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OUR HISTORY
AKA History
In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became America's first Greek-letter organization established by Black college women. Her roots date back to Howard University, Washington, D.C., where the idea for formation was conceived by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle of St. Louis, Missouri. She viewed the Sorority as an instrument for enriching the social and intellectual aspects of college life by providing mental stimulation through interaction with friends and associates. Through the years, however, Alpha Kappa Alpha's function has become more complex. After her incorporation as a perpetual body in 1913, Alpha Kappa Alpha gradually branched out and became the channel through which selected college-trained women improved the socioeconomic conditions in their city, state, nation, and the world.
Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sisterhood composed of women who have consciously chosen this affiliation as a means of self-fulfillment through volunteer service. Alpha Kappa Alpha cultivates and encourages high scholastic and ethical standards; promotes unity and friendship among college women; alleviates problems concerning girls and women; maintains a progressive interest in college life; and serves all mankind through a nucleus of more than 200,000 women in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa.
Candidacy for membership into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is open to women of high ethical and scholastic standards who are pursuing or have completed courses leading to a degree in an accredited college or university. Our official headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.
Chapter History
On November 9, 1982, eleven Alpha Kappa Alpha women gathered in Montclair, New Jersey to form a special interest group. Over the next 18 months, more sorors joined the group and programs of service were established. Finally, on June 30, 1984 Omicron Xi Omega Chapter was chartered and sworn in by the North Atlantic Regional Director, Soror Ruth C. Easley. The thirty-seven charter members of Omicron Xi Omega Chapter were: Carol Allen, Dorothy Banks, Cheryle Blake, Edwina Branch, Cecelia Callaway, Frances Carter, Doris Coleman, Grace Crichlow, Lillyan Crichlow-Carter, Ada Dean, Marie Gaines, Mary Good, Mary Grimstead, Amy Harrison, Jeanne Heningburg, Loretta Hodge, Edith Hurt, Marjorie Kay, Marian Kinchelow, Elizabeth Leach, Alison Moore, Eleanor Newton, Rosie Noble, Dorothy Oliver, Marguerite Page, Sylvia Paterson, Julia Pinderhughes, Joan Wiggins-Reeves, Joyce Robinson, Jayme Rich, Elnora Smith, Frieda Smith, Ella Sweeney, Hortense Tate, Barbara Taylor, Marva Tidwell, and Jane White.
Under the leadership of its first President, Soror Joan Wiggins-Reeves, Omicron Xi Omega Chapter became actively involved with voter registration drives, participated in the national boycott of the Nestle Company, and undertook a special project involving the collection of textbooks for the Haitian community. Over the years, the chapter has served the community through programs such as AKAteens, the Ivy Reading AKAdemy, child ID safety programs, Shoe Boxes for Africa, and Toys for Tots. Sorors have raised money for the March of Dimes, the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through their participation in numerous walk-a-thons. Omicron Xi Omega Chapter has given well over $130,000 in scholarships to young students and has established a foundation to ensure this important educational giving continues. The current scholarship program includes mentoring for the recipients in the areas of career planning and finance.
Today, led by its current President, Gail Davis, Omicron Xi Omega Chapter has expanded its horizons. Throughout recent years, the chapter has partnered with other community organizations such as the Montclair Fund for Women, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Community Partners, the American Legion's Ladies Auxiliary, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, St Paul Baptist Church of Montclair, The League of Women Voters and Superkidz Kamp.
Omicron Xi Omega is an award-winning chapter that has been recognized in the North Atlantic Region on numerous occasions. In 2003 the chapter received the North Atlantic Region PULSE award for Leadership. Other awards include recognition for Membership initiatives, E-Spirit Program Reporting, Sisterly Relations and Chapter Operations. In 2004, Soror Denise L. Taylor was acknowledged on the regional level with the Wilma Holmes Tootle Award for her achievements in education. Former President and Cluster IV Coordinator, Soror Mary Bentley LaMar, was awarded the North Atlantic Region Basileus of The Year Award for the 2006 Program year and under her leadership, the chapter received the North Atlantic Region Medium Chapter of The Year Award for the 2006 program year. Soror Mary was also awarded the North Atlantic Region SPIRIT Music Award at the 2004 International Boule (Convention). The chapter was awarded "Outstanding Merrill Lynch Youth Financial Literacy Workshop" at the 2004 Boule and subsequently at the 2005 North Atlantic Regional Conference. At the 2005 Regional Conference, Omicron Xi Omega Chapter won PULSE awards for Programs and Leadership and was recognized for Standards Operations, Sisterly Relations Handbook Submissions, Ivy Level of Membership and for 100% Educational Advancement Foundation Membership and Silver Level. Other commendations include Three Heartbeats Award for membership in 2007 and 2008, Outstanding Chapter Evaluation 2008 and AKA Connection highest voter registration North Atlantic Region 2008. In 2009 the chapter received the North Atlantic Region Exhibit Award at the regional conference.
Omicron Xi Omega Chapter has continued to grow and attract women who are a vital, stimulating, involved and forceful presence in the community. The sisterhood and service of the sorors of Omicron Xi Omega Chapter truly exemplifies the spirit of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
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