Under the International Program, “The Spirit of Alpha Kappa Alpha,” and the leadership of the 26th International Supreme Basileus, Linda M. White, Alpha Kappa Alpha women strive to be “supreme in service to all mankind.” Alpha Kappa Alpha women strive to serve their fellow man by focusing their efforts on three main target areas: Education, the Black Family and Health. In addition to these main targets, initiatives for advancing Economic Empowerment and the Arts in our local communities are also sponsored by the sorority. Each target aims to focus upon the following:

• Education This target focuses on bringing valuable programs to young people in our communities, with the hope of improving these children’s reading and writing skills

• The Black Family This target focuses on the cornerstone programs of our family initiatives: Martin Luther King Day of Service and National Volunteer Day

• Health This target focuses on Alpha Kappa Alpha’s health and wellness initiative, “Respect Yourself,” an initiative that serves to reinforce the importance of having a healthy mind, body and soul

A few of the programs designed to hit these three main targets include AKA Coat Day, a coat drive for the needy in our communities, The Martin Luther King Day of Service – A Day ON Instead of a Day OFF, and the signature program of Alpha Kappa Alpha, “The Ivy Reading AKAdemy,” a reading initiative focusing on early learning and mastery of basic reading skills by the end of third grade.

“The Spirit of Alpha Kappa Alpha” is the spirit of Sisterhood in which we serve – in our communities, across the nation and around the world – every day. Alpha Kappa Alpha women join together, first as sisters, and then as community partners to engage in highly individual and collective achievement through scholarship and service, the hallmarks of every Alpha Kappa Alpha program.

While serving the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities, the women of Eta Beta seek to fulfill the goals of our international program as well as implement new programs of our own. Each week, we work with children at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club, and throughout the year, we sponsor other service opportunities, such as the AKA Children’s Drive, where we collect toys, books and school supplies for local needy children. If you are looking for service opportunities, you are welcome to join the ladies of Eta Beta during our weekly service activity or any other service activity. You can contact the chapter via Memory Baker, Vice-President, and Program Chairperson, at memory.b.baker@vanderbilt.edu for more details.

*For more information on our international program, visit the headquarters website at www.aka1908.com