Members of the new Alpha Delta Mu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. gathered at the Springfield Country Club on Sunday for a special launch ceremony. The event marked the establishment of the newest chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the oldest Black female Greek-letter organization, welcoming nearly 40 charter members from the Delaware County community.
Among the notable members is retired television news journalist and Teenshop Inc. founder Elleanor Jean Hendley. The Alpha Delta Mu Omega chapter becomes one of over 1,000 chapters worldwide and the 61st chapter in the North Atlantic Region.
“I’m very excited that I have chartered another chapter in my administration,” said Elicia Pegues Spearman, North Atlantic Regional Director. “We charter only where there are needs and where the community needs us, where we feel that members of our community are underserved.”
The chapter’s launch took place at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, reflecting a commitment to serve the Eastern Delaware County area—also the final resting place of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s principal founder, Ethel Hedgemon Lyle. Lyle is buried at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill, and the sorority is exploring ways to collaborate with the historic cemetery. Additionally, the 400 block of North 53rd Street in West Philadelphia, where Lyle lived until her death in 1950, was renamed in her honor during a ceremony in March 2023. Her home has been preserved as a historic monument.
“Many members live here in Delaware County but belong to other chapters and have to travel,” Spearman explained. “There’s nothing like home and serving the needs of the youth and adults in the community where you live. That’s why this chapter is very exciting. The groups have been working together for about two years, identifying community partners and planning how to best serve.”
Founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority currently boasts over 380,000 initiated members across 13 countries and territories. The North Atlantic Region includes more than 16,000 members across 12 states—from Maine down to the District of Columbia—including Philadelphia and Delaware Counties.
Karima I.A. Bouchenafa, president of the Alpha Delta Mu Omega chapter, expressed enthusiasm about the chapter’s future impact. “We’re just so excited to be extending the footprint of our beloved sorority,” she said. “For over 117 years, we have been innovating and serving the needs of communities, and we don’t stop there.”
Bouchenafa is among the 37 sorority members who formed the initial interest group. Alpha Delta Mu Omega is now the eighth graduate chapter in the Greater Philadelphia area.
“We are problem solvers, innovators, and creators,” said Bouchenafa. “We have sustained communities from the previous millennium until now. For this new chapter, we are excited about advocating for social justice, enhancing our environment, serving our community holistically, and ensuring our communities remain strong.”
When asked what members can look forward to as part of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s newest chapter, Bouchenafa responded simply: “Sisterhood. That’s first and foremost—and service.”
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https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority-welcomes-new-chapter-to-the-fold/article_a62a60c4-87ad-44cf-a86e-d743a0f4b177.html