AKA Stepped and Served at Regional Conference

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 28, 2011) – The weekend of March 31 through April 3, the Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. held its 77th Regional Conference in downtown Lexington. Beta Gamma Omega was the hosting graduate chapter from UK and Iota Sigma was the hosting undergrad chapter from UK. There were 1,475 Central Region Alpha Kappa Alpha members in attendance.

The conference events included three community service events, a public meeting, and a step show. All of these events were open to the public. The three community service events that the Central Region members participated in were the Wig Drop for the American Cancer Society, the Shoe Drop for Soles4Souls, and an off-site service project at the Salvation Army.

On Thursday the AKA members served the Lexington community at the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter. They helped set up, serve lunch, clean up, and visit with residents of the Emergency Shelter.

The Wig Drop for the American Cancer Society and the Shoe Drop for Soles4Souls both took place on Friday. The Wig Drop allowed the Central Region AKA members to give back to women who are battling cancer. The members had the opportunity to either donate new or gently used wigs, or they could donate money toward the purchase of new wigs for the American Cancer Society Patient Services Room in Lexington.

"I think that the wig drop was extremely successful. The Iota Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. raised money from an annual Breast Cancer Awareness event we have in October called "Hoop For The Cause," said Iota Sigma Chapter President Tiffany Lawson. "We raised $500 from that event that allowed us to purchase the wigs to donate to the wig drop at the conference."

At the Shoe Drop for Soles4Souls, the Central Region members participated in the global service project by collecting and distributing their new or gentley worn footwear to a person in need. The shoe recipients are victims of a natural disaster or subject to living in poverty. The members were asked to bring at least one pair of dress, casual or sports shoes. Some of the shoes will stay in Lexington and will be donated to a local charitable organization for distribution to those in need.

The step show, titled "Stepping 101," hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. on Friday night featured the Divine Nine(Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.). "Stepping 101" provided the opportunity for all of the other Divine Nine Black Greek Letter Organizations to be included in the Central Region Conference.  

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Howard University on Jan. 15, 1908, by nine college women. It is the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African-American college-educated women. The sorority has national and international chapters, including the Caribbean, Germany, Korea and Africa - 556 graduate and 403 undergraduate chapters. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a service organization with a mission to "service to all mankind."
 

For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. or on Iota Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. contact Joy Priest, Iota Sigma historian, by e-mail at joy.priest@uky.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Katy Bennett, (859) 257-1754, ext. 255; katy.bennett@uky.edu