Alpha Kappa Alpha Award RecipientsAlpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. will honor the following individuals and organizations on Thursday night during a meeting open to the public at the Chattanooga Convention Center.• Roland Carter of Chattanooga, the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music at UTC• Calvin Sneed of Chattanooga, News Channel 9 television anchor• Hamilton County Minority Health Fair• Tammy M. Francis of Newport, RN and owner of Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice Inc.• John Sibley of Knoxville, volunteer with The Literacy Imperative• George Williams of Blount County, the Alcoa City Center• Avery Johnson, vice mayor of Cleveland, Tenn.• Oak Ridge Men of Tomorrow FoundationSource: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. are gathering in Chattanooga this week for their 80th annual Southeastern Regional Conference.
From Thursday through March 18, members representing 55 graduate and 48 undergraduate chapters in three states -- about 2,500 women -- will meet at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Their meeting will be highlighted with an address by AKA International President Carolyn House Stewart.
On Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a youth leadership summit open to sixth- through 12-graders will be held at the convention center. The summit's theme is "Our Youth, Our Future Leaders."
The featured speaker will be Inky Johnson of Atlanta, a former University of Tennessee football player and co-author of "Inky, an Amazing Story of Faith and Perseverence."
Johnson will share his story of sustaining a severe game injury during college that altered his life in a matter of seconds, crushing plans he had for a career in the NFL. Johnson, who still has paralysis in his right arm, talks to teens about pushing through adversity with the backing of faith.
Students who wish to attend, but who have not been contacted through their schools, should call 698-2164 or 205-317-7434 to participate.
Following Johnson's speech, break-out sessions with students will be held.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, a public meeting will be held at the convention center during which the sorority will honor citizens across East Tennessee for their contributions to youth, health initiatives, social justice and human rights. [See accompanying box.] International President Stewart will give her address during this event. A reception will follow.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is an international service organization founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American college-educated women.