The Portsmouth/Suffolk VA Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. became the 3rd Alumni Chapter in the Tidewater area to receive its charter on December 16, 1973.  Charter members include:

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Even though these men were the initial charter members, it was the guidance and influence of Brother Judge James A. (Slim) Overton of Norfolk Alumni, and Past Eastern Province Polemarch that provided the motivation for establishing a chapter in the City of Portsmouth, Virginia. Brothers Enoch Copeland and Isaac Askew were involved in the early stages of the chapter’s development.

 

The Portsmouth Chapter has always been a close knit extended family. The majority of the initial brothers were Epsilon Zeta graduates and residents of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.  The Brothers had a vision of instituting a chapter of young Kappas, and with the blessings of God, they started a new branch of the all mighty tree of Kappa Alpha Psi. A number of the Brothers were just out of college or returning from the military and were  starting new jobs and beginning new families in the area. As the brothers bonded, so did their wives and children. Keeping God, Family and the Fraternity close, the Brothers enhanced the vision of making this their new home and chapter. The pride, history and traditions of the fraternity were passed on to their sons at a young age as the chapter developed its Guide Right and Kappa League programs. Many of the Brothers’ sons have become members of this great clan of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

 

Also in the early years, the wives (Silhouettes), bonded in their own sisterly way, maintaining their own identity as members of various sororities.

 

In 1997, with the assistance of ten Brothers, the chapter purchased a Fraternity House at 4300 Portsmouth Blvd in Portsmouth. This purchase enabled the membership to have a central location for meetings and brotherhood activities. A large number of Brothers later in their lives, moved to the City of Suffolk finding housing more conducive for their life style. Thus the chapter changed its name to the Portsmouth/Suffolk (VA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

 

The chapter has always been hard workers in the community, participating in and sponsoring such activities as our Guide Right Program, Kappa Leaguers little league baseball team, golf tournament, Scholarship and Achievement Awards Banquet, scholarship dances, Chesapeake Paint Your Heart Out project, and citywide youth workshops, introducing youth to individuals connected to  politics, higher education, cooperate world , judicial system and law, engineering, religion, insurance agencies, athletics and more. The chapter has a long sustaining history of being very active in our local Pan Hellenic Council, participating in the Oasis feeding of the hungry, the Salvation Army ringing of the bells, holiday food baskets and clothing drives.

 

The chapter has always maintained 25-35 active members each year.

 

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. continues to be one of the leading fraternal organizations in the world. Having ‘achievement’ as its purpose, the Portsmouth/Suffolk Chapter continues to grow as it becomes a vital resource in the community promoting the welfare of mankind.