MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Cockerham, Jackson (11th), Butler-Washington, James-Jones, Foster
A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC., ON THE OBSERVANCE OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY DAY AT THE CAPITOL ON FEBRUARY 6, 2024.
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the oldest Greek letter organization in the United States, was founded by college educated African-American women on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University; and
WHEREAS, this prestigious sorority is currently led by International President Danette Anthony Reed, and is comprised of ten regions around the globe, and Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama make up the South Eastern Region; and
WHEREAS, presently, the South Eastern Region comprises 116 chapters—48 undergraduate chapters and 68 graduate chapters, and with over 14,000 Sorors, the region is dedicated to the mission of its illustrious organization, and is led by Alabama native, Dr. Tracey Morant Adams, Senior Executive Vice President and the Chief Community Development and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Renasant Bank; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has impacted the lives of African Americans and their communities through public policy, and it certainly has a legacy of providing exemplary service to all mankind, and through the collective efforts of its members, Alpha Kappa Alpha implements programs of service that transform, magnify, and accelerate communities and campuses; and
WHEREAS, with a 116-year tradition of social action, under Alpha Kappa Alpha's current theme "Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood," its International Connection and Social Action Committee is poised to implement the "Advocate for Social Justice" initiative in an effort to save lives and transform communities as advocates to reduce suicide among our African-American youth and reduce the preventable deaths of African-American mothers during pregnancy and childbirth; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated currently has three members of the sorority serving in the Mississippi House of Representatives: Angela Cockerham, Representative District 96, Lataisha Jackson, Representative District 11, Tamarra Grace Butler-Washington, Representative District 69, and most notably, former Representative Alyce G. Clarke, the first African-American female legislator in Mississippi who assumed office in 1985 and who has since retired; and
WHEREAS, as United States elections impact policy and funding decisions regarding health care, education, environment, voting rights, housing, public safety, and economics, among other issues, Alpha Kappa Alpha's robust advocacy agenda was initiated during the 2022 mid-term elections, and it included the launch of the "Soar to the Polls" voter engagement campaign, and while all votes matter in these decisions, voter suppression is at an all-time high, and the "Soar to the Polls" campaign was developed to address voting barriers via a three-pronged approach: voter education, voter registration, and voter engagement; and
WHEREAS, these outstanding efforts in Mississippi are led by the South Eastern Representative to the International Connection and Social Action Committee, Leah J. Holder Wiggins, Mississippi Connection and Social Action Coordinator Attorney, Demetrice Williams Wells, and the Mississippi Connection and Social Action Committee; and
WHEREAS, the exceptional members of Alpha Kappa Alpha who reside in the State of Mississippi have made significant contributions to local, state, and national programs that have made a positive impact on the state, and their dedication, hard work and commitment to providing service to the citizens of Mississippi is evident by the countless hours of community service, millions of dollars in financial contributions, and social advocacy that has been displayed since the chartering of the first chapter in Mississippi in 1934; and
WHEREAS, with 36 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the State of Mississippi, Alpha Kappa Alpha members continue to empower our families, build our economic wealth, enhance our environment, advocate for social justice, and uplift our local community, as they strengthen the bonds to support their service mission; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend extraordinary organizations, especially those such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., whose members have made a positive impact through their remarkable community service, and who treasure high values and live their lives to evidence the same, bringing hope and healing wherever they volunteer:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the extraordinary ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., on the observance of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Day at the Capitol on February 6, 2024.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Tracey Morant Adams, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.