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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Gillespie Isom
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43
A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI 1
SENATE TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, 2
INCORPORATED, FOR ITS CIVIC AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND 3
LASTING IMPACT TO OUR STATE. 4
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, is the 5
oldest Greek letter organization in the United States founded by 6
college-educated African American women on January 15, 1908, on 7
the campus of Howard University. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 8
Inc., is currently led by International President Danette Anthony 9
Reed; and 10
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of ten regions around 11
the globe. The states of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama make 12
up the South Eastern Region. Presently, the South Eastern Region 13
is comprised of 120 chapters, 48 undergraduate chapters and 72 14
graduate chapters. With over 14,000 Sorors, the region is 15
dedicated to the mission of this illustrious organization. The 16
South Eastern Region is led by Alabama native and trailblazer, Dr. 17
Tracey Morant Adams, Senior Executive Vice President, and the 18
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Chief Community Development & Corporate Social Responsibility 19
Officer for Renasant Bank; and 20
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, has a 21
118-year tradition of social action. Under the sorority's current 22
theme "Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood," the 23
International Connection and Social Action Committee is poised to 24
implement the "Advocate for Social Justice" initiative in an 25
effort to save lives and transform communities as advocates to 26
reduce suicide among our black youth and reduce the preventable 27
deaths of Black mothers during pregnancy and child birth. Alpha 28
Kappa Alpha's robust advocacy agenda was initiated during the 2022 29
mid-term elections and included the launch of the "Soar to the 30
Polls" voter engagement campaign and the U.S. elections impact 31
policy and funding decisions regarding health care, education, 32
environment, voting rights, housing, public safety, and economics, 33
among other issues. While all votes matter in these decisions, 34
voter suppression is at an all-time high. The "Soar to the Polls" 35
campaign was developed to address voting barriers via a 36
three-pronged approach: Voter Education, Voter Registration, and 37
Voter Engagement. The sorority's social action agenda also 38
includes a focus on women in public policy with an emphasis on 39
increasing the number of women in elected positions and other 40
leadership roles to ensure the voices and concerns of women and 41
families in our community are adequately addressed; and 42
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WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has impacted the 43
lives of African Americans and their communities through public 44
policy and has a legacy of providing exemplary service to all 45
mankind. Through the collective efforts of its members, Alpha 46
Kappa Alpha implements programs of service that transform, 47
magnify, and accelerate communities and campuses. These efforts 48
in Mississippi are led by the South Eastern Representative to the 49
International Connection and Social Action Committee, Mrs. Leah J. 50
Holder Wiggins, Mississippi Connection and Social Action 51
Coordinator Attorney, Demetrice Williams Wells, and the 52
Mississippi Connection and Social Action Committee; and 53
WHEREAS, the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha who reside in the 54
State of Mississippi have made significant contributions to local, 55
state, and national programs that have made a positive impact on 56
the State of Mississippi. Their dedication, hard work, and 57
commitment to providing service to the citizens of Mississippi is 58
evident by the countless hours of community service, millions of 59
dollars in financial contributions, and social advocacy that have 60
been displayed since the chartering of the first chapter in 61
Mississippi in 1934; and 62
WHEREAS, through its graduate and undergraduate chapters in 63
the State of Mississippi, Alpha Kappa Alpha members continue to 64
Empower Our Families, Build Our Economic Wealth, Enhance Our 65
Environment, Advocate for Social Justice, and Uplift Our Local 66
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ST: Recognize Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated.
Community as they strengthen the bonds of sisterhood and support 67
their unwavering mission to provide service to all mankind: 68
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 69
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the 70
Mississippi Senate to the membership of Alpha Kappa Alpha 71
Sorority, Incorporated, for its civic and financial contributions 72
and lasting impact to our state. 73
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 74
the leadership of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and 75
made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 76