocks," said Alpha General President Harry E. Johnson Sr. "We're trying to erase some of those roadblocks."
The deal is the first business venture for the fraternity, which recently created a separate foundation for economic development projects.
Although the fraternity and its members expect to eventually run franchises in 17 cities around the country, Johnson said he hopes to open the first in the Baltimore or Washington area in the next nine months.
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