Today we’d like to introduce you to Jarvis Thomas-Polemarch.
Hi Jarvis, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Jarvis Thomas; I am the current Polemarch (or President) of the Missouri City – Sugar Land (Tx) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. Kappa Alpha Psi is a predominately Black collegiate fraternity made up of undergraduate and alumni chapters across the U.S. and around the world. Originally founded on January 5th, 1911, on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana by 10 young men who sought to establish a Greek-Lettered organization to bond young black men at the university. These young men shared common interests, ideals, and a desire to achieve scholastically, even in the face of the rampant racism of the time. Our specific chapter of the fraternity was chartered on August 6th, 1988, by 21 former members of the now inactive Galena Park Alumni Chapter looking to form a new service-oriented entity in the area where they lived and worked. It was their dream of service and our fraternity’s motto of “Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor” that has allowed the Missouri City – Sugar Land (Tx) Alumni Chapter to be active in serving our community and mentoring the youth for almost 35 years. We aim to excel as examples of high-achieving, goal-oriented gentlemen. Our chapter is made up of doctors, dentists, police officers, city officials, educators, business owners, judges, community leaders, and more. In addition to coming together for fellowship purposes, on a monthly basis we gather to plan our upcoming community service events, scholarship fundraisers, and joint projects with other organizations to help support their specific causes.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There are always challenges. Being that we are mostly of and from the community that we serve, we tend to reflect some oh the same hardships as the community. When the economy downturns, we tend to see our Brothers (members) have to tighten their own belts. Also, the normal struggles of life can have an impact on the brothers of our chapter. We experience loss when Brothers, unfortunately, pass away (transition to Chapter Invisible), lose their main sources of income, or even have to move due to other job opportunities. In some of these cases, it’s important that our chapter comes together to support one another and we step up to fill the responsibilities that might have been vacated.
Also, compared to some of the other fraternity chapters in the city, we currently have about 50 financial members, which is classified as a small alumni chapter. So, it is important that we plan diligently at the beginning of the year how we will budget our funds appropriately to accomplish our goals and adjust accordingly.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Here is a list of several of the events, service projects, and fundraisers that the Missouri City – Sugar Land (Tx) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated has participated in that I am most proud of in the last year.
– We had our Popcorn for Education Fundraiser, which will provide three $2,000 college scholarships to high school seniors in our area.
– Participated in our annual Star Smile Bike and Trike giveaway, where we donated and gave away bikes to kids for Christmas – the most senior member of our chapter volunteers every year to play Santa Claus.
– Partnered with Palmer House Charities to raise and donate almost $2,000 to help sponsor 14 families and 31 children with gifts for Christmas.
– Hosted a Community Service Happy Hour/ Sip & Serve event in partnership with a local Divine 9 sorority – SGRho’s – to collect baby donations to support their “Project Cradle Care” initiative, which supplied 4 local high schools with items for parenting students.
– Our Senior Kappa committee made their annual donation to Star of Hope Mission.
– Hosted our Joint “Kollaboration for a Kause” Thanksgiving canned food drive with a local Divine 9 sorority – AKA’s.
– Held a joint violence prevention virtual seminar with the undergraduate brothers of the Beta Upsilon Chapter (Texas Southern University).
– Volunteered and hosted our “Get Out The Vote” voter registration drive and virtual phone bank in conjunction with another Kappa alumni chapter.
– Volunteered and supported the Sugar Land Day of Remembrance to commemorate the anniversary of the discovery of 95 Black individuals who were buried in mass graves in Sugar Land.
– Hosted two “Kome Together for Edukation” fundraisers to fund scholarships and our Kappa League youth mentorship program.
– Hosted a free community “Fitness Boot Kamp” in Hermann Park.
– Currently host an internal monthly chapter book club.
– Our Senior Kappa committee also volunteers in our “Nupes for Knowledge” reading program by reading to elementary school students at Arizona Fleming Elementary in Fort Bend ISD.
– Participated in park clean-ups and tree plantings at Buffalo Run Park as a chapter.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Our dedication to serve our community to the best of our ability is most important to us. It is why our particular chapter was chartered. Most, if not all, of our events, projects, or fundraisers have a service component. It is essential that when we come together collectively, it is for the greater good. As long as we are blessed, there is an opportunity to be a blessing to others or provide some effort that benefits our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mocitynupes.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/missouricitynupes?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoCityNupes
