HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.15
Reps. Edwards, Arbit, BeGole, Fitzgerald, Glanville, Haadsma,
Hope, Liberati, Morse, Price, Snyder, Tsernoglou, Wegela and Weiss
offered the following resolution:
1 A resolution to declare January 15, 2023, as Alpha Kappa Alpha
2 Sorority, Incorporated, Founders’ Day in the state of Michigan.
3 Whereas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded
4 on the campus of Howard University on January 15, 1908, by nine
5 junior and senior students, under the leadership of Ethel Hedgeman
6 Lyle and Lavinia Norman, Margaret Flagg, Lucy Slowe, Marie
7 Woolfolk, Beulah Burke, Lillie Burke, Anna Easter Brown, and
8 Marjorie Hill, who, collectively, sought to form an association of
9 women students through which their talents and strengths would be
10 organized for the mutual benefit of all. This group later expanded
11 to include seven sophomores (Joanna Berry, Norma Boyd, Ethel Jones,
Alpha Kappa Alpha D 23H
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1 Sara Merriweather, Alice Murray, Carrie Snowden, and Harriet Terry)
2 who were asked to join to ensure the continuity of the sorority;
3 and
4 Whereas, This year marks the 115th anniversary of its
5 founding, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, has its place
6 in history as the world's first and oldest Greek-letter
7 organization established by African-American college-educated
8 women; and
9 Whereas, Throughout its history, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
10 Incorporated, has led conversations, advocacy, and actions to
11 address needs in African-American communities related to education
12 inequities, disparate health care, civil rights, economic
13 empowerment, job training, and numerous social justice issues; and
14 Whereas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, has over
15 325,000 members and more than 1,000 chapters located throughout the
16 United States, West Africa, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Japan,
17 Korea, and Germany. Over 30 of these chapters are in communities
18 and on college and university campuses in the great state of
19 Michigan; and
20 Whereas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, members in
21 the state have made numerous contributions to the educational,
22 civic, and well-being of Michigan's citizens and communities
23 through its work on issues including economic development,
24 community development, at-risk youth, homelessness, domestic
25 violence, breast cancer awareness, education, personal money
26 management, and entrepreneurship; and
27 Whereas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, members in
28 the state can count among their achievement’s successful
29 collaborations with organizations such as the Salvation Army, Boys
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1 and Girls Clubs, rescue missions, American Cancer Society, Susan G.
2 Komen Foundation, Meals on Wheels, numerous food banks, and
3 shelters; now, therefore, be it
4 Resolved, That the members of this legislative body declare
5 January 15, 2023, as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,
6 Founders’ Day in the state of Michigan; and be it further;
7 Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the
8 national headquarters for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,
9 and its Great Lakes Regional Director's office.