Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® is set to host its 71st International Conference from July 5-11, 2024, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. With over 20,000 members expected to attend, the event, promises to be a landmark gathering, celebrating the sorority’s enduring commitment to community service and sisterhood.
Under the stewardship of International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed, the sorority aims to “Soar to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood” throughout the week-long conference. Attendees can look forward to a range of activities, including transformative service projects, discussions on critical social issues, and celebrations of the organization’s rich history.
The conference kicks off with a significant service project on Friday, July 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., where members will assemble over 25,000 weekend meal bags at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. These meals, part of the sorority’s Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack (CHIPP) program, will be donated to the City of Dallas and Dallas Independent School District (ISD). The initiative addresses childhood hunger, a critical issue impacting children’s concentration, learning, and overall well-being.
“Children facing hunger not only struggle with concentration and learning in school but also are at higher risk for health issues and social behavior challenges,” the sorority noted in their press release.
Later that day, at 2:00 p.m., a mass meal distribution event will take place at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center. Alpha Kappa Alpha will partner with the City of Dallas’ Park and Recreation department to distribute 25,000 meals—15,000 to kids in the City of Dallas and 10,000 to the Dallas ISD.
On Saturday, July 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the sorority will attempt to set a Guinness World Record by packing 8,500 personal hygiene kits in one hour. This effort highlights the often-overlooked issue of access to personal hygiene products among the unhoused community. The kits will be donated to four local organizations supporting the unhoused community in Dallas.
“Our goal is to rally sorority members to assemble 8,500 kits of personal hygiene products, which will be donated to four organizations aiding the local unhoused community in Dallas,” the press release stated. “This initiative symbolizes our unwavering commitment to supporting those in need and working towards a more equitable society.”
With these impactful initiatives, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® continues to demonstrate its dedication to service and community, aiming to leave a lasting legacy of support and solidarity.