CONGRATULATING THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA
SORORITY FOR 35 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUINITY
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. as the first sorority established by college educated African American women with a purpose to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of Service to All Mankind; and WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is comprised of more than 325,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 countries including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands and is led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed and regionally by Far Western Regional Director Shelby D. Boagni; and
WHEREAS, in the spring of 1987 Mrs. Omonike Weusi-Puryear invited 18 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to an exploratory organizational meeting with the express interest of chartering a new chapter to provide cultural affinity, community building, and much needed services in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties specifically for the African American residents and to all mankind; and WHEREAS, from that small group of 18, the number of interested and dedicated members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority grew quickly to 38 members; and
WHEREAS, on January 9, 1988, in East Palo Alto, California, Rho Delta Omega Chapter became an official graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated under the 17th Far Western Regional Director, Achalene Amos-Martin, and included chartering members:
Omonike Weusi-Puryear+* Gaye Hunter Othen Thomas, Barbara Robinson-McNeal Gloria Ladson-Billings Pamela R. Price, Bonita Bane Gloria Williams Rosalyn Monique Britt, Carolyn Olive Gwendolyn Herndon Rose DeFlorimote, Carolyn Wilkins-Fountenberry Kamilisha Mshuia-Sneed Saundra Beacham, Charlie Mae Knight Karen Ruffin Serena Peltier Cockrell, Cozetta Gray Guinn** Kaye Crawford Sharon Godbolt*, Diane Myra Walker Elam Lea Ester Byrd Teri Alugas*, Dorothy Davis Louise M. White Teri Thompson, Ernsting Reeves Hicks Margaret Reed Hoskins Valarie L.
Kelly*, Fannie L. Cole Martha Hanks* Vera A. Clark, Gay Alexander** Marva Worthy Wanda Y. Griffin + indicates Charter President
* indicates currently active in Rho Delta Omega Chapter ** indicates Ivy Beyond the Wall
; and
WHEREAS, Rho Delta Omega Chapter currently has more than 80 active members who in 2005 established a 501c3 non-profit organization, the Ivy and Pearls Foundation, through which its members have raised funds and established long standing community partnerships that have allowed the organization to provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to local college bound students, continue to host the longest running Black College Awareness Fair in the Bay Area for 32 years, and promote health and wellness, academic excellence, economic empowerment, civic engagement, arts appreciation, and environmental and social justice projects throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties; and WHEREAS, January 9, 2023, marked the 35th Anniversary of the chartering of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Rho Delta Omega Chapter and its service to this community.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of East Palo Alto hereby congratulates the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for 35 years of Service to the City of East Palo Alto and the San Mateo County.
Dated:January 17, 2023
Lisa Gauthier, Mayor