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Local AKA Chapters Honor Eight Local Women During Annual Founders’ Day Celebration

 

Tricia Hall

Sojourner’s Truth Reporter

 

The local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc., Zeta Alpha Omega, Iota Iota, and Alpha Lambda hosted a joint Founders’ Day celebration on February 20, 2021.

 

“This presentation provides the opportunity to honor local black girls and women who rock in service, in our local community. This amazing observation is presented in honor of our historic sorority’s 113th Founders’ Day,” shared Rhonda Sewell, event mistress of ceremonies.

 

The celebration was streamed on Facebook and YouTube initially and has had over 300 views. The joint celebration was titled, “Black Girls Rock and Exemplify Excellence.”

 

The program opened with a musical rendition of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” led by Sheila Brown, meditation led by Katina Johnson and official greetings by Chapter President Andrea Price.

 

“Greetings, I would like to welcome each of you to the 113th Founders’ Day celebration. We pause today to honor the founding of our beloved sisterhood and pay homage to the vision, courage, tenacity, and oneness of purpose of the extraordinary women who dared to create the first Greek-letter organization for college-trained African-American women,” shared Price.

 

The celebration continued with official greetings delivered by Amani Wilson, the president of Iota Iota Chapter at Bowling Green State University, and Lisa DuBose, PhD, the Northern Ohio/Western Pennsylvania Cluster Coordinator.

 

AKA Sorority’s Great Lakes Regional Director Carrie Clark served as the celebration’s featured speaker. She was inducted into Xi Chapter, is currently a member Alpha Rho Omega of Detroit, has held numerous leadership positions and has served on sorority committees. She is also married with two sons. Clark highlighted notable women throughout history who either inspired the phrase black girls rock or exemplified the definition throughout history.
 

“I want to commend the ladies of Zeta Alpha Omega Chapter on the work that you do in the Toledo community,” shared Clark, closing out her speech.

 

The celebration continued with a verbal and visual explanation of the sorority’s targets: HBCU for Life a Call to Action, Women’s Healthcare & Wellness, Building Your Economic Legacy, The Arts, and Global Impact. The 2021 honorees were selected to align with the target and sorority mission.

 

“Our honorees embody our mission by providing services to the Toledo community and it’s residents that align with our programs and services. African-American women have made indispensable contributions to this nation and we honor the exceptional black girls who rock as outstanding role models and who have made significant contributions to this community,” explained Price.

 

The 2021 honorees:

·         Black Girl Magic Award, Amya Strong, Body by Strong and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member.

·         Community Change Agent Award, Leila Harris, Leila’s Promise;

·         Icon Award, Doni Miller, Neighborhood Health Association,

·         Legacy of Excellence Award, Stephanie Teamer, Toledo Public School Counselor;

·         Pearl Award, Margaret Huntley; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. member

·         Shot Caller Award, Wendi Huntley, Connecting Kids to Meals;

·         Social Humanitarian Award, Tracee Ellis, The American Cultural Exchange Services;

·         Young, Gifted and Black Award, J’Vann Winfield, TPS Art Teacher and Art Museum Volunteer;

 

“It is my honor and pleasure to be awarded, the Young, Gifted and Black Award. Over the years, I have strived and will strive to continue to create a space where young artists, especially minority artists can reach their full potential. It has been a joy serving the youth of Toledo throughout the years, thank you for selecting me for this honor,” shared Winfield.

 

“I was really and excited when my mom told me that I was picked for the Community Change Agent Award. When I first started helping others in our community, I didn’t think that it was a big deal, I just wanted to help. I saw the homeless in Toledo on a daily basis and felt like there was something that I could do, that’s when I told my mom instead of giving me gifts for Christmas, I wanted to give gifts to those who really needed,” shared Harris.

 

According to the national website the sorority was founded on a mission comprised of five basic tenets that have remained unchanged since the sorority’s inception more than a century ago. The sorority’s mission is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethnical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their scholar stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”

 

“Thank you for attending our 2021 Founders’ Day celebration and honoring us with your presence, shared Felicia Dunston, event chair, during closing remarks.

 


Margaret Huntley

 


Felicia Dunston


Carrie Clark


Doni Miller


Tracee Ellis


J’Vann Winfield


Wendi Huntley


Stephanie Teamer

 


 

 

   
   


Copyright © 2021 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 02/25/21 12:23:45 -0500.


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