By Shaun Chester
Charlotte, North Carolina was tickled pink and green July 12-18th, as it welcomed the sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for its 66th International Boule. The Boule is the international business meeting of the sorority that is held bi-annually. Alpha Kappa Alpha (ΑΚΑ) is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African-American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of visionary students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle.
The convention was open to all active Alpha Kappa Alpha members, with most of the events taking place at the Charlotte Convention Center. The theme was “A Royal Celebration of Global Leadership and Timeless Service”. The weeklong convention focused on how AKA Members can deepen our volunteer efforts, and be of greater service in the community. Throughout the conference, members participated in various community service projects. On July 12, in honor of International Nelson Mandela Day, we volunteered with a meal-packing program called, Stop Hunger Now! The sorority’s Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. celebrated a growth in endowments, which fueled Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. ability provide over $500,000 in Community Assistance Awards between 2010 and 2013. The foundation also awarded more than 300 scholarships in 2013-2014. You can imagine that AKA Members made our way to Charlotte with plenty of personal gear, and yet we found room to pack in pounds of school supplies to donate to various back-to-school projects in the greater Charlotte area.
In addition to volunteering, and managing the business of Alpha Kappa Alpha, members participate in workshops, forums and trainings to develop their skills sets for greater leadership in the sorority and other community organizations. There were several major events including The State of Public Education Summit, where education experts, including Michael Lomax, Ph.D., president and CEO of United Negro College Fund, discussed the Common Core Standards, the state of higher education and education regulations that impact our communities. On a social note, Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted the largest formal dinner ever held in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, with 10,450 people and 7.68 tons of food at 1,000 tables.
The sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha closed the conference with the induction of Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson of Milwaukee, WI. As the 2014-2018 International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she is the 29th woman to hold this honored and distinguished position. With the eyes on the future while cherishing the past, conference attendees were rejuvenated and excited to join over 265,000 members under Buckhanan Wilson’s dynamic leadership. The 2014 – 2018 International Program will focus on the theme, “Launching New Dimensions of Service”. The Seattle Alumnae chapter members look forward to expanding our current exemplary programs and bringing this new program to life in the greater Puget Sound community
With the closing ceremonies over, shopping done, and banners taken down, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated have return home to all points on the globe including the Bahamas, California, Oklahoma Alaska, South Africa and Seattle, to carry out the continued mission of Service to all mankind.
Edited by Phyllis Scott Lowe and Val Thomas-Matson.
