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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, On January 15, 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
3Incorporated was founded with the mission to promote unity and
4friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate
5problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their
6social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college
7life, and to be of "Service to All Mankind"; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In 1915, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. hosted
9its first political action conference with human rights
10activist and Illinois Congressman Martin B. Madden as the
11speaker; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Since establishing its headquarters in Chicago in
131949, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s function has become
14more complex, expanding to mobilize members worldwide for
15advocacy and service projects to improve socioeconomic,
16racial, political, and environmental issues; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s diverse
18collaborative work throughout the United States, the
19Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates
20integrates an elevated level of personal engagement with the
21strong bonds of sisterhood and a productive network of
22community partners; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s annual event
2is an opportunity for members to speak with local lawmakers,
3engage in workshops, and advocate for critical issues such as
4Black maternal health, education, and suicide prevention; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Illinois is home to 44 Alpha Kappa Alpha
6Sorority, Inc. chapters, of which 16 are active chapters
7located on college and university campuses and 28 are active
8alumnae chapters located in communities throughout the State;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s Illinois
11chapters, along with chapters located throughout Indiana,
12Kentucky, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin,
13and St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Missouri are designated as
14the sorority's Central Region, and this region is home to 96
15empowered and engaged chapters focused on advocacy and
16service; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Presently, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
18Sorority, Inc. serves in each chamber of the Illinois General
19Assembly, Senator Mattie Hunter and Representative Kim du
20Buclet; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Notably, Juliana Stratton, the 48th Lieutenant

 

 

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1Governor, serves in the State's executive branch and is also a
2member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The Illinois delegation of Alpha Kappa Alpha
4Sorority, Inc. will be joined by the Illinois delegation of
5Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for a joint Alpha Day at the
6Illinois State Capitol in a collective effort to advance the
7priorities of the respective communities that they serve; and
 
8    WHEREAS, On May 1, 2024, the Illinois members of Alpha
9Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will participate in AKA Day at the
10Illinois State Capitol; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
13REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we declare May 1, 2024
14as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Day in the State
15of Illinois.