They came from all over the globe to join over 25,000 of their sisters to pay honor to their 100 year old
Sorority – Alpha Kappa Alpha. The historic milestone featured a yearlong commemoration, culminating in a gala
week, July 11-19, of tributes, salutes and praise in Washington, D.C., where the Sorority was founded. The climactic celebration
coincided with the Sorority’s biennial international confab, during which members made the pilgrimage to Howard University
to honor the Alpha Kappa Alpha founders and celebrate the Sorority’s 100-year history. AKA women visited Washington
D.C. for its Centennial international convention which was presided over by International President, Barbara A. McKinzie.
Some of the highlights of the weeklong event included the Public Meeting which was filled with enthusiasm!
Members, families and friends from near and far gathered in celebration. Guests included Adrian Fenty, Mayor of the District
of Columbia; Dr. Dorothy Height, President Emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women; author Hill Harper; Prince George’s
County Executive Jack Johnson; and Alpha Kappa Alpha’s own Florida State Senator Frederica Wilson among many other distinguished
individuals. Wilson, along with the likes of Secretary of State, Dr. Condolezza Rice and Senator Barack Obama, was honored
at the meeting. Presidential nominee Obama sent his regards to the delight of the crowd.
Also, the organization and its members were pleased to induct Michelle Obama and four extraordinary ladies
as Honorary Members, the highest honor that a non-member can receive. Other inductees included a physician, Dr. Zoanne Clark,
who works as a medical consultant for the ABC show "Grey’s Anatomy"; Deborah S. Stewart-Parker, a pioneer of the automotive
industry; C. Vivian Stringer the acclaimed Rutgers University women’s basketball coach; and Carol H. Williams, a titan
of the advertising industry. Following their initiation, the new members in attendance received a warm greeting from their
new sorority sisters.
At their Undergraduate Luncheon, Undergraduates of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated welcomed the
intelligence, elegance and motivational words of their honorary member and the first Black female astronaut to ever step foot
into space – Dr. Mae Jemison.
Another highlight of the event was the unity march from the Capital to the White House where 30,000 members
from the nine predominantly Black Greek fraternities and sororities joined together with AKA Sorority as a unified force to
advance their united agenda. The marchers, all members of the Pan Hellenic Council, sent a "powerful message" to the outgoing
administration and a declaration to the next U.S. president about important issues of their constituencies. They were met
by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who addressed the group.
The weeklong celebration theme was: "Centennial Commitment to Leadership" – a recognition of McKinzie
administration’s focus on leadership, which is embraced by the ESP theme —Economics, Service and Partnerships.
The conference ended with a grand gala celebration and rededication by its members to the organization‘s goals for the
next 100 years.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is America’s first Greek-letter organization founded in 1908 by, and for, African-American
college women. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, it is one of the world’s leading service organizations. The Sorority’s
members have made a commitment "to serve all mankind" through a nucleus of more than 200,000 women in over 975 chapters in
the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Korea, Japan and in the continent of Africa. Barbara A. McKinzie is the
27th International President. For more information, log on to www.aka1908.com
