Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc.
National History
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, incorporated was the first sisterhood for African American women. Founded on january 15, 1908 at howard state university in washington, d.c., it is the oldest college based sorority founded by african american. the inspiration for its inception was ethel hedgemen lyle, who along with fifteen other dynamic women, saw a need for togetherness and "service to all mankind" for not only the campus of howard, but also for the entire world. The perpetuity of this greatness was secured on january 29, 1913 by a movement for incorporation led by one of the sorority’s illustrious founders, nellie quander. The sorority is committed to serve in every community wherever it is located with 725 plus undergraduate and graduate chapters, alpha Kappa Alpha defintely gets the job done. Our organization pursues it objectives through people-oriented programs targeting education, Black Family, Economic Empowerment, Health, and the Arts. history will show that Alpha Kappa Alpha has made a difference nationally by waging a war on diptheria and smallpox and improving nutritional and dental practices by launching the mississippi health project, the first mobile health clinic in the united states.
the present status of alpha kappa alpha is even more dynamic than when it started out. Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, inc., operates as a volunteer-professional teamwork organization. soror Norma solomon white, current president, has implemented new community service programs to take this sorority to a different level. in her inaugrual address she said, "thus, we stand at this moment in history on the brink of disaster, or unearthing new and innovative solutions to our current problems. This is when our supreme basileus challenged every chapter of alpha kappa alpha to blaze new trails—the alpha kappa alpha way!!! The 1998-2002 programs will focus on leadership development and will target education, economic empowerment, health, black family, and the arts. The theme for this administration is blazing new trails.
Now with membership of more than 150,000 women, alpha kappa alpha have distinguished themselves as trailblazers in every spectrum of society. Among this great sorority are some great leaders in this society, such as Dr. Mae Jemison, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Cardiss Collins, Eva Calyton, Sheila Jackson Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Juanita Milender-McDonalds, Constance Baker Motley, Marva Collins, Phylicia Rashad, Ntozake Shange, Jessye Norman, Gladys Knight, Coretta King Scott, Patricia Russell-McCloud, Madame Leah Tutu, Lynn Whitfield, Althea Gibson, Hazel O’leary, Esther Gordy, c. Delores Tucker, Yvette lee, Angie Brooks, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Jada Pinkett.