Florida Senate - 2012 (NP) SR 2056 By Senator Joyner 18-02182-12 20122056__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 3 Inc. 4 5 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was founded at 6 Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908, and 7 WHEREAS, this Greek-lettered organization is the first 8 sorority established by African American college women, and 9 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is an 10 international organization with many chapters located in 11 communities and on college and university campuses in Florida, 12 and 13 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is committed to 14 community service and has made numerous contributions to the 15 educational, civic, and social lives of Floridians, and 16 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., continues its 17 support of the international program “Empowering our Communities 18 with Global Leadership through Timeless Service,” and 19 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is making an 20 impact on the lives of 10,000 girls in grades 6 through 8, 21 enabling them to receive leadership training, develop civic 22 responsibility, embrace good character traits, and obtain 23 enhanced academic skills and the skills necessary to make wise 24 choices as future leaders through the Emerging Young Leaders 25 Program, and 26 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has become a 27 partner with several advocacy groups, including Heifer 28 International, to improve health and economic disparities, 29 giving significant donations to Heifer International to assist 30 in eradicating global poverty and to the American Cancer Society 31 to positively impact cancer prevention, and 32 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., through its 33 International President, Carolyn House Stewart, has taken a 34 strong stand against domestic violence and human trafficking and 35 is dedicated to the provision of services to children whose 36 parents are incarcerated, and 37 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has encouraged 38 its undergraduates to promote a ban on driving while using 39 electronic devices through its “Distracted Driver Awareness 40 Program,” one of the signature programs under the sorority’s 41 health initiative, which is embraced under the new 42 administration’s theme of “Global Leadership through Timeless 43 Service,” and 44 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., demonstrates 45 through timeless service that education eradicates the bars of 46 poverty and poor health through its various afterschool 47 workshops, seminars, health forums, and tutorials for 48 underprivileged children and is an advocate for adequate funding 49 for early childhood, secondary, and postsecondary education, and 50 WHEREAS, Marsha Lewis Brown is the Significant South 51 Atlantic Regional Director of this great sisterhood and leads 52 members of the sorority in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, 53 and 54 WHEREAS, members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 55 in Florida contribute thousands of volunteer hours implementing 56 service programs in their respective communities, NOW, 57 THEREFORE, 58 59 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 60 61 That the members of the Florida Senate recognize the 62 commitment of members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to 63 worldwide service and express special appreciation for their 64 service in Florida.