Bill Clinton: “I am proud to pay tribute to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, America's first Greek-letter organization…”

“I am proud to pay tribute to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, America's first Greek-letter organization established by black college women. On Thursday, September 22, 2005, I had the pleasure of spending time with nearly one hundred members of this remarkable organization, including Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and AKA's International President, Linda White. I have long been aware of the rich history and tremendous contributions made to our Nation by Alpha Kappa Alpha and the other eight Black Greek Letter Organizations and I was particularly delighted to participate in AKA's event entitled ``The Spirit, Let's Share it and Connect,'' which focused on the many ways in which AKA contributes to our communities. In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded at Howard University in Washington, DC, by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, who envisioned AKA as a source of social and intellectual enrichment for its members. Over the past century, AKA has evolved into a nationwide organization of college-trained women working to improve the socioeconomic conditions in their cities, States and countries throughout the world. Alpha Kappa Alpha's achievements are the result of volunteer service that captures the organization's core values. Each year, a National Program theme is constructed around one of AKA's five ``targets'': Education, the Black Family, Health, Economics and the Arts.…”