I grew up in Chicago among strong Alpha Kappa Alpha women.
My mother was initiated into the sorority in 1944 in the Nu Chapter at West Virginia State College.
My aunt, who lived next door, my godmother, and many others were AKAs.
My father was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and all of his friends belonged to fraternities.
So it was only natural that in 1976 when it was time for me to seriously consider joining a sorority, it would be Alpha Kappa Alpha.
There were six of us initiated in the spring of 1976 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Gamma Chapter was the first chapter to be chartered at a predominantly white university and when the sorority was chartered in 1914, African-American students were not allowed to live on campus.
My mother didn’t push me either way, but looking back, over my 30 plus years in the organization, I must say that the most memorable moment for me was having my mother, Soror Louise Bunch, pin me.
My mother obviously took her vows seriously.
I recall during my membership process, my line was wondering when we would become members. Mom knew but did she tell me.
Absolutely not. It didn’t matter that I was her daughter.
My sister, Kai, attended Arizona State University, and was initiated one month after I was.
What a joy it was to attend our first Boule in 1980 in Atlanta with mom and my godmother. Our highlight as legacies was attending the 1996 Boule where our mother and Kai’s godmother were celebrated as Golden sorors for 50 years of service to the sorority.
Like my mother, I took my vows seriously when I committed to serve. I am proud to say I’ve been a financial member of the sorority every year since my initiation.
I moved to the Atlanta area in 1985, so bonding with sorority members and providing service in the community was just what I needed. I didn’t know anyone but being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, I knew I could find sorority sisters anywhere in the world.
In 1987, I was fortunate to join a group of AKA members in the North Atlanta suburbs to charter the fifth chapter in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
We were very active in the area doing service projects throughout Cobb County. Rho Zeta Omega Chapter was chartered with 45 members on April 30, 1988.
I was installed as the correspondence secretary and served as Rho Zeta Omega’s second president.
In February 2014, it was a privilege to celebrate the 100th anniversary of my undergraduate chapter at the University of Illinois.
Bousfield Hall, the campus’ newest residence hall, was dedicated to University of Illinois graduate Maudell Brown Bousfield, who served as the sorority’s president from 1929-1931.
The sorority has afforded me so many wonderful opportunities on the cluster, regional and the international level. I have served on various committees and met AKAs from around the country. I attend the majority of our regional and international conferences. Our workshops and seminars are excellent and I look forward to going every year because every leader and presenter has a different perspective so I always gain something I can use.
Not only do I get to reconnect with friends from across the country but especially those from Chicago and my undergraduate chapter.
I have learned so much from outstanding Alpha Kappa Alpha leaders. I am currently serving as the chairman of our 67th Boule, which will be held in Atlanta in July.
I have truly enjoyed being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I have met so many wonderful women and been able to provide service to all mankind.
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