Support comes from Hampton Roads Community Foundation partnering with donors from all walks of life to improve South Eastern Virginia through grants scholarships and Leadership initiatives learn more at hamptonroads cf. Org hello everyone I’m Barbara Ham Lee in its history Alpha CA Alpha sorority is described as the first negro Greek letter sorority formed in 1908 by nine women at Howard University in Washington DC today it boasts nearly 3,000 initiated members worldwide with more than a thousand chapters across the US
And in places like Germany Dubai Liberia and South Korea it’s been in the news lately with the election of one of its members as Vice President of the United States kamla Harris up next on another view the story of Alpac Kappa alfha sority Incorporated stay tuned another
View will be right back after this news from NPR discussing today’s topics from an African-American perspective this is another view good afternoon every everyone and welcome to another view I’m Barbara Ham Lee you know it’s quite a sight to see when they are all gathered together a sea of women dressed in their salmon pink and apple green attire the
Colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated it’s the first black Greek latter sorority formed in 1908 and Incorporated in 1913 its reach is worldwide the Mid-Atlantic region alone has 130 chapters and more than 10,000 members in Virginia and North Carolina it’s been in the spotlight lately with the election
Of Vice President comma Harris who is a member of the organization in celebration of women’s history month we have two members of alphac cap Alpha sorority Incorporated with us please welcome Miss Jennifer King conlon the Mid-Atlantic Regional director Jennifer how are you good afternoon Barbara it’s
A pleasure to be here oh thank you so much for joining us we appreciate it and Dr aelia Williams chair of this year’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference aelia how are you hi good afternoon also a pleasure to be here oh absolutely so my first question to you ladies is this I
Want you to transport yourselves back to 1908 and you’re having a conversation with the original nine members and I want you to answer this question would they be shocked in shock and awe that the vice president of the United States is an AKA or would they say of course
Because greatness is expected Jennifer I’ll start with you thank you I think that um our Founders would say you know we’re back in 1908 and mind you we don’t have the opportunity to vote we are just few years post slavery and we have come on the campus of Howard University making
Strides to to uh create the first black Greek Organization for Women I think they would be surprised but would expect greatness as a pioneering Organization for women of color they would expect 113 years and this is what this is the Legacy that we’re living we are leaving so I think
They definitely these are uh not be surprised with greatness because they were great you know who would think that 113 Years and we’re still going strong absolutely and that’s the thing one of the things I want to talk to you all about but aelia what is your response
You’re back in in 1908 and and you’re chatting with the founders what are they saying about kamla Harris I think that they were so Innovative and um forward thinking that they would say well what took you so long right but they would have expected it of us the first
Africanamerican uh sority and expected it would be the one of our members so I am definitely sure that they would um agree and be in awe and happy and just know that it was our time and it was going to come so yes so you know and you
You mentioned this a little bit Jennifer but I want to explore it a little bit more tell us about what was happening in societ Society back in 1909 and and n and what was going on first of all the fact that there were women on campus getting a college education that was
Huge within itself but can you just give us kind of a sense of what was happening that would make um um Miss Etho hedgman say I got to pull this get a group together here and we got to come together as women uh to support each
Other well you know when we think about women’s sufferage and not and we hadn’t had the opportunity to vote women were always at the back seat we had just come um Up From Slavery and we our voices were not heard so here we are on the campus of Howard
And this is an opportunity for us to make a mark in history and I think she gathered those nine together and said what can we do we need an organization that can make an impact on communities she saw that African-Americans were um at the backseat you know we we weren’t even at
On buses or whatever at that point we at the back seat what can we do for our women our women of color to definitely go down in history we need to Galvanize our folk here on the campus whether she thought it would be worldwide or not uh
I kind of um I I don’t know I kind of skirt a little bit but realizing it was an opportunity for him so let’s move it y’all let’s do it and thinking about the the president of Howard University at that time and the professors they probably thought these
Women were absolutely out of their mind because they did have to go to the university in order to get permission to do this oh absolutely to have approval but the administration took a chance on them to say okay okay you want this so we’re going to give you approval to get
Started and aelia tell us a little bit about some of the founders they were originally nine and then they reached back to the sophomore class and picked seven more to make sure that things were continuing um if I’m if I have that history correct um but but who were
These women what what what were they majoring in what what was their life like so these women were campus leaders they um as I stated were Innovative they were majoring in those um those those Majors that were common for women at the time but they were um
Uh they believed in one another they believed in the perpetuity of the organization that and that is why they reached back to the sophomore class so that you know the Juniors and seniors um would graduate but there would would be someone to carry on and even as a
Graduate member you know grad after having graduated from Howard they still connected with the undergraduates to ensure that the vision and the purpose you know would carry on um for perpetuity and so they were very much um influencing those young ladies to be sure that you know the original goals and objectives the
Princip principles from which they were founded we were founded would be retained and not modified so what is the mission of AKA who wants go ahead go ahead aelia so it um so the mission is lifelong personal and professional development of members galvanizing membership into an organization of
Respected power um and influence and being at the Forefront of Africa is seeing social change that results in equality and equity for all citizens and and that mission has been there from the beginning and Carries all the way through is that correct and that is correct and the fact that these women
Were college educated meant that they probably were also among the elite of the African-American Community um at that time Jennifer um but their mission also reached back to help others within the African-American Community is that right absolutely now Barbara when we look at the the history and a little bit
About our Founders you know they they were members that were majoring in in German and French and Latin and you know just a a wealth of different Majors Educators too and are chemistry Majors I mean back in that time in biology in 1908 so when you talk about Al cap Al in the
Mission and how we’re driven service to all mankind that is our mot service and they were driven then that we need to make a difference in our communities so whether that’s with a food drive or we trying to get uh the right to vote whether um what whatever we’re doing in
The in the community that’s where we started and that’s where we still are right now serving that mission service to all mankind so what what made the organization incorporate why was that important and that happened in 1913 if I’m not if I’m not mistaken right um so Jennifer why why was it
Necessary to incorporate and what did that do for the organization well you know with with with any business or a group you need to incorporate to make sure you have bylaws to drive that mission of the organization so that individuals who are not driven by that goal or the
Objectives of the group cannot come in and um do their own thing so that’s why our our leaders at that time smart women women who were courageous who said we need to incorporate we need bylaws we need guidelines to make sure that those that are like us will stay on the path
Keep this organization on the path to Greatness so that’s where we were so the college um campus uh chapters are started on an HBCU but they’re not limited to an HBCU is that correct that’s right and we have a majority pwi predominantly white uh institutions uh have Alpha Kappa Alpha presence uh as
Well as our HBCU and they’re doing a great job right now we’re Mid-Atlantic is North Carolina and Virginia and um we have over half of our undergraduate members on a predominantly white campuses so it’s making a difference it makes a difference when you talk about Recruitment and the African-American presence on campus and
Integrating that now mind you there um these um chapters most of them have been on predominantly white campuses for 25 30 40 years but uh and still some that are being chartered now so we are certainly making impact throughout throughout the world but definitely in North Carolina and Virginia the
Midatlantic region 44 2665 or 1 800 94224 are the numbers to call to join our conversation I would love I know there are tons of uas out there listening right now give us a call let’s talk about your experience with the sorority why you got involved and the
Work that you are doing for 44 2665 or 1 1800 94224 so AKA was started by and for African-American women is it limited to African-American women aelia absolutely not um we welcome all members of all backgrounds and nationalities into our organization and um we believe in diversity and it has helped us
Strengthen Who We Are and so what makes an AKA who who are you in other words when you’re looking to recruit women to join you what what are you looking for um and I’ll take that answer from both of you I’ll start with you Jennifer I think we’re looking for
Forward Thinking women we’re looking for courageous women we’re looking for women who are who know where they’re going they know the way we’re looking at leaders or definitely they’re not leaders promoting leadership we’re looking at those great character we’re looking for individuals in every field and as we look at growing and doing
Great things in America and in the world we’re looking for that potential you don’t have to be great now but we’re looking for the opportunity to have um great potential in and leading now we also know that all everybody cannot lead we need great followers we look we look
For team workers we have to work as a team any Organization of Women you know we have to have that we have to have those that are uh can humble themselves and that can Galvanize others to work with them so that’s my little bit so I’m gonna I can’t tell everything so I’m
G allow AIA to do that now mind you Barbara we’re also on campuses for undergraduates we were also looking at um women who did not have the opportunity to make that decision and undergraduate so we take our graduate members which is very unlike some of the other
Organizations not not Divine n but other um Greek letter organizations so we we look to um be very inclusive of young and those not so young more seasoned folks is that so aelia how would you answer that question who when you look at at a woman who is in AKA who is she
What is what are the characteristics so I agree with Jennifer um a couple of things that I would add is that we are looking for college trained women and women who are believe in servant leadership so we believe that you would be leaders or you have the potential to
Lead and then you will also um uh role you know participate as a role model uh for others who are coming behind you we believe in strengthen numbers we believe in um uh education Enlightenment and um reaching out across all communities because we want to make sure that we
Have international programs that service the full person so you can learn about even just your credit in addition to refugees who are um abandoned in need service so we need people who are interested in the service model that we um employ and who are willing to get in
And do the work so we don’t need people who just want to you know dress up in their pink and green that comes and we all look cute but we want people to get in and help us to do the work to become great because we know that Alpha Capa Alpha
Doesn’t make the person the persons make alpha Capa alpas already Incorporated so one big huge thing that I know that all of the um uh African-American fraternities and sororities were engaged in but we’re talking specifically about AKA and that was the election of your um of one of your members I was getting
Ready to say a word that I read I’m not supposed to say so since I am not in the sority so um but but talk to me particularly from the Mid-Atlantic region what did you all do to Galvanize to get people to the polls um in the
Election of uh KLA Harris and Joe B uh Barbara um midatlantic did a human’s job in making sure that um our communities first of all we were educated about the election and like educated about the candidates and then we got out with other divine nine organizations we pulled together you
Know it’s it’s not about at this point it’s not about Delta it’s not about Zeta Alpha whatever it’s about us it’s it’s about us as a people making sure that we um have put a footprint in every single Community to educate and make sure that folk got to
The polls to vote now you could be registered but you don’t go to the poll so we made sure we covered all bases and when our connection chair called to say we need a pocket here in the Greensboro area it’s not looking good or it’s not in eastern North Carolina we made sure
That chapters all over got out to vote we put signs up we educated we knocked on doors we did everything that we could to make sure that folk knew about our candidates and it was um not a big surprise because of all the hard work that we we’ve done you
Know there were um we got millions of people vot uh registered to vote and then we made sure they got out to vote so we are esta just like all the other Divine non members to make to let them know that we got one of our our sisters in to the
Second highest seat in the United States of America so tenifer explain also because a lot of my um uh core audience does would not know what divine nine means can you explain that term I sure will divine nine would are the first organizations um a collaboration of organizations Greek letter
Organizations um certies and sororities all college educated men and women who started um for fraternities and sororities on campuses and not all HBCU so um to make sure that we collaborated and we have stayed together as divine nine pulling our ourselves together to make a difference in every Community
There are nine of us that’s why we’re Divine and are nine and when we come when we collaborate and work together there’s no telling what the endless possibilities are as we make a difference in and the world and I say world because all of us have chapters throughout not only just the United
States but in other countries as well throughout the world so Aurelia what does the fact that KLA Harris is an AKA what has that done for the organization as as a whole because it certainly has put it in the spotlight in ways that um has not been done in the
Past well you know so first I’d like to say because she’s a woman it has changed um the mindset of the community the fact that she’s in AKA is like the icing on the cake right so we are happy and this is why there was such a huge
Combination of the V nine organizations to come together all the sororities and fraternities because of who she represents she represents several nationalities including black women and you know we’ve seen in the news that the black woman is the most disrespected person you know but here she is had and
She has ascended to the office of the Vice President of the United States and following the you know two pandemics that we’ve been going through you know this was like a breath of fresh air for all of us as women as people of color and definitely as a member of alpha cap
Alpha sority and when you say two pandemics what are you talking about so I’m talking about the global pandemic covid-19 and then the rash of social racial Injustice that happened over the year two 44 2665 or 1 1800 94224 are the numbers to call to join our conversation Michael joins us from
Portsmith hi Michael you’re on the air good morning ladies how are y’all doing great good morning hey hey look I just wanted to throw in my little two cents about this thing uh I uh live here in the city of Portsmouth and uh some time ago I made
The crazy decision about becoming a custodian for the uh por public school system I was sent over to a school uh I’m going to mention the school uh John Tyler Elementary I was lucky enough and and this is how silly and crazy life is I was lucky enough when I got into this
School I met the principal over there at uh John Tyler and it just comes to fruition that she is a member of AKA now in The First beginning um you know she was the principal and I didn’t think much of it but as as time went on
Uh I got a chance to speak with her and I got a chance to understand her and as time went by she would tell me about AKA in small little bits and pieces it comes to find out that she became the uh principal of the year in the city of
Psus and when you guys tell the story about AKA and its founding and and and and our vice president it is no surprise to me that the the success that this woman has had and not only the the people within the sorority it you guys are extremely powerful I just want to
Throw in my little two cents there I apprciate that Michael thanks so much for calling and and I’m I see the ladies we’re watching each other on zoom and they’re smiling I’m gonna let them respond thanks for the call Jennifer you want to respond to Michael certainly
Thank you Michael and that is no surprise to me either that the person who was uh the leader at that school was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sari and it does not surprise me at all that she did not take the time to let you know about the first and the finest
Organization there so that’s that’s what we do that’s how we recruit that’s how we we tell our story and it’s heory um now that’s that’s what we’re all about so thank you so much for sharing that and thank you for the respect you give to this organization we appreciate you
If you’re just joining us we’re celebrating women’s History Month by sharing the history of Alpac Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated the first black Greek letter sorority our guests are Miss Jennifer King congleton Mid-Atlantic Regional director of AKA Inc and Dr aelia Williams chair of this year’s Regional Conference now I know
That the Regional Conference was supposed to be in Hampton and Co kind of stepped in there really didn’t it and and made things change but but you all are going to continue with the conference can you tell us a little bit about it yes so the conference is going to be
Held virtually we um are very excited we have over 4500 registered members um and we are going to have live and uh virtual components that will meet our cross generational needs we are going to have leadership training to assist um with all of our na uh parts of our national
Program across the midatlantic region and we’re also going to have some opportunities to Fellowship learn and develop our members as well as continue to work on our service project so this is definitely her story in the making this will be the first of its kind our first virtual Regional Conference and we
Are looking to a great time now I know one of the big things that you all are doing um is um I think you’re calling it The Pink Box for the food bank is that correct go ahead Jennifer that’s right um we are this is our we always do a
Service pro um project Barbara and this time we decided that there since pandemic there are so many citizens that um had uh food deficiencies they did not have they’re out of work they don’t have the food that they need and a big percentage of are children so um our
Members decided that we wanted to give to the food banks of uh North Carolina and Virginia so our members have donated um funds and our goal is $20,000 and I am sure we will um make that and probably exceed that because we do that in our own communities but um we’re doing that
Collaboratively as um an organ as a a region right now you know excited about that in reading your the materials I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt you but I was going to say when you mentioned the raising the money for the food bank but in over the course
Of your history you all have raised millions of dollars for scholarship and for um to help people you know who are homeless I mean there all these different um areas where your footprint is that we don’t we may not necessarily know it’s you is it more about you
Actually doing the work or is it more about you getting your name attached to the work do you know what I mean yes I know exactly what you what you mean it’s about us meeting the needs of the community and sometimes not even meeting but exceeding those needs of the
Community because we know that there are people that look like you and I cannot afford to have an a college education so why do we raise money for scholarships I’m glad you ask we want our members to uh not only our members to touch those individuals and in the communities who
Need scholarships who need books you know you might can get that uh scholarship for your tuition but you might can’t afford the books that you need books are expensive or you might can’t uh afford that food plan so that’s what alphaa Alpha monies are for to help
Those communities out there when we talk about um uh our number one uh program now is hasht capap how do you actually get into college how do you do an application how do you apply for for um grants how do you apply for which schools uh actually can give you a free
Ride because you have a a 4.0 average you know there are so many things about getting into a college that some of our families don’t understand so it’s not about our name however that is an underlying our purpose as well but meeting the the needs of those communities when we look at um
Healthcare and we have the the first organization that I know of that has a mobile mamography unit that goes across the country you see this big pink and green uh van that is the mobile mamography unit that is for underserved women uninsured women who have not had
The opportunity to have a mamogram it came to uh the Mid-Atlantic region and we were right on the the border of North Carolina and Virginia in Rono rapid there were women we did over a hundred uh mammograms and did did you all purchase the bus and the material and
The equipment and and all of that is that is that how that worked wow absolutely goes across the country and right now it’s in Atlanta Georgia so we met the needs of rural um North Carolina and Virginia there’s um you know we could tell you many stories but I
Remember one the woman said you know she she knew she needed one but husband out of work she’s out of work she could not afford it did not have insurance so this was an opportunity to be a blessing to her to take care of her needs and then we found individuals who had
Abnormalities what do we do we referred them to a physician to get checked out so hopefully we are saving lives and then saveing making a difference in the quality of life doing some preventive education with units like that nutrition you know we we we just go around the the
The gamut for taking care of our communities and those who are not as fortunate as some of some of us to have Quality Health Care to have quality education to have um a quality arts program to learn about the art and um Economic Development how do you how do
You save you know some of us cannot save from one paycheck we what is it called living from paycheck to paycheck one paycheck out of poverty but how can you save how can you make a difference in the monies that you do have so we’ve been able to do things
Like that during the pandemic we’ve been able to do that um um the uh virtually teaching these and we teach the young Sometimes some of us are a little bit old for that but we’re take teaching the young so that they can make a difference and have a better quality of life or
Financially making an economic impact in our communities 44026 65 or 1 800 94224 Donald joins us from Virginia Beach hi Donald you’re on the air hello how you doing doing great go ahead I would like to say I I’m I’m I’m a father of two young ladies that uh got good
Profession they’re both members of these organization I want to apologize for not really knowing all about this but I’m very proud of my daughters and I want to let them know that Daddy is 100% behind them and you ladies too I’m very proud and ashamed had to come this far to
Recognize such a but my two babies are right there and they are proud I’m proud of them they more than I think of Father Don thank you so much young professional a teacher in a social work I love my baby D and D that is fantastic thank you so much
For that call you hear that pride in his voice aelia I do I do hear the pride in his voice I heard the pride in Michael’s voice I happen to know the principal at um John Tyler so I know who he was speaking of and my husband actually
Works at Don Tyler as well so you know we are just looking for ladies we are ladies who hope to be the example and role models for others and so we are very proud that Dad is proud of his daughters who have sought this Vision who who decided to take on this mission
Of being of service to us okay Gracie joins us from Portsmith hi Gracie you’re on the air good morning this Gracie Bowers I am a very excited member of The Graduate chapter Gamma Delta Omega located here in forsman so I know that you know I know both of you all but I
Would just like to share how excited I am about the mission and the goals that we set to accomplish I am the program chairman so this year we’re working on everything from supporting HBCU and helping students to get into the colleges of their choices through our College admission progress we focus
On Women’s Wellness as well as the economic Legacy program we even include refugees in America and this year we also have the opportunity to continue with our arts program that focuses and en on enlightening community on the Harlem Renaissance period so we do provide a lot of service to the
Community and I would like to thank my chapter because they know how excited I am and passionate I am about reading so much so that about seven years ago we created a book drive that continues to run through this day where we provide uh books to our local community and various
Schools throughout the year so again I thank you all for all that you are doing uh representing uh Alpha cap Alpha and I thank the radio station for giving us this opportunity oh you’re welcome Gracie I have a question for you you had choices when you were on whatever where
Where did you graduate what college I graduated from Nori state University I didn’t have the opportunity to enter as an undergraduate okay so as I went on uh and I graduated and i’ have since graduated from graduate school as well but I connected uh after my daughter my
Oldest daughter actually became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha on the University of Richmond campus and I watched them and she watched me and I watched what they did and I became involved with that and so you know we have what we call Legacy normally it’s the mother and then
It’ll be the daughters but in my case it was my daughter and then it became me as the mother and not only that my youngest daughter is also a member of this organization so it does run deep in my family oh wow that is fantastic well we
Thank you for calling in thank you so much 44 2665 or 1 800 94224 I would love to hear also from from our folks um who listen to our show on a regular basis and you are Nona African American um I think your sorority experience may be a little bit
Different if that is least my understanding and if I’m incorrect in that I really want you to call and let me know um so give me a call 44 2665 or 800 94224 and to that point ladies um you know when when I watch predominantly white institutions um and and the and
The um Greek organizations that are not African American uh it seems like they they they tend to be more college campus Centric and not the continuation past the college Years in terms of membership in terms of of uh stewardship in terms of work and so forth um am I incorrect in that
Assumption and and why do you think there’s a difference Jennifer I think you’re absolutely right on I’ll spot on with with that um most of our uh Caucasian organ gations they are for uh the campus um Campus Life College life and they do not extend P
Well the service does not extend um past graduation so they do come back for reunions but so far as um keeping the units going that has not been the case um that I that I know of and that of course the universities that I’m affiliated with as well so I think
That’s what the divine nine does promotes that lifel long uh commitment to service and uh that that is the blessing that we have and that’s where we are you know a lot of people don’t understand of what um why we’re doing this as graduate members so it is our uh
Responsibility to educate our communities on what what we’re doing and how it starts in undergraduate and then it continues on in The Graduate graduate chapters and we want to keep people active we have so uh so many members that have opted not to but we want them
To come back home we have a big campaign to get active we need everybody making a difference in the communities not just when there’s a kamla haris story but we need it on the book drives as my sister Gracie was talking about it we need it
On the can food drives and the dental uh Vans we need it everywhere so we would like to just invite them to come back home to um the organizations in which you are part of okay so let’s have some fun because I do need to ask you guys this why pink and green
Aelia beautiful colors the colors are beautiful they are distinct and the color combination cannot be uh Mis uh construed with any other color combination right so you know what I would say is that we have two colors While others have you know a color in white right
So I just love the color combination of pink and green uh you know one thing about it is when you’re wearing it people know who you are that’s very true and the ivy is is um a part of your um Legacy what is that about Jennifer that Ivy and you think about
Ivy that you may see um our symbol and when you see Ivy growing what does it do it spreads out it goes up it Never Dies is continuous it’s always green so that is Alpha Kappa Alpha we spread our wings we go throughout the world we SP we stay
Alive and we’re vibrant and that is just who we are and that’s why the ivy is so symbolic of our organization The Ivy is a strong plant you can’t well sometimes you can’t kill it but you know but it’s hard part for the most part if you keep
It watered and and nurtured it is going to continuously grow and become um very full and very very beautiful plant so what I know that there’s secrecy around be the initiation process so I’m not going to ask you what that is but my I guess my question more
Is of curiosity as to why there’s that secrecy number one and then secondly if you decide to join on The Graduate what you call grad chapter after you’ve graduated from um from a college or university um is there an initiation period similar to what happens in undergrad is it totally different um and
And what does that initiation mean in terms of I guess your commitment to the organization who wants to start go ahead oh oh you can let the regional director do that okay ma’am um we do have an initiation period and um during the pandemic it has been streamlined but as an
Organization there are um secrecies and we do um keep those near and dear to our heart we have chosen not to do those virtual because they are so near and dear um we have um if it is nothing that will harm individuals but yeah CU you’re I’ve never seen anything
In terms of hazing and and that kind of thing associated with you guys so um but but there is a a process right that there is a process you just don’t become an um Alpha Capital Alpha woman overnight you have to learn about the organization what you know or what the
Public knows is one thing but what we know deep down about alpha cppa alpha takes a while to learn in that process so we are very committed to educating and then making sure that our members are committed to every fiber of the organization so what would oh we
Actually have another call I believe and it’s uh margariti am I saying that correctly from Newport News yes hi margar from Newport News margarite how are you I’m wonderful this is a wonderful discussion I’m not AKA but my daughter is a proud AKA um she graduated
From VCU in 2000 well she she became an AKA in 2016 so she is a proud proud AKA I’ve learned a lot of about the sorority through her so I’m I’m excited for her i’ I’ve seen her growth she loves her pink and green she get these Abby boxes
Every month but she I’m proud to say that I am the mother of an AKA sorority member and I’m I’ve enjoyed this discussion I told her oh I’m listening to these people talk about AKA but she she’s not able to listen but I told oh she can listen online we’re always
Online at another view radio.org but just so you know also in case she’d like to hear the show we will have our podcast up um on our website another viiew radio.org uh this afternoon by 3:00 so she can just go online and listen away I will have her
Do that thanks so much for calling we appreciate it margarite so you know the parents even if if the even if the the parents aren’t involved and it’s so funny because I remember my dad um God Rest his soul one of the things that he was most um excited about and talked a
Lot about was the fact that he felt that your a college education particularly for an African-American um woman or man was not complete unless you pledged I mean that and you know and I and and I have to tell you I disappointed him because I did not pledge uh but um but
That is something that that the community as a whole takes a pride takes pride in whether it’s AKA or or any of the other divine nine it’s it’s a source of Pride would you not say Jennifer abolutely yeah most definitely um there there are there are many who choose not to and you
Know for whatever a reason that is I I think that’s okay but certainly we do not do anything that is and let me clear this up too because there’s this misnumber that um we are not B we’re not grounded in in Christ we were founded on Christian principles and we still even
Today we still make sure we represent those spiritualities that um our members our Founders had so there is nothing that is Antichrist if you will um with alphaa alpha or any of the Greek letter organizations I should say for or a whole with that so we are that commitment is it’s something about
Having your sisters um around you and you know we used to say we had Lin lines but now we have um um me our co- initiates but to be able to have a group of women who know you who you can call for anything who has your back who’s
There for the baby showers who’s there for the marriages who’s there for the divorces who’s there just around wrapped around you uh it makes a difference and as you were saying with nearly 300,000 strong and I’m sure we will be by the end of this Administration over that
Number but um Greek life is is something that uh I wouldn’t trade for anything there’s there’s not been a moment since I um became a member in 1976 that um I have um actually um not loved and there’s not a member that I can say that I have not learned
Something from whether that is what I wanted to learn or not I still have learned something from them so I’m I’m I’m excited about the experiences that I’ve had and all I think all sisters would would say that they’ve had great experiences some that they don’t want want to have anymore but definitely
They’ve learned a lot so we’ve got two minutes left before our our hour is almost up I tell you time flies but um my question to you is as a young woman if you’re in on a college campus or if you are have never pledged before and
You’re thinking about it what is the impetus in 2021 to join a a sorority and then particularly AKA aelia let me start with you so I am celebrating my 30th year this year and I did join the sority on the campus of Nork State University in 1991 and what I have established a
Lifelong friendship so I have members friends people who join the sority with me who are my children’s godmother I mean we text this morning discussing things that are of importance to us so I think the greatest joy um outside of the service and the impact that we can make in the
Community are those lifelong friendships that are established okay that’s Dr aelia Williams she is chair of this year’s uh Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Alpac cppa Alpha sorority Incorporated thank you so much for being with us and Jennifer you get the last uh 30 seconds or so why should they join
Now alphaa Alpha is a a an a worldwide organization making a difference in the communities in which we serve in which we live so individuals who want to do that make an impact on their communities know that you can do that through um an organization of like umm minded women
Courageous women Trailblazers in our communities okay so we are certainly proud uh to be able to host our Regional Conference virtually this year and hopefully we’ll be back in the Tide Water Area Miss Barber and next year we are looking forward to that and and praying that we will be through this
Pandemic absolutely thank you so very much that’s Miss Jennifer King congleton Mid-Atlantic Regional director of AKA Inc and thank you ladies so much for joining me and we’ll be right Back hi I’m clude MCN of the group take six and you’re listening to another view and welcome back voting for the Tony award started March 1st and just wrapped up this past Sunday among those nominated Hampton Roads own Adrien Warren for her role as Tina in the Tina
Turner Turner musical our Lisa Godly spoke with this talented actress about her role her influences and her goals as a performer when I was a little girl I had a w only doll I’ve ever open I grew up singing in church I went to St Thomas Aman Church in northwest Virginia
And I grew up singing with my dad so just like Tina Turner’s real life story you too grew up singing in the church that’s definitely when the music bug hit the theater bug came a little later around 6 years old Adrian netted her first Tony nomination in 2016 for her
Role as best featured actress in the musical shuffle along and in 2020 as best actress for her role as Tina Turner a lot of people forget that I’m singing 20 plus songs a night and between every dance number I’m doing fight choreography because of the domestic violence within her life which is also present in the show as well so how did you train for something so phys physically demanding I would jump rope
To Proud Mary to the Beat of the Music my trainer would make me do it over and over again I just tried to be as strong as I possibly could as Adrien to be the best te I could possibly be and according to her mom being the best she
Can be is a goal this Hampton Roads native has been shooting for since childhood my husband would sit her in her little seat when she was an infant and he would play jazz and we know noticed that she could bounce right on Rhythm my parents are huge music fans so
I listen to everything from Bob Marley to Yolanda Adams gospel my husband sings and when Adrian was little instead of going to bed she would lay down on the steps and listen and so he finally told her well come on since you’re up anyway he taught her one of the songs that he
Was preparing and when they sung it together in church I just baled I felt like she had something and I was all about let’s get her in Dance Let scoter involved and she just awesome I was a har player so theater was really in my bones at that point and I thought what
Better way to continue nurturing this talent but to go to Governor school and actually get the training I need to take this further in my life and it changed my life I learned everything I could have possibly needed to learn to be the performer I am today I learned at government
School I was asked to go to London to start doing a workshop for the show I didn’t even think that I would end up doing the role really I thought they’ hire Beyonce and after all that rehearsal you finally get to perform and it’s in front of Tina Turner what was
That like for you I didn’t look at her the entire presentation until I got to Proud Mary because I thought if I don’t move forward with this project I want to at least be able to tell my unborn children that this happened and I looked at her and she was smiling and singing
Along with me and it was just such a special moment because it gave me permission to just be myself and enjoy this presentation enjoy this moment and at the end of the presentation I just fell at her feet and like bowed and just started crying and she was unbelievably
Gracious and loving I’m so grateful for her and she’s taught me so much I feel like I been placed on this planet to tell the stories of our ancestors I’m a Storyteller and I’m grateful for the biographical work that I’ve gotten to do this far and I hope to do more in the [Applause] Future for another view I’m Lisa golin and adrianne’s mom who you heard in the piece is Dr Andrea Warren the executive director of the governor School for the Arts located in downtown norick the Tina turno musical netted 12 Tony nominations including best musical and best leading actress in a musical go
Adrien Adrien we are keeping our fingers crossed voting for The tonies ended on March 15th but no date has been announced for the actual award ceremony but we do know it will coincide with Broadway’s eventual reopening thank you for joining us today it’s been great spending the past hour with you next
Week on another view what you need to know when filing your 2020 taxes our theme music is an original composition written and performed especially for another view by J Senate special thanks to Paul bibo producer of hearsay with Kathy Lewis for sitting in for Lisa Godley who is on vacation Todd Washburn
Is our audio engineer and Dr Barry Graham answered our phones I’m barbar ham Lee remember wear your mask keep washing your hands stay 6 feet apart in public get your shot and join us next Thursday at noon for another View support comes from Hampton Roads Community Foundation carrying out your charitable wishes forever whether it’s helping shelter animals feeding the homeless enhancing the Arts or supporting students learn more at lqu quest.org
source
