PHOENIX– Under the Arizona desert sun, a sea of pink and green rose as the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® gathered in Phoenix for their 97th Far Western Regional Conference.
On April 16-19, the Arizona Grand Resort hosted nearly 1,400 attendees from AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, UT and WA for a weekend centered on service, leadership, and sisterhood.
Community impact at the forefront
In promoting educational equity, sisters donated new books for K–5 students at St. Louis the King School in Glendale, Percy L. Julian School in the Roosevelt School District, and the Cloves C. Campbell Sr. Elementary in Phoenix supporting early literacy and academic success. Attendees also took part in the Marks of Service Bookmark Workshop, creating bookmarks with messages of encouragement for students.
Divine Nine leaders, community partners and sponsors, and local leaders gathered at the sorority’s public meeting held Thursday, April 16, to highlight not only the sorority’s impact, but also the impact of local organizations and their continued commitment to serving the Valley.
The meeting recognized five local organizations whose missions align with the sorority’s focus areas:
- Empower Our Families – Tanner Community Development Corporation (TCDC)
- For over 25 years, TCDC has been serving Phoenix families by offering practical programs based on their immediate needs. The work of TCDC involves being involved in the HEAAL Coalition, aiming to prevent substance misuse among the African-American community, as well as assisting families with educational support, SNAP services, and emergency assistance programs. Additionally, the organization offers senior services focused on ensuring the health of seniors, transportation to and from different activities, and social interaction.
- Build Our Economic Wealth – Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West)
- WBEC-West is driving economic development by endorsing women-owned enterprises and linking them to supply chains within corporations and government organizations. By offering executive education, supplier matching, and capacity building, this organization assists women entrepreneurs in growing their businesses to expand their operations, win contracts, and develop viable enterprises at regional and international levels.
- Enhance Our Environment – Project Roots Arizona
- Project Roots is addressing food insecurity by distributing food products and empowering people on how to cultivate food products. This is helping to create a food-secure environment within communities that will last into the future and is creating food security for generations to come.
- Advocate for Social Justice – National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Phoenix Metropolitan Chapter (NCBW)
- NCBW promotes equality by developing leaders and conducting strategic advocacy within health, education, civic engagement, and economic empowerment. The organization creates collaborations within Phoenix that benefit Black women and girls, offers resources to Black-owned businesses, and promotes gender equality by raising awareness through community efforts and policy knowledge.
- Uplift Our Local Community – Coalition of Blacks Against Cancer
- CBAC is filling in the gaps within the realm of cancer treatment by providing support to Black communities in the areas of patient education, advocacy, and supportive networks. This coalition focuses on breast and prostate cancers and ensures that prevention materials and information regarding early detection is distributed among the affected populations.
These organizations were acknowledged for their impact on the Greater Phoenix community through family support, economic development, health inequalities, hunger, and social justice advocacy.
Leadership, development, and sisterhood
At its core, the sorority is dedicated to the betterment of its undergraduates and ensuring that they are given opportunities to develop their leadership skills, network, and bond with other sisters in the organization. This commitment was evident throughout the conference, with undergraduate leaders from host chapters Zeta Alpha of Arizona State University, Iota Tau of the University of Arizona, and Kappa Xi of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
The conference hosted programs for undergraduates, such as the Undergraduate Luncheon, which aimed at helping sisters reach “Main Character Energy”, an Undergraduate Summit focusing on personal branding and professional development, and a D9 Stroll competition, which invited every D9 organization in the Far Western Region to participate.
Friday evening brought energy to the conference with a D9 Stroll Competition, a showcase celebrating the history and cultural traditions of Black Greek-letter organizations.The Zeta Alpha chapter took home first place, receiving $750 in prize funding to support chapter operations. Beyond the conference, Zeta Alpha continues to make a strong impact on its campus and in the broader community. The chapter hosts signature events such as the Black Professionals and Leaders Dinner, focused on career exposure and networking, and supports local families by donating hundreds of food “power packs” to Valley schools through its C.H.I.P.P. (Childhood Initiative Power Packs) program.
Undergraduate member-at-large Aryan Gleason delivered a keynote speech for the Undergraduate Luncheon Saturday morning, stressing that identity goes beyond membership in an organization. Gleason emphasized the importance of defining one’s identity beyond affiliations, encouraging all in the room to step confidently into their own stories and recognize themselves as the “main character”.
Then later, a fireside chat featuring prominent leaders, including former San Francisco Mayor London Breed, California State Controller Malia Cohen, and Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Far Western Regional Director Nichole Starr Jordan, provided insight for undergraduates into leadership, public service, and balancing professional identity with sorority life.
Continuing the mission
Throughout the weekend, attendees were reminded of the sorority’s longstanding commitment to service, scholarship, and sisterhood. That focus showed up in both big and small ways, whether it was meaningful discussions and conversations during workshops or recognitions and awards on the big stage. As the weekend drew to a close, it became apparent to all that the mission of the sorority is far from finished. The work of the sorority will continue in the communities members return to, carrying forward a mission rooted in lasting change.
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