AKA Sorority Oak Ridge's 35th annual King program announced
In celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the Oak Ridge Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will present its 35th annual Community Speaks Program at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, at the Y-12 New Hope Center on Scarboro Road in Oak Ridge.
The theme for this year is: “Why We Can’t Wait: Activating Our Power of Equity in Justice.” The keynote speaker is the Rev. Erica N. Haigler, pastor of Spurgeon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Oak Ridge. She holds a dual B.S. degree in fine arts and education, as well as a M.S. degree in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee State University, Nashville.
Haigler is the first female pastor at Spurgeon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church and the first African American female pastor in the city of Oak Ridge. She also offers therapeutic services in the mental and behavior health field, where she serves a diverse population, and she is an independent contractor for a Christian counseling agency.
Angela Threat, a senior accountant at the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. She holds a B.S. degree in accounting from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. She has been a DOE accountant for more than 30 years. She lives in Oak Ridge with her husband, Clarence Threat Sr.
Program participants will include the Robertsville Middle School SECME, Inc. and Oak Valley Baptist Church Youth Choir and Praise Dance Team. “Keep the Dream Alive” scholarships will be awarded to area high school seniors nominated by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Oak Ridge Chapter; the Men of Tomorrow Foundation, and Oak Ridge Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. (Delta G.E.M.S. Program). The scholarship program is supported by the annual Summer Golf Challenge Tournament, Oak Valley Baptist Church, and Oak Ridge Church Women United.
Methodist Medical Center will provide lunch and Oak Ridge Church Women United will provide dessert following the program. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge is also one of the event's sponsors.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 355,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 countries including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed of Dallas, Texas, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, often is hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.” For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, visit www.aka1908.com.
This program is free and open to the public.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: AKA Sorority Oak Ridge's 35th annual King program announced
