Florida Senate - 2013 (NP) SR 1812 By Senator Thompson 12-02056B-13 20131812__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 3 Inc., for its worldwide service. 4 5 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was founded in 6 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C., the first 7 sorority established by African-American college women, and 8 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is an 9 international organization with many chapters located in 10 communities and on college and university campuses in this 11 State, and 12 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is committed to 13 community service and has made numerous contributions to the 14 educational, civic, and social lives of the people of this 15 State, and 16 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., continues its 17 support of the international program “Empowering Communities 18 with Global Leadership through Timeless Service,” and 19 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has implemented 20 an action plan that includes the creation of grassroots 21 campaigns to work with local communities to educate and raise 22 awareness regarding human trafficking, and the members of Alpha 23 Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., advocate the adoption of laws at the 24 local, state, and federal levels which seek to prevent human 25 trafficking by strengthening the penalties for this heinous 26 offense, and 27 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has partnered 28 with several advocacy groups, including the Eunice Kennedy 29 Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human 30 Development, regarding an Asthma Prevention and Management 31 Initiative to encourage early diagnosis and treatment of this 32 condition, and 33 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is committed to 34 addressing health and economic disparities and has given 35 significant donations to Heifer International to assist in 36 eradicating global poverty and has supported the American Cancer 37 Society to positively impact cancer prevention, and 38 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., through 39 International President Carolyn House Stewart, strongly supports 40 voter empowerment through voter registration and education and 41 the mobilization of voting communities, and 42 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has encouraged 43 its undergraduates to promote a ban on driving while using 44 electronic devices through its “Distracted Driver Awareness 45 Program,” a signature program under the Sorority’s health 46 initiative, embraced under the new administration’s theme of 47 “Global Leadership through Timeless Service,” and 48 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., promotes 49 education to eradicate poverty and poor health and offers 50 various afterschool workshops, seminars, health forums, and 51 tutorials for underprivileged children and is an advocate for 52 adequate funding for early childhood, secondary, and 53 postsecondary education, and 54 WHEREAS, South Atlantic Regional Director Marsha Lewis 55 Brown leads the membership of this great sisterhood in Florida, 56 Georgia, and South Carolina, and 57 WHEREAS, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in 58 this State contribute thousands of volunteer hours implementing 59 service programs in their respective communities, NOW, 60 THEREFORE, 61 62 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 63 64 That we recognize Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., for its 65 worldwide service.