Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Tacoma 2026

The Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Tacoma 2026 brunch and ceremony is Saturday, December 5, at William W. Philip Hall on the University of Washington Tacoma campus. The Iota Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is marking 120 years since the fraternity’s founding with a morning built around the theme Threads of Our Legacy: a featured address, a quilt film, the Yellow Rose honors and a full brunch. Doors open at 9:30 AM and the program runs from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Celebrating 120 Years of Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University, making it the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established by African American men. Its seven founders, known as the Jewels, built an organization centered on scholarship, fellowship and service, and its members went on to shape the civil rights movement, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Justice Thurgood Marshall. Each year, chapters across the country gather on or near December 4 to honor that history.

In the South Sound, the Iota Mu Lambda Chapter carries that tradition forward. The 2026 celebration is a full Founders’ Week, and Saturday’s brunch and ceremony is the centerpiece. The Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Tacoma 2026 program welcomes brothers, families, friends and community members to celebrate a century and more of Black leadership together.

What to Expect at the Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Tacoma 2026

1. Featured addressBro. Dr. Cedric Howard delivers the keynote for the 120th anniversary.
2. The Jim Tharpe quilt filmA film tied to the quilt tradition behind this year’s Threads of Our Legacy theme.
3. Yellow Rose honorsSeven brothers are recognized for their contributions, along with the people who stand beside them.
4. Historic quilts on displayQuilts that tell the story of family, faith and community across generations.
5. Brunch by Come Eat DaddyA full brunch served during the program.

A Full Founders’ Week

Saturday is one of several gatherings during the week. On Thursday, December 3, the chapter hosts The Signature Crown, a hat design workshop with Mr. Felton Love, at The Meridian, 10312 120th Street East in Puyallup, with doors at 5:30 PM. Friday’s event details are still to come. On Sunday, December 6, the week closes with worship at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, 19300 108th Avenue SE in Kent, from 9:30 AM to noon. The Sunday service is free and open to all, with an optional RSVP to help the chapter plan.

Guests who plan to attend more than one day can save with a package. The Single Crown package, which pairs the Thursday workshop with one Saturday ticket, is $220. The Couples Crown package, which admits two to the Thursday workshop plus one Saturday ticket, is $310; Saturday admission is per person, so a second guest adds a Saturday ticket. All tickets and packages are sold through the chapter’s Founders’ Day website.

Service at the Heart of the Celebration

Alpha Phi Alpha’s national programs reach far beyond the fraternity. Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College encourages young people to finish school and continue their education. Project Alpha helps young men develop responsibility and life skills. A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People promotes voter education and civic participation, and Brother’s Keeper supports brothers, spouses and families who need care. That focus on education, civic engagement and service lines up closely with the work of NAACP branches across Washington, which is why NAACP AOWSAC is proud to share the Alpha Phi Alpha Founders Day Tacoma 2026 celebration with our community.

Plan Your Visit

William W. Philip Hall, room WPH 101, sits at 1918 Commerce Street in downtown Tacoma. Guest parking is available in the Tioga Lot. Brothers are asked to dress Alpha Sharp, and guests should plan on business casual. Check the UW Tacoma transportation page for parking and transit options, and find more events across Alaska, Oregon and Washington on the NAACP AOWSAC events calendar.

Additional Resources

• Iota Mu Lambda Founders’ Day 2026
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Alpha Phi Alpha History
• BlackPast: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Hosted by the Iota Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and shared by the NAACP AOWSAC State Area Conference