"Spirit of AKA" Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority targets presentation summary

Sorors, thank you again for the opportunity to serve you. The AKA SPIRIT is present in this room and will be with us from this day forward. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 5656 South Story Island Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60637 (773) 684-1282 www.aka1908.comALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. Soror Linda Marie White 26th Supreme Basileus. PRESENTATION TO THE 60TH BOULE. July 12,2002Orlando, Florida

PRESENTATION TO THE 60™ BOULE
JULY 12, 2002
To Soror Norma Solomon White, Supreme Basileus, members of the
Directorate, Past Supreme Basilei, dais guests and all of my sorors present
today, Good Morning! It is with great pride and pleasure that I come
before you as the 26th Supreme Basileus of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc. It is a welcome opportunity for me to serve as your leader and work
with you on innovative changes that will help our organization grow and
expand our services to others in this 21" Century.
Last evening you saw a video presentation of the 2002-2006 program - a
program that you helped design, and are now asked to implement in partnership
with other organizations that know we are the women who can
make things happen. The Theme for this administration is the “SPIRIT OF
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA.” “SPIRIT” is an acronym and a concept.
Soror Linda Marie White
26th Supreme Basileus
S = SISTERHOOD
S = SCHOLARSHIP
S = SERVICE
P = PARTNERSHIP
I = INNOVATION
R = RESPECT
I = INVOLVEMENT
T = TECHNOLOGY
The letters when taken together spell “SPIRIT.” SPIRIT embodies all that
we are as Alpha Kappa Alpha women and all that we can be in this new
century. The SPIRIT OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA will move us to be better,
do better, act better and, yes, become all that we can be as SISTERS and
servants of mankind.
The programs sponsored during this administration address the five major
target areas that have evolved over the years: Education, The Black Family,
Health, Economics and the Arts. At the national level we will focus on the
first three targets. You asked for flexibility in local programming.

In the SPIRIT of AKA, this scholarship project, which honors service, can
be an extension of successful chapter scholarship programs or new scholarships
awarded by the chapter.
Scholarship Implementation
Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters will work through local high schools to solicit
applications for these scholarships, determining the selection of the recipients
and provide a $500 scholarship for each recipient. CNCS will provide
matching funds of $500, for a total scholarship of $ 1000 for the student.
The official scholarship information and application packet for the 2003
academic year will be distributed to chapters in January of 2003. Our first
scholarships, therefore, will be awarded in 2003.
Program 3: The Young Authors Program-------------------------------
Sponsor: Metropolitan Teaching and Learning Company (Metro)
www.metrotlc.com
Increasing reading and writing skills among young children is a major goal
of this administration. In the SPIRIT of AKA, the children will gain
RESPECT and confidence. To help reach these goals, Alpha Kappa Alpha
has partnered with the Metropolitan Teaching and Learning Company
(Metro) to establish a “Young Authors Program.” Young children in kindergarten
through grade three will be given the opportunity to write books
and submit them to chapters for local and regional competition. Each
AKA region will select one child to have his or her story included as part
of an anthology published by Metro. These ten “Young Authors” will be
introduced through book signings at the 2004 and 2006 boules.
Target II: The Black Family_______ _______ ________
In celebration of the Black Family and in the SPIRIT of AKA we will, in
PARTNERSHIP with the Corporation for National and Community
Service and the Points of Light Foundation, implement two unique programs
of service: The Martin Luther King Day of Service and the National
Family Volunteer Day.
Program I: Martin L. King Day of Service
“A Day ON instead of a Day Off”------------------------
Sponsor: Corporation for National and Community Service
www.mlkday.org
I encourage you to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday as a day of
service. Opportunities include tutoring, training tutors, stocking a food or
clothing pantry and/or providing health screenings. In partnership with the
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Alpha Kappa
Alpha members are encouraged to bring people together around the common
focus of service to others. Funds are available through CNCS to support
activities that strengthen communities and reflect the life and teachings
of Dr. King.
Program 2: National Family Volunteer Day----------------------------
Sponsor: Points of Light Foundation
www.pointsoflight.org
Alpha Kappa Alpha was established to provide “Service to All Mankind.” In
the SPIRIT of AKA it is our goal to encourage INVOLVEMENT of individuals,
families and communities in volunteer services. In partnership with the
Points of Light Foundation (POLF), AKA will participate in the National
Family Volunteer Day on the third Saturday of November each year. POLF
has a Volunteer Center National Network across the country. AKA will
join the Volunteer Centers in mobilizing people and resources to deliver
creative solutions to community problems. This day will focus on familyoriented
volunteer programs in order to help raise awareness of the
importance of family volunteering.
Target III: Health________________________________
In the SPIRIT of AKA, “RESPECT YOURSELF” is Alpha Kappa Alpha’s health
and wellness initiative. We are asking each AKA member to commit herself
to living healthier by improving her lifestyle and getting all necessary

Implementation of the remaining two targets, Economics and the Arts, can
be decided at the chapter level based on local community needs.
I want us to make a difference in the lives of people. Each of you brings
different talents, different family and job responsibilities to our sorority and
these differences are respected and valued. A vibrant 21st century organization
changes to meet the needs of its membership, as well as those
whom it serves.
Target I: Education_________________________ ____
Program I: The Ivy Reading AKAdemy Pilot Program
“Reading One to One”----------------------------------------
Sponsor: U.S. Department of Education
(Pending) www.ed.gov
The Signature Program of this administration will be “The Ivy Reading
AKAdemy.” The major crisis in American Education today is the inability of
our children to read. They enter school lacking the very basic skills to
begin the reading process and end up being unable to adequately perform
in the academic areas that they will need to successfully compete throughout
school and later in the workplace.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority reading initiative will focus on early learning
and mastery of basic reading skills by the end of third grade. All chapters
are requested to implement a kindergarten through third grade after
school reading initiative. Chapters may focus on one grade level with a
plan to impact the same students in succeeding years. A $2.7 million proposal
is currently pending with the United States Department of Education
to fund a three-year nationwide after school demonstration project in
low-performing, economically deprived, inner city schools in 16 sites in the
continental United States. The proposal calls for paid staff, extensive training
and monitoring with ongoing evaluation. This is our opportunity to
offer a learning model that may be implemented by school districts and
other volunteer organizations based on the program we have developed
and implemented.
Chapters not selected as demonstration sites may want to continue their
current programs, placing their emphasis on increasing reading achievement
for students in grades one to three. Chapters are encouraged to
use the Reading One-to-One Program with supplementary materials that
will be supplied by the Metropolitan Teaching and Learning Company, as
outlined in the Resource Program Guide to be issued in the fall.
Metropolitan Teaching and Learning Company is a minority-owned firm
that has a particular interest in improving the reading and mathematical
performance of our children.
Undergraduates, you are encouraged to initiate reading support programs
or to partner with graduate chapters in this effort. The Reading One-To-
One program encourages the use of paid student tutors in teaching children
to read. This is an opportunity to serve and be remunerated for
your efforts. In addition, undergraduates, you can volunteer at established
reading programs in churches, community centers, Boys and Girls Clubs,
etc. Everyone can participate at some level.
Think of the sense of accomplishment that we will feel at the end of three
years when our children are able to read at or above grade level and the
published research shows that it was our methodology and implementation
that made the difference.
Program 2: Presidential Freedom Scholarship-----------------------
Sponsor: Corporation for National and Community Service
www.info@studentservicescholarship.org
SCHOLARSHIP has been a cornerstone of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s programs
since its inception. However, scholarship and SERVICE go hand in hand.
Alpha Kappa Alpha has partnered with the Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS) to implement a four-year $2.5 million
Presidential Freedom Scholarship. The sorority has the option to renew
the partnership after 2006. Two students from the junior and senior classes
from high schools across the country may be selected to receive (up
to) $1,000 scholarships for 100 hours of service to the community and
proof of admission to a college.

preventive and screening exams as recommended by the medical community.
In addition, you are encouraged to reinforce the importance of having
a healthy mind, body and soul in our communities.
Program I:
Sponsor:
Family History Collection -----------------------------------
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
Alpha Kappa Alpha and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have joined
together to leverage their commitment to health outcomes and reduce
health disparities. By creating a cancer-specific initiative that will engage
the 50,000 active members of AKA, the partnership hopes to reduce the
risk of severe illness from breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. We know
that family health history is an important factor in preventing and treating
these diseases. This collaborative project will engage the members of our
950 AKA chapters in activities that charge them with collecting family
health history regarding cancer and, communicating that information to
their own health care provider during year one. During the second year,
AKA members will be encouraged to communicate the collected health
care information to the healthcare providers of direct family members
over 40 years of age (parents, grandparents, spouses). During years three
and four, AKA members, in partnership with American Cancer Society
Volunteers, faith-based organizations, community senior centers and other
agencies, will distribute the Family History Collection Tool to the broader
community. The program will be launched in 2003.
Program 2: SIDS Conference-------------------------------------------------
Sponsor: National Institute of Child Health & Human Services
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
In partnership with the National Institute of Child Health & Human
Services (NICHHS) and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
Alpha Kappa Alpha will sponsor a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
national symposium. Three organizations, AKA, the Coalition of 100 Black
Women and the NAACP, were selected to host a symposium in selected
cities. The proposed site for Alpha Kappa Alpha’s symposium is New
Orleans in 2003. Watch your Ivy Leaf and the AKA web site for forthcoming
details.
Program 3: Senior Health and Safety Issues-------------------------
Sponsor: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha membership continues to age. Many of our golden
sorors experience critical health concerns, the lack of adequate and safe
housing and quality of life issues in general. This program will address
issues of greatest concern to our sorority members and the community at
large.
OPTIONAL TARGETS
Let us look at our optional targets.
Target IV: Economics_______________________ ______ __
Program I: Youth Financial Literacy Program ----------------------
As many chapters have established investment clubs, it is important that
we reach out to the youth in our communities to assist them in becoming
financially literate. Each chapter can develop its own program of teaching
or training a group of youngsters about financial management, investing,
etc. Young people can form their own investment clubs under the leadership
and mentoring of AKA chapter investment clubs. Financial workshops
and field trips to businesses and financial market exchanges will provide
insight into the technical skills needed to succeed in these fields. In the
SPIRIT of AKA, the youth will acquire the skills in TECHNOLOGY
required to forecast, trade and invest in national and international
markets.
Program 2: Black Dollar Day-------------------------------------------------
Black Dollar Day has been successfully implemented in many chapters
across the country. Alpha Kappa Alpha will continue to encourage her
members to support Black businesses and to carry out activities to promote
“spending money in our communities.”

Program 3: KPMG Ph.D. Project------------- ------------------------------------
Sponsor: KPMG Ph.D. Project (KPMG Foundation)
www.kpmg.com
In the SPIRIT OF AKA, Alpha Kappa Alpha has partnered with the KPMG
Foundation to promote SCHOLARSHIP and economic development by
recruiting minorities to obtain PhD’s in business so that they, in turn, will
teach business on the college level. Alpha Kappa Alpha will allow the
KPMG Foundation access to its members to make them aware of the
opportunities for pursuing doctorates in business. Several of our sorors
have professional ties to the foundation and others are graduate students
sponsored by the foundation.
Target V: The Arts_________________________
The Arts are an integral part of shaping the culture of a people. Chapters
are encouraged to continue their innovative arts projects as part of their
ongoing community service. Chapters should collaborate with existing art
institutions art events. At the national and regional levels we will continue
to feature our many talented sorors at conferences and other events.
CONTINUING ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA PROGRAMS
Sorors, you stated in the surveys and focus groups, as I began the planning
for this administration that you wanted some programs to continue from
administration to administration. Many of you have effective programs that
serve the particular needs of your community. I am supportive of this, recognizing
that I will need your full commitment to the new program. Our
continuing programs are:
• AKA Kids Alert
• On Track
• PIMS
• Diabetes, Sickle Cell Anemia, HIY-AIDS Awareness Programs
• Leadership Seminar and Leadership Fellows
Sponsor: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc._______
The 2003 Leadership Seminar will be held July 9-13, 2003,
in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Paris Hotel.
The 2005 Leadership Seminar will be held August 3-7, 2005,
on Paradise Island, the Bahamas, at the Atlantis Hotel.
SORORS,THE AKA SPIRIT IS ON THE MOVE. I CAN FEEL YOU
CATCHING IT AND WANTING TO SPREAD IT FROM COAST TO
COAST, AND ABROAD. WE CAN BE MORE THAN WE EVER
IMAGINED. THE NEW MILLENNIUM DEMANDS IT OF US.
TOGETHER WE CAN REACH NEW HEIGHTS OF SERVICE.
SORORS, IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU, YOU AND YOU WORKING
TOGETHER. I AM YOUR CATALYST - YOUR LEADER, BUT IT IS
SO MUCH MORE ABOUTYOU THAN ABOUT ME.
I THEREFORE PRESENTTHE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR YOUR ACTION TO CARRY THE AKA SPIRIT FORWARD.
Boule Recommendations:
O That you adopt the 2002-2006 program.
© That the certification process for the Leadership Development Training
Program pertaining to the election of graduate sorors at the National
Level be temporarily suspended until the new Directorate has had an
opportunity to review, modify and simplify the current process.
© That the Nomination Process as described in So You Want to Run for
Office be revised to reflect consistency, fairness and equity in the nomination
and campaign process.
0 That the recommendations coming forth from the Strategic Planning
Committee be turned over to the 2002-2006 Directorate for consideration
and action. The committee has examined the needs of our
organization for future years and has done an excellent job.