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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 Ivy AKAdemy has been a more recent umbrella
concept for Alpha Kappa Alpha programming.
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
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Referring to the picture to the left,
From Left to Right:
Annetta W. Edmonds;
Connie Yerwood Odom,
South Central Regional Director;
Beulah T. Whitby,
Supreme Basileus;
Margaret P. Anderson;
Lois Towles,
Guest Artist;
Thelma Page Richardson, Basileus,
Alpha Xi Omega Chapter,
Dallas, Texas;
Thelma Thornton, Basileus,
Beta Mu Omega Chapter,
Ft. Worth, Texas
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