#NNPA BlackPress

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® South Central Region Hosts over 350 Members during AKA Day Texas

Senator Borris Miles (District 13); Dr. Darlene Breaux, AKA Day Co-Chairman; Kelly P.Hodges, AKA Texas Connection and Social Action Coordinator; DeMetris Sampson, South Central Region, AKA International Connection and Social Action Representative; Joya T. Hayes, South Central Regional Director; Former State Representative, Wilhelmina Ruth Delco, and (far right) Senator Royce West (District 23) Soaring to […]
The post Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® South Central Region Hosts over 350 Members during AKA Day Texas first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

March 15, 2023

Forward Times Staff

Senator Borris Miles (District 13); Dr. Darlene Breaux, AKA Day Co-Chairman; Kelly P.
Hodges, AKA Texas Connection and Social Action Coordinator; DeMetris Sampson, South Central Region, AKA International Connection and Social Action Representative; Joya T. Hayes, South Central Regional Director; Former State Representative, Wilhelmina Ruth Delco, and (far right) Senator Royce West (District 23)

Soaring to Greater Heights of Advocacy in Action!

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, (AKA) Incorporated^®, South Central Region hosted AKA Day at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, March 7^th. Over 350 members of the oldest Greek-letter organization for women were in attendance to advocate for issues impacting their respective communities. “Soaring to Greater Heights of Advocacy in Action!” was the 2023 AKA Day, Texas theme. Hosted by State Representatives, Alma Allen (District 131), Ron Reynolds (District 27), and Jolanda Jones (District 147), members of the prestigious organization hosted a day of advocacy that focused on several legislative priorities: Healthcare, Mental Health, Election Rights, Criminal Justice, Education, and Firearms Safety.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated^®, an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908. Often hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women, AKA has been at the forefront of social justice to promote fairness and equity. AKA stands in the gap to empower our communities and act in the best interests of all people through social advocacy and justice.

In Texas, The South Central Region of AKA, under the leadership of Mrs. Joya T. Hayes, works to improve communities and the world through compassionate service and be present to influence change at all levels and across all industries. South Central is the second largest region out of the ten regions of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated^®. The Sensational South Central region includes more than 10,000 service-oriented members with more than 120 undergraduate and graduate chapters located in the four-state area of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas.

“We are excited to convene in Austin for the 88^th Texas Legislative Session. As an organization, we walk the halls of the Texas State Capitol and boldly lead with superiority to impact the quality of life for the communities we serve,”said Joya T. Hayes, South Central Regional Director.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated^® had its humble beginnings as the vision of nine college students on Howard University’s campus in 1908. In 1980, the Sorority’s leadership knew there was a need for a formal commitment to impact public policy as it affects African Americans, and the AKA Connection Committee was confirmed as the ninth Standing Committee of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.^®In 2022, the name of the committee was changed to Connection and Social Action Committee. The Connection and Social Action committee identifies and studies national and international issues that impact the quality of life, designs strategies for communication with the membership regarding issues, and mobilizes the membership for action to formulate and recommend position statements to the organization’s President and CEO.

“The Sorority has flourished into a globally impactful organization with 300,000 college-educated members. We have members who lead across the nation in local, state, and federal government. And we are excited to have over 350 members participate this year,” said Kelly P. Hodges, Connection and Social Action Coordinator, Texas.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated^® has consistently remained at the forefront of effective advocacy and social change, resulting in social justice reform and equality for all. AKA has several National Advocacy Priorities.

Healthcare

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black mothers are three times as likely to die from birth complications as white and Hispanic mothers. We want you to take action to disrupt this endemic that disproportionately affects them. We SUPPORT HB 12 (Rose) and any other legislation that would extend Medicaid eligibility to new mothers in Texas a year after their child’s delivery, significantly increasing the length of time moms can access critical postpartum health coverage.

Mental Health

Texas has seen a rise in youth mental health challenges, teen suicide, and school violence, including mass shootings. Schools desperately need mental health services to address this growing concern. We call upon the Texas Legislature to SUPPORT SB 113 (Menendez) and HB 98 (Moody) and any legislation to improve access to evidence-based mental health services and mental health professionals within a district or a collaborative network. At the same time, the Legislature should reduce the burden on educators and districts to identify and solve student mental health issues. Additionally, we ask that you SUPPORT legislation for appropriate resources for all persons needing mental health services, particularly in impoverished communities that have historically lacked access to these services.

Election Rights

Texas has seen record-breaking numbers of voters at the polls, and with that has come many challenges with ensuring that all Texans who are eligible to vote should be able to do so without undue interference and barriers. We ask that you VOTE NO to any legislation that attaches criminal liability to innocent mistakes and seeks to enforce practices that would intimidate potential voters with jail time and enormous fines and SUPPORT HB 2480 (Reynolds) that requires notice regarding the potential eligibility to vote of certain persons convicted of a felony. We ask that you SUPPORT laws that would support those who can vote by mail to ensure that directions are clear, along with access and accommodations for the elderly and voters with disabilities.

State & Local Legislative Priorities

Criminal Justice

Across the nation, communities have witnessed incidents of violence and murder being perpetrated, not by criminals, but by a few rogue officers of the law. Our priority is to protect individuals’ constitutional rights while protecting public safety. We ask that you SUPPORT HB 1808 (Jones) and any others that aim to increase police accountability in Texas by requiring peace officers to carry personal liability insurance to cover damages from “any misconduct, including intentional, negligent, or willful acts” while on duty. In addition, we ask you to SUPPORT HB 413 (Thompson), which would institute a “progressive disciplinary matrix” for allegations of police misconduct. Finally, we ask that you SUPPORT any and all legislation that takes an evidence-based approach toward meaningful changes in the criminal justice system while seeking sustainable solutions that benefit all members of society.

Education

A high-quality and well-funded public education system is the foundation to ensuring that our Texas students have access to the instruction and resources they need to become the best and brightest in the nation. However, Texas currently ranks in the bottom 10 in per-pupil spending. Texas is $4,000 behind the national average, and there has not been an increase or any inflationary adjustments in the basic allotment since 2019. With double-digit inflation, this means that school districts must stretch their education dollars to meet the ever-increasing needs of students.

With over $27 billion in additional general revenue and over $13.6 billion in our state’s Rainy-Day Fund, we ask our Texas lawmakers to vote NO to any legislation that calls for vouchers and parental savings accounts that would divert funds from public community schools. We ask you to SUPPORT any legislation that calls to invest in public school students, increase teacher compensation, and prioritize school safety so districts may attract and retain the best in the industry to educate students while ensuring a safe and secure learning environment.

Firearm Safety

Since 2014, Texas has unfortunately witnessed gruesome mass shootings at Fort Hood (2014), the Dallas police shooting (2016), the Sutherland Springs church shooting (2017), Santa Fe High School Shooting (2018), El Paso Walmart Shooting (2019), Midland-Odessa shooting (2019), and the Uvalde school shooting (2022).

Alpha Kappa Alpha is advocating for any legislation that SUPPORTS stricter laws on carrying firearms, specifically assault-style weapons. More needs to be done to strengthen the process for background checks before an individual can purchase a weapon online, in stores, and at gun shows. Therefore, we ask that you SUPPORT HB 996 (Thierry) and all similar legislation. Lastly, AKA advocates for access to gun safety education for parents and students.

Call to Action

With these priorities in mind, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority encourages its members to become familiar with their local representatives (https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home). Members are also encouraged to send emails, make phone calls and schedule in-person visits with elected officials. This call to action is encouraged to ensure the organization’s collective voices are used to influence policy. As the legislature convenes, members of AKA Connection and Social Action committee will monitor legislation and report back to their respective communities. The organization plans to host a post-AKA Day event after the 88^th Legislative Session ends to provide updates on bills and the next steps in regard to legislative priorities.

For more information visit http://www.aka1908.com. Follow the South-Central Region on social media at Facebook: @SouthCentralAKA , Instagram: @southcentralaka, and Twitter: @southcentralAKA

The post Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® South Central Region Hosts over 350 Members during AKA Day Texas appeared first on Houston Forward Times.

The post Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® South Central Region Hosts over 350 Members during AKA Day Texas first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Forward Times Staff

Posts by Forward Times Staff

Up Next

Ruth Carter Makes History at Oscars

Don't Miss

Topic: Hesitancy to Get COVID-19 Vaccination While Caring for Loved Ones

Forward Times Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — “I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.”

Published

3 days ago

June 20, 2025

admin

By Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
46th President of the United States: 2021—2025

The people of Galveston, Texas, have been commemorating Juneteenth since the Civil War ended. Yesterday, in honor of the 160^th anniversary, I went there to join them.

You can read about the events of Juneteenth, but there’s nothing quite like going to Galveston and seeing where it all happened.

After General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, Union troops marched across the South for two months, freeing enslaved people along the way. Their final stop was Galveston, an island off the Gulf coast of Texas. There, on June 19, 1865, Union troops went to Reedy Chapel, a church founded in 1848 by enslaved people, and posted a document titled simply “General Order #3.”

“The people of Texas are informed,” it said, “that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

We can only imagine the joy that spread through Galveston – and across the state and nation – on that day and those that followed.

Yesterday, there was once again joy in Galveston, with a parade, picnic, and fireworks. There was also great solemnity, because Juneteenth is a sacred day – a day of weight and power.

The Book of Psalms tells us: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and the promise of that joyful morning to come.

As President, I had the great honor of signing the law declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. It was our nation’s first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created in 1983.

Our federal holidays say a lot about who we are as a nation. We have holidays celebrating our independence… the laborers who build this nation… the servicemembers who served and died in its defense.

And now, we also have a national holiday dedicated to the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans.

Signing that law was one of my proudest acts as President.

Yet for 156 years, Juneteenth was not written about in textbooks or taught in classrooms. Still today, there are those who say it does not deserve a holiday. They don’t want to remember the moral stain of slavery and the terrible harm it did to our country.

I’ve always believed that we need to be honest about our history, especially in the face of ongoing efforts to erase it. Darkness can hide much, but it erases nothing. Only with truth can come healing, justice, and repair.

I also believe that it’s not enough to commemorate the past. We must also embrace the obligation we have to the future. As Scripture says, “Faith without works is dead.” And right now, we Americans need to keep the faith and do the work.

In honor of Juneteenth, let’s help people register to vote.

For decades, we fought to expand voting rights in America. Now we’re living in an era when relentless obstacles are being thrown in the way of people trying to vote. We can’t let those tactics defeat us. In America, the power belongs with the people. And the way we show that power is by voting.

So let’s reach out to family, friends and neighbors – especially those who have never voted before. Remind them that with voting, anything is possible. And without it, nothing is possible.

Yesterday in Galveston, we gathered in Reedy Chapel to commemorate Juneteenth, just like people have done for 160 years and counting. We prayed, sang, and read General Order #3 again. The pews were full of families. How many people must have prayed for freedom inside those walls. How many must have sent fervent thanks to God when slavery finally ended.

I remembered the words of my late friend John Lewis. He said, “Freedom is not a state. It is an act.”

Juneteenth did not mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality. It only marked the beginning. To honor the true meaning of Juneteenth, we must continue to work toward that promise. For our freedom. For our democracy. And for America itself.

admin

Posts by admin

#NNPA BlackPress

Cities Across the U.S. Shrink or Cancel Juneteenth Events as DEI Support Wanes

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship.

Published

3 days ago

June 19, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Across the country, Juneteenth celebrations are being scaled back or eliminated as public funding dries up and corporations withdraw sponsorship. In many communities, the once-growing recognition of the holiday is facing sharp resistance tied to the unraveling of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

In Denver, Colorado, the annual Juneteenth Music Festival, one of the largest in the nation—was cut from two days to one. Organizers said more than a dozen corporate sponsors walked away from commitments, leaving them with a financial gap that almost canceled the event. Norman Harris, the festival’s executive director, said several companies “pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year.” Harris credited grassroots donors and small businesses for stepping in when larger backers stepped aside.

In Colorado Springs, the local celebration was relocated to the Citadel Mall parking lot after support from previous sponsors disappeared. Organizers noted that where there were once dozens of corporate partners, only five remained. The downsized event was pieced together with limited resources, but community leaders said they refused to let the holiday go unacknowledged.

Scottsdale, Arizona, canceled its Juneteenth observance after the city council voted to dissolve its diversity, equity, and inclusion office in February. Without the office in place, the city offered no support for planning or funding, leaving residents without an official celebration.

In San Diego, the Cooper Family Foundation lost a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that had been earmarked for Juneteenth programming. Organizers said the decision forced them to personally finance key elements of the event, including cultural exhibits, performances, and youth engagement activities.

Bend, Oregon, called off its Juneteenth event entirely. Organizers cited political tensions and safety concerns, saying they could not secure the partnerships needed to proceed. A public statement from the planning committee described the current climate as “increasingly volatile,” making it difficult to host a safe and inclusive event.

West Virginia, which has recognized Juneteenth as a paid state holiday since 2017, will not sponsor any official events this year. State leaders pointed to budget constraints and recent decisions to eliminate DEI programming across agencies as the reasons for stepping away from public observance.

Austin, Texas, has also reduced its Juneteenth programming. While the city has not canceled events outright, organizers said diminished city support and fewer private contributions forced them to focus only on core activities.

“Thankfully, there was a wide range of support that came when we made the announcement that the celebration is in jeopardy,” said Harris. “But it shows how fragile that support has become.”

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Juneteenth and President Trump

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Published

3 days ago

June 19, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent

President Trump is set to proclaim the federal observance of Juneteenth as the White House is open for business on this holiday. The White House says the president will sign a “historic proclamation designating Juneteenth as a National Day of Observance, marking the 160th anniversary of General Order Number 3 in Galveston, Texas.” The declaration was that “all slaves are free.” This Trump proclamation, according to the White House, “will celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation, the Republican Party’s role in passing the 13th Amendment, and reaffirm the administration’s dedication to equal justice and prosperity for all.”

This proclamation comes as President Trump has denounced Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and anything Woke. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom from the tyranny of 250 years of slavery after the Civil War.

The Juneteenth celebration started when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, and told the slaves that they were free on June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was created.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which is on display in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Juneteenth is a day for African Americans in this nation to connect to their ancestry. It honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The primary focus is freedom and the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

The Juneteenth federal holiday was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden on June 19, 2021. This Trump White House is in full swing today, with a press briefing by Karoline Leavitt, not taking the federal holiday off. Also, President Trump will receive an intelligence briefing in the morning and participate in a swearing-in ceremony for the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.