Alpha Kappa Alpha

Alpha Kappa Alpha
Name	Alpha Kappa Alpha
Caption	The crest
Founded	15 January 1908
Founders	Ethel Hedgeman Lyle
Type	Sorority
Scope	International
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Colors	Salmon Pink and Apple Green
Motto	"By Culture and By Merit"
Publication	The Ivy Leaf
Chapters	1,061
Members	355,000+
Website	aka1908.com

Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority. The organization was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C. by a group of nine students led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. It has since grown into an international sisterhood with over 355,000 initiated members, dedicated to service, scholarship, and the cultivation of high ethical standards. The sorority's programs address educational, economic, health, and social issues within communities worldwide.

History

The establishment of the sorority occurred during a period of significant racial segregation and limited opportunities for African American women in higher education. The founding vision was conceived by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle and realized with the support of eight other Howard University undergraduates, including Anna Easter Brown, Beulah Burke, and Lillie Burke. The organization was incorporated on January 29, 1913, with Nellie Quander leading the effort to secure a perpetual charter, ensuring its permanence. Key early expansions included the establishment of the first graduate chapter, Beta Omega, in 1919 and the first international chapter in Monrovia, Liberia, in 1921. Throughout the 20th century, the sorority was actively involved in major social movements, including the Great Depression, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Organization

The sorority is governed by an international board of directors, led by an international president, and operates under a constitution and bylaws. Its structure is divided into ten geographical regions, each overseen by a regional director, encompassing the United States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The supreme governing body is the biennial international convention, where delegates from all chapters convene. The sorority's international headquarters is located in a dedicated building in Chicago, and its official publication is the magazine The Ivy Leaf.

Membership

Membership is by invitation only and is extended to women who have completed at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. The membership process involves a period of education about the organization's history, principles, and protocols, culminating in an initiation ceremony. The sorority maintains a lifelong membership model, with members actively participating through local graduate or undergraduate chapters. Distinguished membership categories include Honorary Members, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, and Coretta Scott King, who have been recognized for their exceptional achievements and alignment with the sorority's ideals.

Programs

The sorority's service initiatives are organized under international program targets, historically known as "Programs of Service." These initiatives have focused on education, family strengthening, health, economic empowerment, and the arts. Landmark programs include the Mississippi Health Project of the 1930s, the Cleveland Job Corps center, and the establishment of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation. Contemporary initiatives address issues like HIV/AIDS awareness, environmental ownership through the "Think HBCU" initiative, and global poverty through partnerships with organizations like UNICEF and the American Heart Association.

Notable_members

The sorority's membership includes a vast array of influential figures across numerous fields. In politics and government, notable members include former U.S. Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. In entertainment and the arts, members include actresses Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott, poet Maya Angelou, and singer Gladys Knight. Leaders in education and literature include authors Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, while pioneers in law and civil rights include federal judge Constance Baker Motley and activist Rosa Parks.

Chapters_and_Regions

The sorority comprises over 1,061 chapters organized into ten regions: North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Great Lakes, South Central, Mid-Western, Far Western, International, and two regions encompassing undergraduate clusters. Notable undergraduate chapters include the Alpha Chapter at Howard University and chapters at Spelman College, Hampton University, and University of California, Los Angeles. Prominent graduate chapters include Xi Omega Chapter in Washington, D.C., Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter in Chicago, and Theta Omega Chapter in Atlanta. The international region includes chapters in Frankfurt, Seoul, Tokyo, Toronto, Johannesburg, and Dubai.

Category:African-American sisterhoods Category:Howard University Category:Organizations established in 1908