Ambitious Plan: 1st International Chapter Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Reactivated :: FrontPageAf
Written by FPA Staff Reporter
Tuesday, 15 January 2013 20:47
Eta Beta Omega Chapter, the first international chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is
now officially reactivated.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first Sorority (society of college women) for women of
African descent, was organized in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Today, it is a global corporation with the continued legacy of sisterhood and service to all
mankind.
Its acronym “AKA” invokes thoughts of a conglomerate of industrious and influential women all
over the world; therefore, it was only fitting that Eta Beta Omega of Liberia became the first ever
international chapter of AKA.
Eta Beta Omega Chapter was established in 1957 after a group led by Mrs. Anna E. Cooper
petitioned the 1954 Boule (governing body) of AKA for a charter.
1/3
Ambitious Plan: 1st International Chapter Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Reactivated :: FrontPageAfr
Written by FPA Staff Reporter
Tuesday, 15 January 2013 20:47
Mrs. Cooper, the first dean of the College of Liberia, attended Howard University and in was
initiated into the Alpha Chapter of AKA in 1917.
Her love of AKA was manifested in her dream to establish the sorority’s first international
chapter in her native Liberia.
Mrs. Cooper engaged the support of other dynamic, professional Liberian women who became
loyal members of the organization. Eta Beta Omega remained vibrant up until 1981 when many
active members of the organization left Liberia following a change in government. With these
developments Eta Beta Omega became inactive.
Eta Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was officially reactivated at the
2010 Boule Meeting of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri under the
dynamic leadership of Barbara A. McKinzie, President.
During that meeting, special recognition was given to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first
woman to be elected president of an African nation and a member of Eta Beta Omega Chapter
of AKA since the 1970s.
The newly reactivated organization currently has eighteen members including Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, Genevieve Barrow, Clavenda Bright Parker, Meatta Hage Brown, Pia Brown, Mary
Brownell, Florence Chenowith, Candace Eastman, Chiquita Johnson, Ethel Holt Toles, Lisa
White, Jenny Bernard, Zoe Davis Traub, Elice Brown, Elizabeth Davis Russell, Jean Bell
Manning, Dawn Cooper Barnes, Ruth Phillips.
The outgoing Acting President of Eta Beta Omega Chapter, Dr. Jean Bell Manning, said that
“The 18 members are delighted to collectively engage in activities and services that will help our
people in Liberia.”
The National Office of AKA presented US$500,000 to H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to
2/3
Ambitious Plan: 1st International Chapter Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Reactivated :: FrontPageAfr
Written by FPA Staff Reporter
Tuesday, 15 January 2013 20:47
start a project entitled the Omega Market Village located in Paynesville.
Eta Beta Omega Chapter will help oversee the success of this project and raise additional funds
to develop it. The intention is to be able to relocate a minimum of 1000 marketers to the Omega
Market Village initially. The portion of the project funded by AKA provides for 400 stalls for marketers as well as cold
storage, a clinic, garbage disposal, and a power house. Eta Beta Omega is actively seeking
investment partners in order to accommodate the remaining 600 marketers and to build septic
tanks and water reservoirs.
According to Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes, current President of Eta Beta Omega, “This ambitious
plan ultimately includes not only additional markets, but a day care center, a primary school and
an adult literacy program - all with modern facilities.
We hope that new and improved roads will make the market easily accessible. A vibrant
community is our vision.”
Dr. Barnes also stated that future projects to be undertaken by the chapter will include
international and regional scholarships, an emerging young leaders program, clothing for
orphanages, school supplies, as well as health and social justice projects.
“We are moving forward and enthusiastically embracing the ‘Global Leadership through
Timeless Service,’ initiatives with programs of excellence.”
3/3