Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. • Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter
Brother Matthew M. Coats
Strategic community leader, youth mentor, program administrator, and Alpha servant-leader building high-impact systems that strengthen young men, families, and communities.
Leadership • Mentorship • ServiceWestland, Michigan
Professional Summary
Mission-driven leadership with measurable community impact.
Brother Matthew M. Coats is a strategic community leader, youth mentor, and program administrator with a proven record of building high-impact initiatives through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter. His Alpha résumé reflects program leadership, mentor development, budgeting, partnership cultivation, fundraising, governance, public speaking, curriculum development, and community outreach.
Core Competencies
Service, structure, accountability, and sustainability.
Youth Development & MentoringProgram Leadership & OperationsStrategic PlanningCommunity OutreachPartnership BuildingVolunteer CoordinationBudget ManagementFinancial OversightCollege & Career ReadinessEvent PlanningFundraisingParent & Family EngagementCurriculum DevelopmentPublic SpeakingGovernanceOrganizational Leadership
Chapter Home
Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter
Matthew’s profile is rooted in the service, brotherhood, scholarship, advocacy, and community impact of the Ann Arbor Alphas.
Visit AnnArborAlphas.orgFeatured Program
Ann Arbor Esquires Leadership and Mentoring Program
Served in progressive leadership roles as Program Coordinator, Assistant Program Director, and Program Director, supporting young men ages 8 through 17 across Washtenaw and Western Wayne Counties.
Visit A2Esquires.orgFeatured Service
Dr. Thomas A. Bass Caring & Sharing Program
Served as Co Program Director, helping coordinate seasonal food distribution, family support, fundraising, budgeting, volunteer coordination, packing operations, and delivery logistics.
Visit Caring & SharingMentor Training Academy
Annual risk management and mentor readiness training.
Matthew developed and implemented annual risk management mentor training for the Ann Arbor Esquires program. The training supports mentor readiness, accountability, youth safety, consistent guidance, and a structured mentoring environment for Esquires and families.
ELMP LinkedIn
Follow the Ann Arbor Esquires story online.
View program highlights, leadership development moments, community service updates, Success Seminar recaps, and the growing public story of ELMP impact.
Fundraising Vision
Leaders for Tomorrow: The ELMP Impact Luncheon
This donor luncheon positions ELMP as a structured leadership pipeline with measurable outcomes, visible student growth, and a clear invitation for supporters to invest in young men, families, and community transformation.
Event Snapshot
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Location: Washtenaw Golf Club
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Purpose: Bring community partners, donors, sponsors, and advocates into the ELMP story so they can see the impact, understand the model, and support the next year of programming.
Program Flow
- 12:00 PM: Arrival and buffet lunch
- 12:15 PM: Welcome, ELMP overview, Esquire story, vision, and the ask
- 1:15 PM: Giving, sponsor conversations, and relationship building
Why Give
ELMP develops young men academically, socially, and personally with a focus on leadership, college readiness, service, cultural identity, and long-term achievement.
What Donors Fund
Support helps sustain Success Seminars, mentoring, tutoring, college and career readiness, cultural experiences, service projects, recognition, jackets, badges, scholarships, and family engagement.
What Makes ELMP Different
The program combines structured mentoring, parent communication, progress tracking, community partnerships, real-world exposure, and a visible recognition pathway that celebrates growth over time.
ELMP Information Packet Highlights
A fuller picture of the program Matthew is helping build.
The site now explains the ELMP operating model in greater detail, including the mission, hybrid mentoring process, Success Seminars, tutoring, cultural identity series, EPRS, recognition pathway, conduct expectations, and family-centered structure.
Mission & Vision
ELMP develops young Black men academically, socially, and personally with a central focus on higher education and service to humanity. The vision is to prepare socially conscious, college-educated, high-achieving leaders for families and communities.
Hybrid Rule of Three Mentoring
Each Esquire is supported by a three-mentor team: a Lead Mentor for accountability, a Supporting Mentor for engagement and continuity, and a Development Mentor for academic, career, leadership, and life-plan growth.
No Gaps Accountability
The model is designed so no Esquire is overlooked, no mentor works in isolation, and no lapse in engagement occurs. Mentor teams use check-ins, parent communication, progress reviews, and goal tracking.
Success Seminars
Structured seminars focus on life skills, leadership, etiquette, academic excellence, financial literacy, public speaking, conflict resolution, college readiness, career exploration, and personal development.
On-Demand Tutoring
The tutoring support network gives Esquires targeted academic help when a need arises. Mentors can support homework, study skills, test preparation, concept review, organization, and confidence-building.
Black History & Cultural Identity
This series builds cultural pride, self-confidence, purpose, and civic engagement through African American history, leadership legacies, student presentations, panels, creative projects, and field experiences.
EPRS Growth Tracking
The Engagement and Positive Reinforcement System tracks academic performance, attendance and participation, leadership and conduct, college and career readiness, and personal growth and reflection.
Jackets, Badges & Recognition
Esquires earn recognition through badges, jackets, and the Elite, Distinguished, and Legacy Esquire pathway. The jacket tells a story of habits, values, identity, consistency, and growth over multiple years.
Junior Esquires Pipeline
Junior Esquires participate in age-appropriate leadership, service, cultural identity, mentorship, and confidence-building activities that prepare them to transition into the full Alpha Esquire experience.
Code of Conduct
Esquires are expected to listen first, think second, and respond with purpose while showing discipline, respect, confidence, accountability, professionalism, preparedness, and pride.
Alpha Résumé
Leadership, service, governance, fundraising, and community impact.
Youth Development & Mentorship Leadership
- Designed and led Success Seminars on life skills, academic excellence, financial literacy, public speaking, conflict resolution, college readiness, career exploration, and leadership development.
- Guided Esquires in creating life plans, resumes, and portfolios for future academic and career opportunities.
- Built a mentoring environment focused on confidence, accountability, self-discipline, and vision.
- Delivered programming aligned with Go To High School Go To College and Project Alpha principles.
- Developed a structured mentoring framework that paired Esquires with trained mentors for guidance, accountability, and personal development.
Program Systems & Strategic Leadership
- Created and implemented an On Demand Tutoring Support Network for targeted academic support.
- Managed individual Esquire portfolios, including academic records, resumes, life plans, and achievement tracking.
- Led college and career readiness efforts through resume workshops, mock interviews, college tours, and career exposure.
- Created and implemented an Engagement and Positive Reinforcement System to track attendance, academic progress, leadership behavior, and personal growth milestones.
- Oversaw curriculum planning, mentor coordination, parent communication, and performance tracking for more than 30 active participants.
Community Service & Outreach
- Coordinated seasonal food distribution for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, serving hundreds of families through organized assembly and delivery operations.
- Led logistics including fundraising, budgeting, food sourcing, volunteer coordination, packing operations, and route planning.
- Organized Family Essentials Drives for hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and household necessities.
- Supported senior outreach through wellness checks, care package delivery, and relationship-based service.
- Served as an active Community Service Committee member and volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
Organizational Leadership & Governance
- Served as Chapter Vice President, helping guide strategic direction, operations, member engagement, and committee coordination.
- Presided over meetings in the absence of the President while maintaining order and parliamentary procedure.
- Represented the chapter externally when designated through collaborative organizations and councils.
- Served as Chapter Treasurer, overseeing financial management, accountability, budgeting, deposits, disbursements, and financial controls.
- Chaired the Budget and Finance Committee and contributed to planning and financial oversight as part of the IMDP Management Team.
Event Planning & Fundraising
- Supported scholarship fundraising and event coordination through the Black and Gold Scholarship Ball Committee.
- Helped organize the TZL Blackout Cookout and other large-scale fellowship and community engagement events.
- Contributed to fundraising strategy through the Bowling Fundraiser Committee.
- Represented the organization during Alpha Day at the Capitol, advocating for education equity, healthcare access, and economic opportunity.
- Helped raise more than $9,000 for ELMP, including support from a $5,100 Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation grant.
Honors & Affiliations
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter, Life Member.
- NAACP, Silver Life Member.
- National Society of Black Engineers.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
- March of Dimes, March for Babies.
- Parkridge Community Center.
- TZL Outstanding Brother of the Year Award, 2010, recognizing exemplary leadership, dedication to service, and meaningful contributions to youth development and community impact.
Impact Gallery
Leadership in action across mentoring, service, culture, and community.
Each image below is used once and labeled by event title to document the scope of service, mentoring, college and career readiness, cultural identity, family engagement, and youth development reflected throughout Matthew’s Alpha résumé.
Contact
Building stronger communities through leadership, mentorship, and service.
Email: matthew.mm.coats@gmail.com
Phone: 734.634.2140