ATLANTA — In just under a week, a local chapter of the oldest Black sorority in the U.S. will mark 100 years of service.
Leaders of the Kappa Omega chapter of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. said the work they are doing today is just as important as the work their charter members started a full century ago.
KEEPING TRADITIONS
LeKeisha Jackson's home is full of history. She said that part of it comes with being a leader of Kappa Omega.
The plaques on her walls and the books on the tables tell just a tiny part of the story of a big organization she's been a member of for the past 15 years. Jackson is the immediate past president of the Kappa Omega chapter of AKA.
"I was a centennial soror coming into the sorority in 2008," Jackson said.
She told 11Alive's Karys Belger her introduction to the sorority came at a young age.
"It's quite often that I've had many teachers who were members of Alpha Kappa Alpha that I did not even know until later on. And they were very influential on my life. Ministers, Girl Scout troops. So not only just the history but the personal touch of all those who are members."
Jackson explained that the feeling of sisterhood guided her when she was sponsored for membership and through her years in service to the organization. Her tenure as president or Basileus of the chapter was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During that time she says, members happily stepped in to help to the older members. Important milestones such as achieving the status of "Diamond Soror," a member who has been involved for 75 years, were marked by socially distant celebrations.
"We wanted to make sure we took the time to acknowledge those who have given so much to the organization."
When asked which of the initiatives championed by the organization she was most passionate about, Jackson explained raising awareness around HBCU's
"I graduated from Florida A&M University. Many members of my family went to HBCUs, Stillman, Alabama, and Clark Atlanta, just to name a few. But it is that initiative was amazing to see a sorority, a group of black African-American women come together and donate $100 million in one day. That was an amazing effort under the immediate past supreme president, and international president, Dr. Glenda Glover."
A CENTURY OF SISTERHOOD AND SERVICE
In 2023, her chapter will proudly mark its own centennial celebration. To go way back, Kappa Omega was chartered in 1923 by Marie Woolfolk Taylor. Taylor is also one of the 20 women who founded Alpha Kappa Alpha on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C. in 1908.
Jackson said at the time the focus was on equity for Black Americans -- particularly Black women. Since then, the chapter has worked on several initiatives such as health, education and voter engagement.
"We have increased our access to some things but there's still many areas," Jackson said.
THE NEXT 100 YEARS
Jackson said she is determined to keep the momentum going along with current president Bridgette Grant.
"To see the progression and everything that they've done, all of the community services that they do, that they show up sometimes without even being asked," Grant explained. "And I think that's the beautiful part of it."
Like Jackson, Grant says her introduction to the sorority came at a young age when a relative was sick and her aunt's line sisters would visit her home to show support for her family.
"Her line sisters would come over and spend time with the family, do whatever was needed, and just add a little a breath of comedy and relief during a difficult time."
Now, as the president of Kappa Omega, Grant says she's looking forward to continuing the work that was started by the chapter's ten charter members.
"We prep juniors and seniors for college admissions. Walking them through all of the steps and completing their application. We've worked with women's health the last four years. This year we had a mobile mammography bus."
Most recently, the Kappa Omega Chapter was recognized by the Georgia House of Representatives for its 100 years of commitment to the community. It's an honor Grant says she does not take lightly.
The members of Kappa Omega have a lot more planned for their 100-year celebration, including a gala to mark their historic anniversary at the Georgia Aquarium in March.