Final week, roughly 4,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), Included® gathered at Mohegan Solar in Uncasville, Connecticut for a Public Assembly, which formally kicked off the sorority’s 94th North Atlantic Regional Convention.
The theme, “Hovering to Service via Advocacy,” set the tone for the four-day convention that was all about sisterhood, service, and inspiration. Sorority members in attendance represented 11 japanese states and the District of Columbia.
Sunny Hostin, Esq., who’s an Emmy-Award successful authorized journalist, co-host of ABC’s “The View,” bestselling writer, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, was the mistress of ceremonies for the Public Assembly. Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Hayes, III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, was the keynote speaker.
Whereas internet hosting the assembly, Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq., AKA’s North Atlantic Regional Director, stated, “Allow us to keep in mind. Advocacy is not only a phrase. It’s a calling. It’s about utilizing our collective voice, our training, and our ardour to create actual and sustainable change. Collectively we’re hovering, not simply flying, however rising with objective, with dignity and with an unshakable dedication to our communities.”
Members of the Nationwide Pan-Hellenic Council provided greetings on behalf of their respective sororities and fraternities, and congratulated the next honorees: The Empower Our Households Award recipient Dr. Melony Samuels, CEO and founding father of The Marketing campaign In opposition to Starvation; the Construct Our Financial Wealth Award recipient Mark Mason, Chief Monetary Officer, Citi; and the Uplift Our Native Group Award honoree the Honorable Adrienne Adams, Speaker of the New York Metropolis Council (District 28).
Danette Anthony Reed, Worldwide President and CEO of AKA, prolonged her appreciation to native chapters of AKA and accomplice organizations in addition to members of the Divine 9 group. She shared, “Your presence throughout our regional convention indicators a willingness to accomplice with and help our collaborative efforts. I do know all of us are wanted now greater than ever as a result of we’re witnessing unprecedented social, political and financial uncertainties. So, we’re glad you’re right here.”
Pictures courtesy of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. North Atlantic Area
The North Atlantic Area is the birthplace of AKA, a world service group based at Howard College in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It’s the oldest Greek-letter group established by African American college-educated girls and includes greater than 365,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters in 11 international locations. The area encompasses 155 chapters all through Japanese New York, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Japanese Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
Within the spirit of service, donations have been collected for the 94th North Atlantic Regional Convention Service Challenge and offered to representatives from CAMBA, Inc., a non-profit company in New York that gives help providers to assist people and households set up their financial stability, and to thrive bodily, educationally, and emotionally. Detergent, dryer sheets, material softener, and laundry luggage have been among the many objects donated.
After attending an uplifting Public Assembly and contributing to the service venture, it was time for an “Previous College / Hip-Hop / R&B After Social gathering,” that includes movie star DJ D-Good.