In 1924, sixteen years after the founding of the first organization of African American college-educated women in the United States, Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was chartered at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.  It included both graduate and undergraduate members and represented the first chapter west of the Mississippi River.  More importantly, it was the first chapter chartered in what we now refer to as South Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Of the ten current regions of Alpha Kappa Alpha, South Central is one of the largest in membership. After almost eighty years of service, the region has grown consistently and continuously in membership and chapters. The active membership is comprised of Boule and chapter members.  There are more than 120 undergraduate and graduate chapters located in the four-state region of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. Its growth in both members and service is primarily attributed to a combination of sincere and rare fellowship, visionary leadership, strong chapter programs, individual excellence in community and professional service, and, more importantly, a firm and unified commitment to fulfill the Alpha Kappa Alpha mission of improving the quality of life for all.

Sisterliness, unity in service and leadership are principles that prevail and are promoted at all times within Alpha Kappa Alpha. The members believe and practice these ideals.  It is the glue that binds the organization into a corporate whole and empowers it to successfully fulfill its mission. In South Central this is especially true.  And coupled with the unified group efforts are the individual contributions made by exceptionally talented sorors. Many sorors have been recognized for their extraordinary service and outstanding accomplishments in many areas, including: education, art, business, government and elected local state and national offices.

Through the years, elected Alpha Kappa Alpha officers and other appointed leaders have enabled the sorority in general and South Central Region specifically to attain and maintain a global status of "Supreme in Service". Supreme Basilei, Regional Directors and other national officers in South Central have distinguished themselves during their terms of office and beyond. The same is true of local chapter Basilei and other sorors who provided leadership as chairmen of committees and task forces.

The heart of Alpha Kappa Alpha is its focused programs of service in meeting the critical needs of people locally, regionally and internationally. South Central chapters have continuously developed and implemented programs that are relevant and effective in addressing these needs. The major area of emphasis have been education health, art, personal development and career development. Whether short or long term efforts, they have had a tremendous impact on the well-being of people in need. The Heart of ESP: An Extraordinary Service Program has been a more recent umbrella concept for Alpha Kappa Alpha programming.  “The ESP vision embraces a five-pronged program designed to excite, galvanize and ignite the passions of more than 180,000 members worldwide” (learn more about this exceptional program via the international site).

Through the years, the talents and accomplishments of sorors and chapters in the region have been outstanding. For that reason, South Central was one of the first regions to establish an Archives and History Committee - the purpose of which has been to capture many of the South Central success stories in building Alpha Kappa Alpha’s record of service. The committee continuously documents and distributes this information through publications, archival materials and regional workshops. South Central Regional History: Blazing New South Central Trails in the Third Millennium gives powerful sand detailed evidence of the awesome accomplishments of sorors and chapters in this region. Collectively, their achievements have established for South Central a record of excellence in Alpha Kappa Alphadom and the communities of the region.

The story does not end here. It continues to build on the Alpha Kappa Alpha legacy of excellence in service in this third millennium.

Soror Mamie L. McKnight 
South Central  Archives and History Committee Chairman
September 2002