CIARA: WE’RE HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND TALKING TODAY ABOUT HISTORICALLY BLACK FRATERITIES AND SORORITIES. 22NEWS REPORTER KATRINA KINCADE EXPLAINS THEIR HISTORY AND LOCAL IMPACT. IN 1906, THE FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK FRATERNITY STARTED AFTER THE GREEK ORGANIZATIONS AT THE TIME WOULD NOT ALLOW BLACKS TO JOIN. THAT’S WHERE ALPHA PHI ALPHA COMES IN.
JASON ASIRIFI, ALPHA PHI ALPHA THETA IOTA LAMBDA PRESIDENT; “WHAT MAKES THIS ORGANIZATION SPECIAL TO ME IS IT HAD THE SAME MORAL FIBER AND VALUES THAT MY PARENTS RAISED ME BY. IT WAS ABOUT TRANSCENDING BEIG THE BEST THAT ALSO HELPING THOSE AROUND YOU.” IN 1908, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, THE FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK WOMENS SORORITY
STARTED AFTER 16 WOMEN WHO WERE ONE GENERATION REMOVED FROM SLAVERY ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WANTED A PLACE FOR SISTERHOOD AND LIFELONG SERVICE. LISA JOHNSON, AKA XI XI OMEGA PRESIDENT; “THESE ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE BECAUSE THEY NURTURE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO STEP UP TO LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE THROUHGUUT THEIR LIFETIME” KATRINA KINCADE, 22NEWS;
“THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE “DIVINE NINE”….THE NINE HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE UP THE NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL.” LISA JOHNSON, AKA XI XI OMEGA PRESIDENT; “WE HAVE SHAPED THE FABRIC OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATIONS. VIA THE ARTS, SCIECE, MATH ANY AREA THAT YOU CAN
THINK OF, MEMEBRS OF THE DEVINE NINE ARE MAKING CONTRIBUTIOS.” LOCALLY THE ORGANIZATIONS DO A LOT OF COMMUNITY CHARITY EVENTS.AND PROGRAMS. JASON ASIRIFI, ALPHA PHI ALPHA THETA IOTA LAMBDA PRESIDENT; “WE HAVE THE THANKSGIVING GIVEAWAY SO EVERY YEAR WE GIVE THANKSGIVING BASKETS IN CONJUCTION WITH MLK FAMILY SERVICES” EVERY OTHER SATURDAY THE ALPHAS
READ CHILDRENS BOOKS ON THEIR INSTAGRAM THAT TELL BLACK STORIES OR BY BLACK AUTHORS. THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON POLICING AND REFORM.ON THE 20TH THE AKA’S HAVE HEART HEALTH AWARENESS. VIRTUAL EVENT ON FEBRUARY 26TH. BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ALSO HAVE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. WORKING FOR YOU, KATRINA KINCADE 22NEWS. CIARA: WE NOW KNOW MAN FROM CHICOPEE
HAS DIED… AND A WOMAN FROM CHICOPEE WAS
source
