The Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity hosted its 5th Annual Economic Empowerment Summit on October 21st at the Alpha Phi Alpha Senior Center. The all-age event was free to the public.
The program was created to help Southeast Queens residents learn about business, banking, money, credit, investing, and writing a business plan. Attendees were given the opportunity to hear advice from different panel members – including a panelist from the York College S.E.E.K. program.
Phillip Travada, chairman of the Public Policy Committee of Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter, shared how the idea for the event came about. “Five years ago, I had a vision of discussing economic empowerment,” Travada stated. “But the question was what does that mean? And when I asked people that, everyone had a different opinion on what it is. So I spoke to my fraternity brothers, who helped me flesh out the idea of economic empowerment.”
Travada continued to express his excitement for these events and what they meant to the community. “Every year we have a new set of topics that we cover. One year, a panelist said, “We need to get our Ph. D.s.” I didn’t know what he was talking about, however, I realized it meant that we, as black people, must begin to own more.”
For more information, log onto, https://www.zzlalphas.org/.