The Tribune

THE Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter made history for the seventh time and officially welcomed ten new women into the sorority recently in Grand Bahama.

This induction of new members on May 16 also coincided with the chapter’s anniversary that was observed on May 23, celebrating 34 years of sisterhood and service in the Grand Bahama community.

President Felisha Seymour said PUO is pleased to welcome ten “phenomenal women” into their organisation.

The new members are Alisa Arthur, Heather Tynes-Lewis, Rickia Williams, Desiree Joseph, Colleen Coverley, Gabriella Bowe, Chevonia McBride, V Denise Maycock-Bowen, Rashema Ingraham, and Taronya Wildgoose.

“We are excited to have these ladies join our sisterhood as we continue our outreach here on the island through service, scholarship, and sisterly love,” she said.

“The ten women have already taken the bold initiative to donate funds as part of our ‘Let’s Talk Lupus’ webinar hosted on 15 May during Lupus Awareness Month, in conjunction with Sisters of Strength, to raise awareness about the auto-immune disease that mostly affect women,” Ms Seymour said.

Ms Seymour, along with some of the new members, presented the funds to Lupus Bahamas president Tamika Lightbourne, who was appreciative of the small gesture of kindness.

“It is always a good thing banding together to raise awareness about lupus and help us get information out there to educate the Bahamian public because many people have a misconception about the disease. And through the webinar, AKA was able to help us disseminate important information about what it is and how it affects people, and also allow us to share our personal triumph and journey about Lupus, and about our organisation,” she said.

Yvonne Pearson, vice president of PUO, said the lupus webinar falls under AKA’s Global Target Impact: Women’s Health and Wellness.

“Lupus is not as widespread as many of the other diseases, and I think it was important to make people aware of what lupus is so they can know the symptoms and seek early treatment,” she said, adding that she lost a friend to the disease.

During the month of May, Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter also received international recognition and awards during AKA’s virtual 30th International Regional Conference held May 21-23. The chapter won five awards, including Soror Throughout the Year for 2020; President for the Year 2020; Graduate Soror of the Year 2020; and took third place for its Program Exhibit, and overall Program initiatives.

Kerel Pinder, membership intake process chairman, said they continue to see increased interests from people wanting to become members of the sorority.

“The main things that AKA stands for are sisterhood, service, and scholarship,” she said.

“Different times throughout the years, we like to welcome a new group of women who exemplify these qualities. Women that have high morals standards, who are active in their community when it comes to service, and women we feel will make a great contribution to our sisterhood and what we can do in the community of Grand Bahama.”