AKA Mid-South chapters recognize 113 years of service with joint celebration

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — You’ve seen them in our schools, and you’ve seen them at the polls.

Decked out in salmon pink and apple green, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. are committed to service.

“Our mission is service to all mankind,” Phi Lambda Omega Chapter President Rachel D. Helton said.

“We reach everyone. It’s not just an organization for women, but it’s for men, women, boys, and girls. We reach everyone at all times. Globally at all times.”

This month, the historic first black Greek sorority celebrates 113 years of sisterhood and service.

For the first time, four local Mid-South graduate chapters and four local undergraduate chapters came together to celebrate its Founders’ Day.

FOX13′s Lauren Coleman, also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, asked why it was important to have a joint Founders’ Day celebration this year.

“When we think about everything that has happened in our country over the past few months, especially this month of January, we were already planning to do this together, but continuous events showed us how very important it was for us to show unity,” Alpha Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter President Tamala Boyd Shaw said.

The virtual celebration titled “Stronger. Wiser. Better. Together”, featured International Membership Chair Tracy Morant Adams as the guest speaker and a donation of $5,000 to five local organizations.

Each donation helped groups that focus on education, health and wellness, global impact and more.

“It sends a strong message to the community,” Beta Epsilon Omega 1st Vice President Cheryl Bingham explained.

“I’m just overjoyed to share that I served on that service project committee and I was able to reach out to those five recipients. They were just excited that this organization, that four chapters came together.”

The ladies say this joint program shows there is true power in numbers.

“I think one of the things we learned is how much we learn from each other and putting on our programs,” Alpha Alpha Gamma Omega Chapter President Marceia Ashe said.

“So hopefully, this was the start of just the very beginning of what we see we can accomplish together.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has more than 300,000 members worldwide with hundreds of members serving Mid-South communities.

Participating Chapters:

Beta Epsilon Omega (Memphis)

Phi Lambda Omega (Memphis)

Alpha Alpha Gamma Omega (Memphis)

Alpha Alpha Zeta Omega (Desoto County)

Beta Tau (LeMoyne-Owen College)

Epsilon Epsilon (University of Memphis)

Mu Epsilon (Christian Brothers University)

Omicron Chi (Rhodes College)