Many people are astonished to find Kamala D. Harris in the white house as the Vice President of the United States. For many women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, this comes as no surprise.
For 113 years Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) has prepared women as leaders in every arena of life. From college campuses to local cities and even countries outside the United States, Alpha Kappa Alpha women have been at the forefront of effective advocacy and social change that results in equality and equity for citizens of the world.
It starts at the college level. Just right here at Virginia Wesleyan University, Alpha Kappa Alpha was the first historically black greek letter organization organized on the campus in 2004. Alpha Kappa Alpha members were the first black women at VWU to serve as Homecoming Queen, Greek President of the Year, Student Activities Council Founding President(now Off the Hook) and Peace Corps Ambassador.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® has been able to see young women flourish on their campuses and apply those same skills to life after college. They teach them how to run events smoothly, how to speak effectively in front of audiences, how to accurately maintain a budget, and how to adhere to deadlines. Alpha Kappa Alpha also teaches regular social skills, i.e., how to have proper emotional intelligence, and how to work and problem solve effectively. Many women now serve as top business owners, judges, senators, and doctors. They are working to create change, advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves and even make sure people are taken care of during the pandemic.
The best part of AKA is the sisterhood. In the midst of what AKA does, it is still a sisterhood of women who are bonded together, who love each other, who laugh and cry with each other and who show up for each other. That love transcends time and location, across generations of women, young and seasoned.
It is in that sisterhood and love that the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha all over, including at Virginia Wesleyan, were excited to see a member serving the nation at such a high level because we always knew it was possible. And now, others can too.
Maerine “Mimi” Mitchell
Graduate Advisor to Sigma Omicron
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®
Lamda Gamma Omega
VWU Alum ‘07
