82R11131 JGH-D
By: Dukes H.R. No. 576
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority are
gathering in Austin on February 28, 2011, to celebrate Alpha Kappa
Alpha Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The nation's first Greek sorority for African
American women, Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded as a social and
service organization on January 15, 1908, by Howard University
undergraduate Ethel Hedgeman Lyle and 19 other students; together,
these courageous women are today known as "the Twenty Pearls"; and
WHEREAS, The sorority seeks to cultivate and encourage high
scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship
among college women, and to improve the social stature of women of
all ages; a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Alpha
Kappa Alpha serves people around the world through the efforts of
more than 260,000 members in over 950 chapters located in the United
States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Korea, Japan, and Africa;
for 103 years, the group has made a positive difference with its
important work on civil rights, education, economic empowerment,
and improved health care; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha partnered with the U.S. Census
Bureau in 2009 to help support the accuracy of the 2010 census; the
sorority's Texas chapters received a Census Partnership Support
Grant, and they organized into 33 Complete Count Committees across
the Lone Star State to help reach communities deemed "hard to
count"; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the sorority implemented a nonpartisan
National Voter Registration Blitz and "Take Five" Program in 2008,
resulting in the registration of 120,000 voters nationwide; in
Texas, 1,350 members distributed 11,250 registration cards,
registered more than 6,000 voters, and transported approximately
5,000 people to polling places on election day; and
WHEREAS, Many members of Alpha Kappa Alpha have gone on to
careers in public service, including Texas State Representatives
Dawnna Dukes, Dr. Alma Allen, and Senfronia Thompson and retired
state representative Wilhelmina Delco, as well as Denise Davis,
chief of staff for Speaker Joe Straus, and U.S. Congresswomen
Sheila Jackson Lee and Eddie Bernice Johnson; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of the sorority's 28th
international president, Carolyn House Stewart, Alpha Kappa Alpha
continues to address the issues of social justice, human rights,
health, poverty, economic security, and environmental
sustainability; the sorority's South Central Region is ably led by
its 23rd regional director, Gwendolyn J. Brinkley of Houston; and
WHEREAS, Wearing their official colors of salmon pink and
apple green, the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha are widely recognized
for their elegance, charm, intelligence, and quiet strength, and
the sorority continues to win renown for its service to Texas and
the nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2011, as Alpha Kappa
Alpha Day at the State Capitol and extend to the sorority's visiting
delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and meaningful
event; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the sorority as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.