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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded
3on the campus of Howard University in 1908 and incorporated in
41913, has established a mandate for carrying out the vision of
5a new day of excellence and performance; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the nation's oldest
7African-American sorority; the Sorority has never changed
8their mission to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and
9ethical standards, promote unity and friendship among college
10women, help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in
11order to improve their social status, maintain a progressive
12interest in college life, and to be of "Service to All
13Mankind"; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The 2014-2018 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
15administration, under the dynamic and creative leadership of
16International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, continues to
17fulfill the service imperative of the organization's founders
18with the international program "Launching New Dimensions of
19Service", which focuses on educational enrichment, health
20promotion, family strengthening, environmental ownership, and
21global impact; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Many prominent women have been or are members of

 

 

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1Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., including the late First Lady
2Eleanor Roosevelt, the late civil rights leaders Coretta Scott
3King and Rosa Parks, actress Phylicia Rashad, the late poet
4Maya Angelou, writer Toni Morrison, singer Alicia Keys,
5attorney Star Jones, financial expert Mellody Hobson,
6comedian/actress Wanda Sykes, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith,
7congresswoman Terri Sewell, former United States Secretary of
8Energy Hazel O'Leary, congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Cook
9County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough, and CNN reporter
10Suzanne Malveaux; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Many members of the General Assembly and
12legislative staff are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
13Inc., including Senator Mattie Hunter, Senator Toi Hutchinson,
14Representative Monique Davis, India Hammons, and Nia
15Odeoti-Hassan, who serves as the Illinois State Connection
16Coordinator in the Central Region under the leadership of
17Regional Director Kathy Walker-Steele; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha's storied history of proven
19leadership and extensive involvement in the world community
20through strategic partnerships evidence the sorority's
21potential to significantly contribute to the world community;
22and
 
23    WHEREAS, Leadership development is essential to the

 

 

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1vitality of the organization, and the sorority's continuing
2requirements of academic excellence, shared values, and
3dedication to the mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha ensure a
4continuous wellspring of quality leaders; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the date
7of May 13, 2015 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in the State of
8Illinois in honor of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,
9and its work; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
11provided to Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, International President;
12Kathy Walker-Steele, Central Regional Director; Sylvia
13Blackmon-Roberts, International Connection Committee Chairman;
14and Bakahia Reed-Madison, Central Regional Representative to
15the International Connection Committee.