M essage From the Supreme Basileus
Dear Sorors :
What an exciting time it is in the life of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Incorporated ® ! I am thrilled with the milestones we continue to achieve as a sisterhood in addition to the ways that you continue to embrace the Excellence Administration Program of Service and Community Impact Days with fervor and resolve to make each outing better than the last . You also continue to respond so positively to the new program initiatives around leadership development .
In this issue , we will recap our historic , fourth quarter HBCU Impact Day across the 10 regions where we shattered the single day totals from the previous three years . Each region in Alpha Kappa Alpha answered the call and out bested its best . I was completely blown away by the response to our fourth and final HBCU Impact Day . Kudos to our regional directors , chapter leadership and HBCU Impact Day Committee under the leadership of Soror Emily M . Dickens , Chair .
Speaking of milestones , for the first time in the history of our sorority , our active membership now exceeds 100,000 . In 2021 , we celebrated this significant achievement which resulted from the execution of our comprehensive membership strategy highlighting effective retention initiatives bolstered by our signature Reactivation Workplace reclamation program . I commend the International Membership Committee , under the direction of Soror Tracey Morant Adams , Chair , along with chapters and members for their commitment to retaining and reclaiming our pearls .
A cornerstone of the Excellence Administration has been leadership development under the auspices of AKA University which Chair , Soror Lucretia Payton-Stewart , ably shepherds . A new addition is the Executive Leadership Academy which is a two-day , immersive training academy for C-Suite and corporate board aspirants . In this issue , you will meet the 25 inaugural Executive Fellows along with the accomplished faculty comprised mostly of sorors leading major corporations from the C-Suite along with sorors serving on corporate boards . The talent within Alpha Kappa Alpha is nothing short of extraordinary and should cause us all to swell with pink and green pride .
Along similar lines , I convened the first-ever College Presidents ’ Summit in Chicago with Alpha Kappa Alpha women leading institutions of higher education across this country . What a time we had ! Each of us appreciated the unique opportunity to come together and share leadership and institutional successes and challenges from the view of the Office of the President . We forged a bond that is essential for those in leadership positions where it can be difficult to have support and safe spaces . Alpha Kappa Alpha is well represented within the ranks of college presidencies and our representation is growing .
Finally , I am excited that our feature film , Twenty Pearls , has snagged another film festival honor . The St . Louis International Film Festival has named Twenty Pearls : The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Incorporated ® the 2021 Audience Choice Leon Award Best Documentary Winner from among 61 screened documentaries . This coveted honor provides another opportunity to share the remarkable story of our sisterhood .
Enjoy perusing the third issue of our centennial edition of Ivy Leaf ® Magazine !
Yours in Excellence ,
Soror Glenda Glover Supreme Basileus
Celebrating 100 Years of Ivy Leaf ® Magazine fall 2021 I vyL eaf ® 3