Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority presents community service awards at regional conference

April 12 International President Attorney Carolyn House Stewart to bring keynote public address

GREENVILLE, SC – April 12, 2012 – More than 3,500 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated converged in Greenville, South Carolina for the 59th South Atlantic Regional Conference at the TD Convention Center.

The conference kicked-off with a public meeting at 8 p.m. on April 12 and honored community leaders for their service work in the following areas under the sorority’s national program theme: Global Leadership through Timeless Service.

Emerging Young Leaders:
Alphonso Norris, Jr., educational advocate and a community leader

Health Initiative:
Melinda Hudson -Gillespie, community relations coordinator for the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center

Global Poverty:
Mrs. Lou Landrum, serves as the director of the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen

Economic Security:
Babette Jones, owner and operator of an Allstate Insurance Company franchise

Social Justice and Human Rights:
Senator Ralph Anderson, a distinguished and respected leader

The sorority will also honor Senator Floyd Nicholson, a community activist and statesman for his work in public service.

During the conference weekend, members addressed economic, health, social justice and human rights issues as well as participated in a shoe drive collection in partnership with Soles4Souls, Inc.

The conference culminated with a worship service beginning at 10 a.m. on April 15.

About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the oldest Greek-letter organization established in America by black women on Jan. 15, 1908, at Howard University. Led by International President Carolyn House Stewart, the organization connects thousands of college-trained women who give of themselves to support community service projects and scholarship programs.

Hostess chapters for the South Atlantic Regional Conference, consist of 9 graduate chapters and five undergraduate chapters from South Carolina. The South Atlantic Region is noted as the largest of the 10 regions in the sorority. The region, under the leadership of Regional Director Marsha Lewis Brown of Tampa, Florida; is comprised of 164 graduate and undergraduate chapters. With a membership of over 200,000 women, the sorority has more than 975 chapters in the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea and Africa.

Special recognition will be given to members who have served the sorority for twenty-five (25), fifty (50) and seventy-five (75) years.

For more information visit, www.akasouthatlanticregion.org