If you were in Atlanta last week, you couldn’t avoid the pink and green. The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. took over Atlanta for a seven-day celebration of sisterhood, service and fun at their 67th annual convention also known as Boulé. Rolling out released a special AKA edition in honor of the biennial gathering and joined the over 25,000 women at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Many stars were on hand to participate in the festivities. Janelle Monae gave a powerful presentation at the undergraduate luncheon where her topic was “Choose freedom over fear.” Laz Alonso joined an intense panel discussion on love and relationships, and Holly Robinson Peete partnered with AARP to speak to the ladies about aging parents, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Our own cover story subject, Dr. Jackie, who is an AKA, addressed breast cancer and over all health and wellness at the South Central Region luncheon where Bloomingdales also sponsored a P&G fashion show. Rev. Al Sharpton joined the Supreme Basileus Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson to talk politics and race relations. The parties were insane and the concerts equally energized by the likes of Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Kwame, Vivian Green and Carl Thomas. Boyz 2 Men gave a full concert dressed in white following the record-breaking all-white dinner affair to culminate the end of an exciting week.
The AKAs weren’t just all about fun. In tribute to the 23rd international president, Mary Shy Scott, the AKAs completed 23 service projects called “23 Moments of Service” throughout the week including:
Little Dresses for Africa:
“We’re not just sending dresses; we are sending hope.” Dresses were created out of pillowcases for girls in Africa and brought to Boulé and then sent to villages in Tanzania, South Africa, and Liberia.
Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging:
100,000 meals were packaged and donated to families in Africa.
Lighthouse Vision Wear Recycling Project:
The AKAs thought pink and went green as they recycled, cleaned and repaired gently used eye wear for distribution around the Boulé host city, Atlanta and beyond.
KaBOOM! Playground Build:
They cleaned and restored local playgrounds throughout the city and unveiled the first collaborative playground build project with KaBOOM!
AKA 1 Million Backpacks:
Sorority members were asked to bring at least one backpack with school supplies, winter accessories and used eyewear to be donated to local students and families in need.
Family Seasonal Wraps Drive:
Hats, gloves, socks, scarves, coats, sweaters and other winter accessories were collected for families in need.
As with most sorority and fraternity conventions, the vendor floor was the place to be as the women stocked up on the latest and greatest paraphernalia. The Toyota booth was the biggest hit with a pink car wrapped in Ivy and an Ivy Leaf magazine cover mock up for photos. The JC Penney booth was equally popular where they gave complete makeovers including hair and makeup.
And what would a gathering of beautiful Black women be without fashion. Rolling out hit the convention floor to capture all the creative and fun ways the ladies put together their pink and green outfits.
Take a look at the photo gallery to get a peek into all the happenings at the AKA Boulé’. Photos courtesy of Pamela Redd, Deirdre Barrett, Christine Campbell-Moore and rolling out.
