Inspired by a shared vision to grow and expand the footprint of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, the Capital City Pearls embarked on a pursuit of hope to charter a new graduate chapter in the District of Columbia, with a focus on serving the communities “East of the River” (Southwest and Southeast) in Washington, D.C. A long-held dream for the women of Capital City Pearls, they knew firsthand the challenges residents in the southern quadrants of the city faced daily – food deserts, access to affordable housing, good healthcare, lack of job opportunities, and the need for better performing schools – and saw it as their obligation to help bring forward positive change.
Filled with excitement and determination, these trailblazers set forth on a monumental endeavor. The group held its first of many virtual meetings in 2020, to strategize on the needs of the proposed target areas and to lay the foundation for establishing a new chapter. Under the leadership and guidance of the 34th North Atlantic Regional Director, Mary Bentley LaMar, the group began preparing its application to become an Interest Group. As word quickly spread about the potential of a new graduate chapter forming in Washington, D.C., so did interest from inactive/general members, support from community partners Martha’s Table, Ascensions Psychological Services, College Bound, Community of Hope, the Richard Wright Public Charter School of Journalism and Media Arts, and Allen Chapel AME Church to name a few, as well as members of the D.C. Council – Vincent C. Gray (Ward 7), Trayon White (Ward 8) and Charles Allen (Ward 6), and the three AKA Graduate Chapters in D.C. – Xi Omega, Xi Zeta Omega, Rho Mu Omega – who all graciously provided letters of support on the group’s behalf.
Working under a tight deadline, the group reached its first milestone when it submitted its application for Interest Group status on January 24, 2021. As a result, the North Atlantic Regional Director, notified the group via a surprise virtual meeting on April 5, 2021, that they received approval to operate as an official Interest Group by the Directorate of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. On May 15, 2021, the North Atlantic Regional Director met with some of the interest group members in Washington, D.C. to extend her support and welcome to the Capital City Pearls as the newest Interest Group in the North Atlantic Region.
Overcome with joy, the group realized this was just the first step on this journey and there was much more work to do. The women forged ahead and one of the first matters of business that they had to decide on was their name. By majority vote, Capital City Pearls was the chosen name to pay homage to their location in the Nation’s Capital.
Soon thereafter, the group established committees and executive board members, bylaws, and created a budget to implement service programs. Despite the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Capital City Pearls worked diligently and strategically to align the needs of the community with the sorority’s International Program (i.e., Women’s Healthcare and Wellness, HBCU for Life: A Call to Action, Building Your Economic Legacy, the Arts, and Global Impact) and fostered relationships with community leaders and stakeholders to be an asset to the community.
Over the course of the year, the group has organized and participated in 15 service projects, held its first fundraiser that raised more than $16k, and taken part in several sorority workshops, cluster meetings, and the 91st North Atlantic Regional Conference. On March 12, 2022, Madam Regional Director, Mary Bentley Lamar led an in-person orientation for Capital City Pearls to help the group get reacquainted with the Sorority and bond together as sisters.
Capital City Pearls grew in numbers and ultimately represents 68 diverse women from different backgrounds, ages, professions, and dedicated years of sisterhood and service to the Sorority. It may have taken years to build the foundation and lay the groundwork, but victory prevailed on May 20, 2022, when the group was granted approval to charter a new chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, becoming the fourth graduate chapter in Washington, D.C., and joining over 140 chapters in the North Atlantic Region. Shortly after receiving approval, the plans for a chartering ceremony were underway and the celebration to welcome the new chapter took place on June 26, 2022 at 3:00 pm.
Service is at the core of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and these 68 women are reminded daily of the possibilities that are born out of faith and hard work. This is the same faith and hard work that served the Founders of this illustrious Sorority over 100 years ago. In the decades and generations to come, this chapter will expand the Founders’ vision by providing “Service to all Mankind” in the Southwest and Southeast communities of Washington, D.C.
Alpha Beta Upsilon Omega Chapter is located in the Notable North Atlantic Region. Learn more information on Region and other chapters within.
Learn more about the history of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.