Kappa Mainstream
Leadership

A beacon of hope and opportunity for youth and families in Wilmington’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Kappa Mainstream Leadership

A beacon of hope and opportunity for youth and families in Wilmington’s most underserved neighborhoods.

About Us

Founded in 1997, Kappa Mainstream Leadership, Inc. is the nonprofit outreach arm of the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Kappa Mainstream was born out of a powerful vision—to create a beacon of hope and opportunity for youth and families in Wilmington’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide access to social, emotional, and educational resources so that youth in under-served communities become positive, productive, and valued members of the community.

Our Core Pillars and Program Areas

Academic Achievement: Tutoring, STEM education, literacy enrichment, and career exploration.
Life Skills & Mentorship: Programs promoting financial literacy, conflict resolution, and personal growth.
Health & Wellness: Trauma-informed care, mental health awareness, and youth sports.
Technology & the Arts: E-Gaming, video design, DJ training, and digital literacy.
Civic Engagement: Programs that strengthen community pride, leadership, and public service.

Our Focus

Kappa Mainstream Leadership focuses its community impact around key youth development areas:

Academic Achievement:
We believe that academic success is a cornerstone of long-term opportunity. Our programs include tutoring, literacy support, and STEM-based enrichment to help students build confidence, improve performance in school, and discover pathways to higher education and future careers. Our goal is to close achievement gaps and promote a lifelong love of learning.

Life Skills & Mentorship:
We equip youth with essential life skills by providing access to positive role models and mentors. Programs in this area emphasize decision-making, financial literacy, personal responsibility, and leadership development. Our intent is to help youth develop strong character and navigate life’s challenges with resilience and purpose.

Health & Wellness:
We are committed to the physical and emotional well-being of our youth. Our wellness initiatives address mental health, trauma, nutrition, and physical activity, aiming to support healthy development and reduce risk factors associated with violence, substance abuse, and chronic health issues.

Technology & the Arts:
Recognizing the power of creative expression and digital literacy, we offer programs in gaming, website development, video design and e-gaming. These activities nurture creativity, build 21st-century skills, and provide a constructive outlet for energy and talent.

Civic Engagement:
We encourage young people to become active and informed members of their communities. Through service projects, youth forums, and civic education, we aim to develop leadership skills, foster civic pride, and build a sense of responsibility and belonging. elementary students.

Core Initiatives

Kappa Cares Initiative

A community violence prevention and trauma intervention program offering after-school activities, mentorship, and life skills training.

The Achievers Program

A six-month mentorship experience, co-sponsored with the Wilmington Chapter of The Links, Inc., for high school juniors and seniors that has awarded over $1 million in scholarships.

School Partnerships

Working with Thomas Edison Charter, Warner Elementary and Maurice Pritchett, Sr. Academy providing mentorship, tutoring, and enrichment to elementary students.

Learn 2 Live

A public safety partnership with law enforcement educating youth on community policing and safe interactions.

Achievement Center

In partnership with the City of Wilmington and the HOPE Commission, Kappa Mainstream helped establish the Achievement Center, a two-story facility in the heart of the 19802 zip code—an area heavily impacted by crime, poverty, and limited access to resources. The Center serves as a safe haven for youth and returning citizens, offering programs that promote achievement, emotional development, and life readiness.

Grand Opening: Second Floor Renovation

On March 7, 2025, we unveiled our E-Gaming and STEM hub, which is on the newly renovated second floor of the Kappa Achievement Center.

Our vision was to create a youth focused hub that serves as a beacon of hope, challenge and inspiration for the families and youth of the City of Wilmington.

The Kappa Mainstream Leadership organization hosted the successful ribbon cutting for the grand opening ceremony of our second floor Youth After School Gaming and STEM Program Center.

The Kappa Mainstream Leadership organization guided by its President, William Bazzelle, was instrumental in acquiring $1.3 million in funds from the State of Delaware, New Castle County, individual donors, businesses and other entities which enabled us to redesign the second floor of the Achievement Center building with a focus on youth development.

These funds provided for substantial renovations to the building’s second floor, including the design and installation of a new elevator tower, a secure access system along with electrical upgrades to accommodate several computer workstations. In addition, Kappa Mainstream hired a program director to oversee the computer lab and the ongoing after school development program for our youth.

In attendance were Wilmington City Council and New Castle County executives and political figures, along with many business and civic leaders from the community who expressed excitement for the new facility at this celebratory event.

Our Impact

In 1987, the Wilmington Delaware, Achievers Program was founded upon the vision that with proper guidance, groups of exceptional and dedicated young men could be bonded together in pride and commitment. To accomplish the program goals and objectives, a series of workshops and activities are provided over several weeks.

The culminating event – “The Affair of Honor” – is a formal banquet and ceremony, at which time the young men are “presented” to the community and receive recognition and other awards because of their participation in the Achievers Program.

Number of Students

0 +

Scholarships Awarded

Scholarship Money Awarded

1 M+

Graduation Rate

1 %

Dr. William E. Bazzelle serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kappa Mainstream Leadership, Inc., the 501(c)(3) philanthropic partner of the Wilmington (DE) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Under his visionary leadership, the organization has become a transformative force for community impact, youth development, and education in Wilmington, Delaware.

As a founding architect of the Achievement Center, Dr. Bazzelle has been instrumental in both its creation and continued expansion. He successfully secured $2.0 million in initial grant funding in 2004 to establish the facility, and in 2020, led the charge once again to raise $1.3 million to renovate its second floor. Completed in 2024, this newly upgraded space now serves as a central hub for mentoring, after-school programs, STEM and computer literacy, and health and wellness initiatives for Wilmington’s youth.

A native of Arkansas, Dr. Bazzelle earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Texas Southern University (where he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi in 1962), and later earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Wayne State University. He enjoyed a distinguished 37-year career at the DuPont Company, where he held leadership roles in operations, technical services, and intellectual property management. Following his retirement in 2004, he consulted internationally on corporate and operational safety for major firms across North America and Asia.

Dr. Bazzelle’s legacy of community service spans decades—from school boards and YMCA chapters in Texas to medical licensing and engineering equity boards in Delaware. He served as Chair of the FAME (Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering) Board of Directors for over 30 years, and has held numerous leadership positions within the United Methodist Church. His steady commitment to education, equity, and excellence continues to shape lives and communities.

Dr. Bazzelle follows his wife Minnie’s philosophy of “reaching back as you climb,” meaning that, as you succeed, it is your responsibility to work to help others also succeed. By staying true to this phrase, Dr. Bazzelle has realized a life of science and service and has helped many more to do the same.

Dr. William E. Bazzelle

President & Chairman of the Board
Kappa Mainstream Leadership, Inc.

Leadership

Board Of Directors

Josdeph Bryant , Jr.

Board Member

Calvin Christopher

Treasurer

Keenan Harris

Board Member

Brian Lewis

Board Member

Christopher McDowell

Board Member

Daryl Parsons

Board Member

Ronald Pinkett

Board Member

James Sloan

Board Member

Stanley Smith

Board Member

Lary Stephens

Board Member