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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 its
8mission to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical
9standards, promote unity and friendship among college women,
10help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to
11improve their social status, maintain a progressive interest in
12college life, and to be of "Service to All Mankind"; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The 2014-2018 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
14administration, under the dynamic and creative leadership of
15International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, continues to
16fulfill the service imperative of the organization's founders
17with the international program "Launching New Dimensions of
18Service", which focuses on educational enrichment, health
19promotion, family strengthening, environmental ownership, and
20global impact; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The 2016 program for "Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
22Inc. Day at the Capitol" in Springfield, nationwide, and

 

 

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1internationally, will focus on mental health, which is part of
2Target #2 of the sorority's "Launching New Dimensions of
3Service" international program, "Civil Rights/Social Justice"
4and "Be The Voice Campaign" (voter registration, voter
5education, voter mobilization and voter participation); the
6"Be the Voice Campaign" was launched at the Central Regional
7Conference in Chicago from March 3-6, 2016; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Many prominent women have been or are members of
9Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., including the late First Lady
10Eleanor Roosevelt, the late civil rights leaders Coretta Scott
11King and Rosa Parks, actress Phylicia Rashad, the late poet
12Maya Angelou, writer Toni Morrison, singer Alicia Keys,
13attorney Star Jones, financial expert Mellody Hobson,
14comedian/actress Wanda Sykes, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, Cook
15County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough, Cook County Board
16President Toni Preckwinkle, and the President of Liberia, Ellen
17Johnson Sirleaf; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Many members of the General Assembly and
19legislative staff are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
20Inc., including Senate Majority Whip Mattie Hunter, Senator Toi
21Hutchinson, Representative Monique Davis, India Hammons, and
22Nia Odeoti-Hassan, who has served since 2010 as the Illinois
23State Connection Coordinator and the chairwoman of the Illinois
24State Connection Committee in the Central Region under the

 

 

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1leadership of Regional Director Kathy Walker-Steele; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha's storied history of proven
3leadership and extensive involvement in the world community
4through strategic partnerships evidence the sorority's
5potential to significantly contribute to the world community;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated made
8history and expanded its international presence when it
9chartered its first chapter, Omega Theta Omega, in the Middle
10East; the chapter's 37 women, located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and
11throughout the United Arab Emirates, are business executives,
12attorneys, educators, and physicians, among other accomplished
13professionals; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Leadership development is essential to the
15vitality of the organization, and the sorority's continuing
16requirements of academic excellence, shared values, and
17dedication to the mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha ensure a
18continuous wellspring of quality leaders; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the date
21of May 11, 2016 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in the State of
22Illinois in honor of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,

 

 

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1and its work; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3provided to Kathy Walker-Steele, Central Regional Director;
4Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, International President; Sylvia
5Blackmon-Roberts, International Connection Committee Chairman;
6and Bakahia Madison, Central Regional Representative to the
7International Connection Committee.