W elcome!
The Delta Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has been serving the Twin Cities community since our chartering in 1948. We are proud of our rich heritage and our international organization's one hundred plus years of service. On behalf of the members of Delta Phi Omega, I welcome you, and we are truly delighted that you have taken an interest in learning more about our chapter.
For 104 years, the oldest Greek-letter organization for African-American women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has been in the forefront of providing "Service to All Mankind." Since the chartering of Delta Phi Omega we have worked hard to serve countless individuals and families throughout the Twin Cities drawing on strength, dedication and a commitment to serve. We plan to impart a legacy of sisterhood, selflessness, leadership, academia and service all while continuing to strive to uphold the ideals of our beloved Founders.
Under an administration led by our 28th International President Carolyn House Stewart, Esq., Delta Phi Omega will continue to fulfill its purpose by implementing the sorority's international program "Global Leadership Through Timeless Service." These signature initiatives include: Emerging Young Leaders , Health (Asthma Prevention and Management, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability), Global Poverty , Economic Security , Social Justice and Human Rights , and the Internal Leadership Training for External Service Initiative .
There is plenty of work to do and we are determined to take advantage of opportunities to help make our neighborhoods better places in which to live, grow, work, and play.
If you are a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. seeking a local chapter, I personally invite you to visit one of our chapter meetings or attend one of our many activities. Meet the wonderful members of Delta Phi Omega, and determine for yourself how diverse, caring, and motivated our members are.
Alpha Kappa Alpha is indeed a sisterhood unlike no other.
Thank you for visiting our website! Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Tittle
President
2012-2013
Herstory
In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became America's first Greek-letter organization established by Black college women. Her roots date back to Howard University, Washington, D.C., where the idea for formation was conceived by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle of St. Louis, Missouri. She viewed the Sorority as an instrument for enriching the social and intellectual aspects of college life by providing mental stimulation through interaction with friends and associates.
Since her founding, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated currently boast of 260,000 members in graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U. S. Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, Germany, Korea and on the continent of Africa.
Its membership is comprised of distinguished women who have excellent academic records, proven leadership skills, and are involved in the global community through advocacy and service. Alpha Kappa Alpha has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life for citizens worldwide and promoting peace.
It's mission from inception has been to be of
"Service to All Mankind" .
Our Twenty Pearls
The Original 9 The 7 Sophomores The Incorporators
Ethel Hedgeman Lyle Joanna Mary Berry-Shields Nellie Quander
Anna Easter Brown Norma Elizabeth Boyd* Minnie Smith
Beulah E. Burke Ethel Jones Mowbray* Julia E Brooks
Lillie Burke Alice P. Murray Nellie Pratt Russell
Margaret Flagg Holmes Carrie E. Snowden
Marjorie Hill Harriet Josephine Terry
Lavinia Norman Sarah Meriweather Nutter
Lucy Diggs Slowe
Marie Woolfolk Taylor
*Incorporator
Program Initiatives
2010-2014 Program: Global Leadership Through Timeless Service
The mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated , "“Service to All Mankind”" began at its inception. A lpha Kappa Alpha has remained at the forefront of positive change in American life, particularly in the African-American community for over a century. The 2010-2014 administration will continue to fulfill the service imperative of our founders. Committed leadership is necessary to address issues related to social justice, human rights, health, poverty, economic security, environmental sustainability and maintaining a viable sisterhood of over 260,000 members. Accordingly, the theme for this administration is: "Global Leadership through Timeless Service. "
Signature Program Initiatives
I . Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) Initiatives ~ This signature program will impact the lives of 10,000 girls in grades six through eight by providing leadership development, civic engagement, enhanced academic preparation and character building. The increasing demands of the twenty-first century mandate our youth to be better leaders at a younger age making smart choices with positive consequences.
I I. Health Initiatives ~ These initiatives encourage personal fitness and healthy life styles. We will support organizations which advance access to treatment and coordinate awareness and advocacy campaigns to reduce health disparities, save lives and impact health related legislation. Co-sponsored health forums will address: diseases which disproportionately affect women and minorities, prevention and treatment options.
A. Asthma Prevention and Management Initiative ~ This signature health program will benefit children and families enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The goal is early diagnosis, treatment awareness and parental education and advocacy.
B. Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability ~ This initiative, through community forums and activities, promotes strategies and awareness campaigns to encourage energy efficiency, conservation, eco-living, reforestation, urban gardening, education and empowerment of consumers with limited resources, “go green-living green” eco-tourism, opportunities for women owned businesses, environmental zones in urban communities and advocacy for and legislation related to public health and environmental justice.
III. Global Poverty ~ The goals for this initiative are to end hunger, preserve the environment and empower women. The program will provide food production skills and training in self-reliance through gifts of seeds, livestock and training in environmentally sound agriculture. Education in sustainable food practices will make women equal partners in ending poverty and hunger. Alpha Kappa Alpha will continue its membership and consultative status with UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization). We have global partners for self-help projects and awareness campaigns within the United States and abroad.
IV. Economic Security Initiative ~ This effort expands the current programs related to wealth building and allocation of resources, home ownership, estate planning, support and empowerment of female owned businesses and urban enterprise zones.
V. Social Justice and Human Rights Initiative ~ These initiatives will address gender equality issues including: human trafficking and domestic violence, services for children with incarcerated parents, youth aging out of foster care and children in homeless shelters. Voter empowerment; access to technology; training of parents as advocates for educational and health care needs of children and support of the arts will be emphasized.
VI. Internal Leadership Training for External Service Initiative ~ This initiative will afford Alpha Kappa Alpha members leadership training at all levels within the organization. It will serve as a catalyst for members to reach their fullest potential as skilled leaders in service to Alpha Kappa Alpha and other organizations and institutions.
D elta Phi Omega is located in the Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Central Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was established in 1919. The Region is comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the southeastern portion of Missouri.
Central is the home of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Corporate Office, located at 5656 South Stony Island Avenue in Chicago. It is also the home of Founder Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, who hails from St. Louis. Two of the sorority’s oldest chapters: Beta (Chicago Citywide) and Gamma (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) – are in Central, having been established in 1913, and 1914, respectively, by Founder Beulah Burke.
Central Region is also home to several other of the sorority’'s oldest undergraduate chapters: the original Eta (University of Minnesota), Kappa (Indianapolis Citywide), Tau (Indiana University); and graduate chapters: Gamma Omega in St. Louis, Eta Omega in Louisville and Theta Omega in Chicago.
Delta Phi Omega Chapter
Fourteen years after the founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Eta Chapter was established at the University of Minnesota in 1922. As young women graduated from the University and wanted to continue their affiliation with the sisterhood and the commitments to the ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha, there became a need to establish a graduate chapter in the Twin Cities.
Delta Phi Omega graduate chapter was chartered April 17-18, 1948 with 12 members and 3 associate members from the Twin Cities community. The Central Regional Director, Lucille Wilkins of Chicago officiated at the chartering. The first chapter President was Margaret Young.
The chapter immediately began serving the community in a variety of ways from supporting health issues to sponsoring public forums on topics of concern to the African American community and awarding scholarships to deserving students pursuing higher education.
Since it's chartering, more than 60 years ago, Delta Phi Omega Chapter has continued to serve the community.
2012 Executive Committee
President: Lisa M. Tittle
Vice President: Naomi Chambers Taylor
Recording Secretary: Marcuetta Williams
Asst. Recording Secretary: L'Aurelle Johnson
Treasurer: Linda Williams Brettingen
Financial Secretary: Sherron Reese
Corresponding Secretary: Charlotte Frank
Hostess: Shalonda Glass
Keeper of the Door: Andrea Anderson
Parliamentarian: Josephine Martin
Membership: Peggye Mezile
Graduate Advisor: Tiffany Scott Knox
Historian: Tiffany Scott Knox
Ivy Leaf Reporter: Angel Smith
Member At Large: Roslyn Gantt Simmons
Chaplain: Rev. Mildred Cox
2012 Committee Chairmen
Program Chairman: Naomi Chambers Taylor
Membership Chairman: Peggye Mezile
Bylaws Chairman: Josephine Martin
Finance Chairman: Linda Williams Brettingen
Connections Chairman: Cherise Vincent
Public Relations Chairman: Angel Smith
Archives Chairman: Tiffany Scott Knox
Technology Chairman: Parra Byron
Standards Chairman: Andrea Anderson
Protocol Chairman: Kelli Jones
EAF Captain: Kim F. Price
A snippet of the chapter's impact on the community:
1940-1950's
Delta Phi Omega chapter hosted the 1951 Central Regional Conference
Supported Ramsey County Cancer Society by making cancer pads
Sponsored community forums with national speakers, including Ebony's Freda DeKnight
Scholarship awards
1960-1970's
Large reactivation events
Scholarship cocktail parties at the Science museum
1980's
Hosted 1981 Central Regional conference
Established the Beatrice Bailey scholarship fund
Soror Mabel Cason elected Central Regional Director
Miss Fashionetta leadership development program (junior high school girls)
Scholarship cocktail party fundraiser
1990's
Guthrie theatre collaboration to raise funds for community service
Initiated the African American Academic awards
Community service : Turning Point, American Red Cross AIDS Awareness, St. Joseph's Home for Children
Hosted the 1999 Central Regional Conference
AKADazzle Scholarship Fundraiser begins
2000's
Community Service: Precious Pearls/On Track for elementary school girls, Ivy House/St. Joseph's Home for Children, American Red Cross Blood Drives
Scholarship Awards
AKADazzle Scholarship Fundraiser
Incorporated the Ivy Foundation
African American Academic Achievement Awards continue
Neiman Marcus Fashion Show Scholarship fundraiser
Ebony Fashion Fair Fashion Show fundraiser
Membership Overview
Thank you for your interest in membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Delta Phi Omega Chapter. Since 1948, our members have provided many high quality program services, cultural activities, scholarships and community leadership to the Twin Cities of Greater Minneapolis and Greater St. Paul, Minnesota. We are an accomplished group of college trained women who represent the intergenerational strength, career and educational diversity, cultural diversity, camaraderie, and sisterhood that continues to honor the goals and purposes our Founders set forward in 1908.
Please take a close look at our chapter website and you will clearly see that Delta Phi Omega Chapter is moving forward into the 21st Century so that we can meet the goals of our national organization, “Global Leadership Through Timeless Service.” We are making every effort to become technologically savvy, to provide community service programs that are viable and measurable, while also maintaining our goal of providing sisterhood and support to our membership.
Our programs meet real needs and provide real services. We have successfully partnered with community organizations, corporations and private individuals to deliver our yearly Health Fair, Scholarships; and African American Academic Achievement Award Program. Currently, we have revised our Young Pearls Program into the newly launched Emerging Young Leaders Program in cooperation with new community partners. There are plenty of service opportunities for reactivating and transferring members.
Membership
Membership is by invitation only to women of high ethical standards and ideals; academic achievement and the interest and ability to serve all mankind. Membership is not solicited. Non-members are invited to attend our public events and to review our chapter website, www.akadpo.org; the website of our 501c3 organization,The Ivy Foundation, Inc., www.theivyfoundationtwincities.org and our national website, www.aka1908.com .
Transfers
Sorors new to the Twin Cities who would like to transfer from General Membership or from their current chapter to Delta Phi Omega may contact our Membership Chairman via the chapter website or download transfer forms from the Corporate website.
Reactivation
We welcome inactive members to rejoin our strand of peals by downloading the appropriate forms from the Corporate website or contact the Membership Chairman via the chapter website. You will receive a prompt response.
Meetings
We meet from September through June following the national calendar.
Our chapter meetings begin at 6:30 PM and are held the 2nd Friday of each month, excluding July and August, at the North Community YMCA located at 1711 West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Please bring some form of AKA ID to attend your first meeting i.e. AKA financial card; letter from your past chapter president; confirmation from corporation office, or a copy of your Ivy Leaf showing your name.
We welcome you to join us as we strive “to capture a vision fair” and to “serve all mankind,” because for Delta Phi Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is a “Serious Matter” and we have work to do.
Soror Peggye D. Mezile,
Membership Chairman
Interested in Reactivating or Transferring into Delta Phi Omega?
We encourage sisterly participation, so we welcome you!
Please contact us at membership_akadpo.org so that we can give you a personal invitation to our monthly chapter meeting. You will be welcomed with sisterly love and helped through the reactivation or transfer process.
Interested in Graduate Membership with Alpha Kappa Alpha?
The Sorority's official graduate Membership Intake Process (MIP) is by invitation only through one of our local graduate chapters and may not be solicited. Please refer to the Alpha Kappa Alpha National website www.aka1908.com for additional information.
Meeting Information
Delta Phi Omega Chapter meetings are open to duly initiated members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Proof of membership is required and must be verified prior to entering the meeting.
Requirements to Attend a Chapter Meeting
In accordance with National Standard Operating Guidelines and/or Chapter Protocol, visiting members are asked to provide two forms of identification (one Primary and one Secondary) for meeting entry. Primary Identifications may include any government issued ID. Secondary Identifications may include, but are not limited to:
• A current or past financial card with your name
• A copy of your original membership certificate signed by our National Office
• A copy of the Ivy Leaf with your name and address label affixed
• A transfer verification form from a chapter with proper signature(s)
Business attire is required for every chapter meeting. Chapter meetings are held each month excluding the months of July and August. First time visitors are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early as credentials are verified prior to admitting new members into the meeting.
Please contact the Membership Chairman for more information membership_akadpo.org
2012 Events
January
15 Founders' Day
16 MLK Jr. Day of Service
February
3 Pink Goes Red
13 Day _ the Capitol
March
April
26-29 78th Central Regional Conference
May
20 African American Academic Achievement Awards
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
The Marvelous Mu Rho Chapter
D elta Phi Omega is the Supervising Graduate Chapter of Mu Rho Chapter.
Mu Rho, chartered in 1979, is a city wide undergraduate chapter with multiple colleges on it's charter, including the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses).
Minnesota's Alpha Kappa Alpha history began with Eta Chapter. During the spring of 1921 a small group of young women at the University of Minnesota dreamed of having a sorority. Eta Chapter was chartered on December 12, 1922 on the University of Minnesota-St. Paul. Eta Chapter was dissolved August 1964 because of the insufficient number of members within the chapter. Bowie State University, located in Bowie MD, had the honor of introducing Eta on its campus on January 11, 1969 and Eta Chapter has been active in the North Atlantic Region since reemerging on Bowie State's campus.
It would not be until 1979 when an undergraduate presence would be established again at the University of Minnesota----the Marvelous Mu Rho Chapter.
Mu Rho continues to be the ONLY undergraduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in the state of Minnesota!!!
To learn more about Mu Rho you may currently follow them on the social media networks Facebook and Twitter. You may also contact the Graduate Advisor, Tiffany Scott Knox by email: ga_akadpo.org
The Ivy Foundation, Inc. was organized and is operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The Ivy Foundation, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Minnesota in 2000 as an official non-profit organization with all of the privileges and responsibilities provided under state and federal law.
The members of the foundation are the members of the Delta Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The purpose of The Ivy Foundation, Inc. is to promote and support charitable and educational programs within and for the Twin Cities area African American and Latino communities, including but not limited to such purposes as: (1) to award academic scholarships to selected students attending post-secondary institutions; and (2) to implement and promote public awareness of academic, educational, and service programs for students and their families.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
P.O. Box 581097
Minneapolis, MN 55458
