Chapter
History
Who would have thought that a chance meeting of two inactive members back in the Fall of 1982, could lead to the creation of New Orleans’ second Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, with a membership fast approaching 200 members in 2020. Clearly, Member Brenda Brock Williams and Member Renae Ruffin thought it possible, after their encounter in a local grocery store. They gathered over twenty-five (25) inactive members and formed an Interest Group – “Crescent City AKAs”.
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The Crescent City AKAs held their first general meeting in May 1983. With the requirements for establishing a second chapter clearly outlined by the Corporate Office, the Interest Group developed a strong drive for reactivating members in the area (suggested by Lillian Rayford, 1st Chapter President) and undertook volunteer projects to gain visibility and to provide community services, as suggested by Marvel Robertson.
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Initially included in the Interest Group were the following nineteen (19) members: Vera W. Bailey, Carlene A. Barthé, Rebecca Bell, Donnye L. Brady, Manya P. Carter, Ann B. Coxen, Veronica Downs, Ramel L. Fields, Mechelle A. Millet, Claire Mortimer, Alida A. Perez, Lillian L. Rayford, Marvel M. Robertson, Renae L. Ruffin, Cynthia R. Simms, Kathleen McKinney-Thomas, Brenda Brock Williams, G. Yvonne Jenkins, and Jackie L. Gorman.
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The Crescent City AKAs continued to grow and in the summer of 1984, thirty-three (33) members had met all obligations to form a new chapter. With facilities secured by Edith Gee Jones, who worked at Loyola University at the time, the chartering of Omicron Lambda Omega (OLQ) Chapter took place on June 16, 1984, in the Moot Court Room of the Loyola University Law School.
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Presiding over the ceremony was the South Central Regional Director, Mamie McKnight, of Dallas, Texas. She was assisted by Julia B. Purnell of Baton Rouge, the 16th International President. The 33 Charter members were: Constance Abraham-Handy, Vera W. Bailey, Carlene A. Barthé, Rebecca Bell, Donnye L. Brady, Manya P. Carter, Ann B. Coxen, Michelle Dejoie- Manning, Veronica Downs, Ramel L. Fields, Marcia Galatas, Karen Farris Gavins, Jackie L. Gorman, Kathleen Mary Hall, Sandra Harington, Patricia Hightower, Terez D. Jackson, G. Yvonne Jenkins, Edith Gee Jones, Gail Lewis, Valerie A. Logan, Sheila Mason, Kathleen McKinney-Thomas, Kim D. Miguel, Michelle A. Millet, Claire Mortimer, Alida A. Perez, Pamela Pollard, Lillian A. Rayford, Marvel M. Robertson, Renae L. Ruffin, Cynthia R. Simms, and Brenda Brock Williams.
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Members who participated with the initial group, but were not official Charter Members were: Miriam Garner Antoine, Desi DeLarge, Kristi Hubbard, Judy Johnson-White, and Karen Teamer.
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Over the past 36 years, Omicron Lambda Omega Chapter has sponsored numerous community programs that have received local, regional and national recognition. Our Leah Gordon Scholarship Award provides financial assistance to students at Dillard University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Southern University at New Orleans. Our HBCU Fair has provided area students with an opportunity to secure information on HBCUs nationwide and our #CAP (College Admissions Process) has helped students in their college application process. Monthly collections of spare change and dollars at Chapter Meetings have helped our “Think HBCU” and Educational Advancement Foundation, Inc. (EAF) efforts, while our “Start the Adventure in Reading” program (STAIR) provided needed reading tutorials to hundreds of area students for years. On the Heels of Hope, our cancer awareness event is in its 11th year, and our annual “Pearls of Pride and Promise” Cotillion is in its 15th year. Community Health Fairs (Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Family Health Expo), Voter Registration Drives, Walk-a-thons (AIDS, Revlon, UNCF, Susan G. Komen), STEM Camp sponsorships, and AKA at the Capitol are some of our continuing efforts to serve our community and all mankind.
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In addition to the above activities, Southern LA Cluster, Regional and National awards have not escaped Omicron Lambda Omega. Several individual awards have been garnered including: Outstanding Neophyte, Outstanding Basileus, Connections Chairman, Graduate Good Citizen Award, and the Mamie McKnight Ivy AKAdemy Award. OLQ has also received the Excellence in Education Award and Chapter of the Year Award.
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More recently, OLQ won 1st place for the following: Star Chapter for report submissions; ASCEND (Achievement, Self-Awareness, Communication, Engagement, Networking and Developmental Skills); Health Promotion; Think HBCU - individual and Overall Launching New Dimensions of Service awards. OLQ has also been recognized as a Platinum EAF Chapter and recognized for an Outstanding Chapter Exhibit.
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None of these awards and recognitions would be possible were it not for the outstanding leadership that OLQ has been fortunate to have. Following in the footsteps of our first, pioneering President, Lillian Rayford, our Presidents, in order of their service have been and are as follows: Donnye L. Brady; Ann Coxen Mitchell (deceased); Manya Carter Louis; Cassandra Bartholomew; Yolonda Wornner Prevost; Ada Simmons; Currita Waddy; Karen Henley Raymond; Jaquetta Clemons Davis; Kathleen McKinney-Franks; Neshelle Nogess; Lanette Rousseve; Kathy Saloy; Michaela King; Micaela Bowers; and currently, Karen Francis.
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THEN THERE WERE TWO, was the caption of the LA Weekly newspaper article announcing the chartering of Omicron Lambda Omega Chapter on June 16, 1984, the second graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® in the Crescent City. OLQ continues to reclaim inactive Sorors and provide needed community services. We were serious about sisterhood, scholarship, and service in 1984 and we continue to be serious today. Onward and upward for OLQ as we continue to dream big and make a positive difference for our members and our community.