Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) in the South Eastern Region (SER) demonstrated their commitment to Tennessee children and families by donating 30,397 items through service initiatives conducted during the Tennessee Statewide Cluster and Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute. The donations, which benefited organizations serving infants, mothers, children, youth, and families, underscore the sorority's ongoing dedication to addressing critical community needs through purposeful service and strategic partnerships.
Graduate members gathered on September 19, 2026, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville for the Tennessee Statewide Cluster, where they collected 28,867 infant-care items through the "Little Ones, Big Love" initiative. The donations, which included diapers, wipes, onesies, diaper bags, pacifiers, bibs, socks, bottles, baby caps, and pull-ups, were distributed to AGAPE Nashville and Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. AGAPE Nashville provides foster care, adoption, maternity care, counseling, and family support services, while Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center offers health care and supportive services to individuals and families throughout the Nashville area, including pregnant women, new mothers, and infants. A total of 819 members attended the Cluster, with 100 percent of Tennessee graduate chapters represented.
According to South Eastern Regional Director Toni Wallace Franklin, the initiative reflects AKA's commitment to addressing critical needs in the communities it serves. "Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated remains steadfast in its commitment to identifying and addressing the critical needs of the communities we serve," said Franklin. "Through purposeful service, strategic partnerships, and a dedication to empowering others, we strive to create meaningful, lasting change and cultivate champions who will continue to make a difference."
The service impact continued on October 10, 2026, as Tennessee undergraduate members gathered for the Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute, also held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The day-long Institute focused on leadership development, personal growth, advocacy awareness, and intentional sisterhood engagement, equipping undergraduate members to strengthen leadership skills, build confidence, and enhance their impact on campus and within their chapters. As part of the Institute's community service project, undergraduate chapters collected hair-care items for Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK), which supports children in foster care, children at risk of entering care, and youth aging out of the foster-care system. The donated products included shampoo and conditioner for all hair types, boar-bristle brushes, edge combs, regular hairbrushes, and other helpful hair-care items. Undergraduate members donated 1,530 items for hair-care kits to TAK. A total of 219 undergraduate and graduate members attended the Institute, representing 16 undergraduate chapters, including 13 Tennessee undergraduate chapters and three additional chapters from other states.
The collective efforts of graduate and undergraduate members illustrate how AKA members across generations translate leadership, sisterhood, and service into meaningful community impact. The Tennessee Statewide Cluster is one of three Statewide Clusters hosted by the South Eastern Region in 2026, and the Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute is one of three Undergraduate Leadership Institutes hosted by the Region in 2026. The South Eastern Region comprises approximately 124 chapters and more than 15,000 members throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. These initiatives not only provide immediate relief to vulnerable populations but also reinforce the sorority's historic commitment to service and community empowerment. By mobilizing its members to address tangible needs, AKA demonstrates the profound difference that organized, compassionate action can make in the lives of children and families, setting an example for communities nationwide.
