On January 15, 1908, Ethel Hedgemon Lyle’s vision came to life and the first black Greek-lettered sorority, the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), was created at Howard University. According to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Ethel Hedgemon wanted to create a network for women with similar mindsets and would combine their talents and strengths to help benefit as well as support others.
The History
The AKA has done many things for the community. in the 1950s over time, the AKA had donated $15,000 to research studies on sickle cell anemia. The project was titled “The Effect of Sickle Cell Anemia Upon the Growth, Development, and Nutritional Status of Children.” It was led at Howard University College of Medicine and they released it as “The Sickle Cell Story.”
Some other examples of things the AKA has done to support their community include partnering with the Red Cross and creating a program. in the ’90s the AKA decided to focus on Black Families and partnered with the American Red Cross to help Attack AIDs in the African American community. In 2010 – 2014, the program “Emerging Young Leaders” started. It helped develop the skills and talents of middle school girls in grades 6-8, with the future of becoming leaders in their local communities.
Not only is the AKA at Howard University but they have 365,000 members from 11 different nations and every state in the United States.
Introducing Anaya Brisbon
In the spring of 2024, Anaya Brisbon, a student at Robert Morris University who is studying criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology Master in Cyber Intelligence and Investigations, joined the AKA. As a member of the sorority, Brisbon serves as Vice President, Chaplin and Programming Chairman.
To Brisbon to be a part of the sorority means to care for the community around her and advocate for what she and her sorority believes in.
“To be a part of this sorority, means I am contributing to something greater than myself. I can help give back to my community, enhance leadership opportunities, and be a part of a sisterhood that has my back through it all,” Brisbon said.
Supporting The Community
Some examples of events the AKA has held to help their community include events like a self-defense event and planting trees event.
“We have events that align with our sororities’ initiatives, for example, we hosted a tree planting event that aligned with our enhanced environment initiative. We also hosted a self-defense event that aligned with our advocacy for social justice indicative. We have a total of six initiatives that are aligned to help strengthen our communities so we can continue being a service to all mankind,” Brisbon said.
One thing the AKA has done to better their community is pack snack packs for children at a local elementary school in Pittsburgh PA.
“We have a bi-weekly child hunger initiative power pack (CHIPP) packing. We pack food/snack bags at a local elementary school in Pittsburgh on Thursday for the kids to take home on Friday so they have food to sustain themselves over the weekend. Another thing we did was this past fall, we host a voter engagement block party in Pittsburgh. We provided food, music and activities to let the community know their rights when it came to voting and to get them registered and to vote early,” Brisbon said.
Introducing Jasmine Majors
Jasmine Majors is another student at Robert Morris who is studying Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management and has been a part of the AKA since April 21, 2024.
“I serve as the Social Media Chairman for my sorority, where I manage our social media platforms and create content for our page. This includes taking photos and videos at events we host or collaborate on. I also design flyers using Canva to showcase accomplishments, birthdays and anniversaries. Beyond my official role, I enjoy contributing in other ways, whether by supporting my sisters or taking the lead on various committees and events,” Majors said.
Events
Some of Majors favorite events she has attended include the Girl Meets World: Decorating Reusable Tote Bags, The Green Print and their Christmas party.
“We have hosted many great events throughout the semester, but three of my favorites were Girl Meets World: Decorating Reusable Tote Bags, our Christmas party, and The Green Print. For Girl Meets World, we focused on the initiative “Enhance Our Environment.” We discussed ways to protect the environment, sustainable habits, and our areas of focus. Afterward, we decorated reusable tote bags while socializing. Our Christmas party took place after a morning meeting, where we enjoyed food, played games, and exchanged gifts. Since I love spending the holidays with loved ones, this event was a special addition to my season. Lastly, The Green Print was a financial literacy event centered on smart ways to spend, save, and invest money. We learned valuable financial strategies and even played an interactive game with the attendees to make it fun and engaging,” Majors said.
Creating memories
One of Majors favorite memories of being a part of the AKA is celebrating First Founders Day with her squad who are also known as her sisters.
“My favorite memory is celebrating my First Founders’ Day with my squad. Every time we come together is special, but this occasion stood out. We visited Howard University, where the sisters there performed beautiful songs and hymns. We also took pictures of their plot, and just as the camera clicked, midnight struck—suddenly, the sound of ‘Skee-wee’ filled the air like music. The entire trip was filled with laughter, bonding and love, making it the perfect way to honor both my own legacy and the incredible foundation built before us,” Majors said.
