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INCEPTION/OBJECTIVES

In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became America's first Greek-letter organization established by and for Black women. Her roots date back to Howard University, Washington, D.C., where the idea for the 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 association with friends and associates.

Through the years, however, Alpha Kappa Alpha's functioning 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 social and economic conditions in their city, state and the nation.

That tradition has continued and today, nationally and locally, 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.

MEMBERSHIP

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, is a nucleus of more than 70,000 college-trained women. From her inception as a single undergraduate chapter in Washington, D.C., Alpha Kappa Alpha has grown to more than 600 undergraduate and graduate chapters in 44 states, West Africa, The Bahamas, The Virgin Islands, and Germany.

While her heritage is Black, Alpha Kappa Alpha has not remained exclusive; membership is open to women of all races, creeds and color who embrace high ethical and scholastic standards and who are pursuing or have completed a course of study leading to a degree at an accredited university or college.

Alpha Kappa Alpha also offers honorary membership to women who have excelled in their fields of endeavor. Among the leaders who have been inducted as honorary members are Representative Cardiss Collins, Marian Anderson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Judge Constance Baker Motley, Coretta Scott King, and Ella Fitzgerald.

IMPACT

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was organized as a service organization. To that end, she has continuously etched her footprints in the sands of time. From making monetary donations to varied agencies involved in social change, Alpha Kappa Alpha's contributions have been felt.

Among the innumerable imprints which Alpha Kappa Alpha has made are the following:

1935 Waged a war on diphtheria and smallpox and improved nutritional and dental practices by launching the first mobile health clinic (The Mississippi Health Project) in the United States.

1938 Initiated action to assure decent living conditions, permanent jobs and a voice in determining the conditions under which Blacks lived and worked by organizing the first civil rights lobby.

1965 Mounted an attack on poverty, bigotry and ignorance by becoming the first predominantly Black organization to acquire a contract to operate a Jobs Corps Center (Cleveland).

1972 Financed the purchase of Martin Luther King's birthplace by contributing $20,000 to the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change.

1975 Aided Central State University in restoring its tornado-ridden Hallie Q. Brown Collection of Rare Books by and about Blacks by contributing $25,000 to that project.

1978 Increased the educational opportunities for minorities by making the final payment on a half-million dollar pledge to the United Negro College Fund and furthered the advancement of community-action-oriented programs by contributing $50,000 to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

1979 Filed a Brief Amicus Curiae in the Supreme Court in the Fullilove vs Kreps Case as an effort to insure that minority contractors maintained their guaranteed 10% set aside of all federal grants awarded to contractors.

1980 Donated $55,000 to various organizations during its national meeting and, through local chapters, gave $500,000 in awards, scholarships and grants.

CURRENT FOCI

While Alpha Kappa Alpha is proud of the role which she played in the past, she has not rested on those laurels. Rather, she continues to be a vital force by addressing the issues and problems of the day. The sorority's commitment to service is implemented through program targets whose foci change as new presidents of Alpha Kappa Alpha are elected.

In 1978, Dr. Barbara K. Phillips of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, became the twentieth president of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Under her leadership, the following seven foci have comprised the umbrella under which chapters continue to execute the service mandate:

LIFELONG LEARNING—designed to promote Alpha Kappa Alpha's support and involvement in education via Competency, Educational Enrichment, and the Cleveland Job Corps Center.

HEALTHCARE—designed to upgrade health delivery and increase the number of health providers by promoting health maintenance in selected populations and supporting predominantly Black institutions which serve as training grounds for initiating programs which perpetuate the recruitment and retention of manpower sensitive to the needs of minorities.

ARTS—designed to heighten awareness of the arts, promote potential artists, increase appreciation of the arts, and make the arts available to a larger public.

HERITAGE—designed to preserve the history of Alpha Kappa Alpha, highlight outstanding contributions by Black women, and promote noteworthy contributions of Black Americans in various fields.

SELF-FULFILLMENT—designed to acquaint members of Alpha Kappa Alpha with conditions which affect women, prepare them for new and changing roles in society, and increase their knowledge in critical areas which affect their daily existence.

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[[caption]] PUSH's president, Rev. Jesse Jackson receives one of the many donations Alpha Kappa Alpha makes to organizations. [[/caption]]

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[[caption]] Mayor Andrew Young of Atlanta addressing 1980 National Meeting. [[/caption]]

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