Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

The Delta Omega Chapter Newsletter

From The Desk of Madam President

Shelly Lewis Gatling

Welcome to the official newsletter for Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Indeed, as the 48th president of this historic chapter, it gives me great honor, humility and privilege to resurrect the Delta Omega Newsletter (The DON). 

We commend those who have worked hard to birth the resurrection of this vitally important newsletter, including Sisters Angela Green and Monique L. Akassi, co-chairs for the Public Relations Committee. It truly takes a village to continue our legacy of "Service to all Mankind."

In this issue we are proud to feature a year of "Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood" from our recent community service activities to exciting upcoming events. Indeed, it is our hope and intention that The DON will serve as a platform to showcase our rich legacy of serviceably "galvanizing our sisterhood...to lead on the front lines of change, education, and advocacy."

We hope that you will enjoy our quarterly based issues, which will include upcoming events, announcements, and news coverage. We encourage all Committee Chairs to submit articles from your designated areas for publication consideration to be featured in future issues by simply emailing drafts and photos to

ivyleafreporter1921@gmail.com with "Publication Consideration" in the Subject line and Attention: Soror Monique L. Akassi, Publicity Co-Chairmen.

On Saturday, August 12, 2023 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated's Delta Omega Chapter hosted a leadership retreat at the Country Club of Petersburg.

A special thank you to the Retreat's special guest presenter, Dr. Phyllis Haynes of the International Standards Committee, representative from the Mid-Atlantic Region, and member of the Tau Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

The retreat provided innovative leadership skills training, strategic planning, and fellowship. The Sisterly Relations activities forged greater sisterly bonds.

Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated would like to congratulate the 2023 scholarship recipients! Applications were due March 30, 2023. On June 3, 2023 the scholarship winners were announced, receiving scholarships ranging in the amount of $650.00--$1,500.

This year's scholarship recipients included Hydea Chappell-Jone of Hopewell High School and Virginia State University was awarded the Trojan Tuition Scholarship; Lauren Parham of Dinwiddie High School and Virginia State University was awarded the Trojan Book Scholarship; Jaylah Taliaffero of Petersburg High School and Virginia State University was awarded the Trojan Tuition Scholarship; Kyla Jackson of Hopewell High School and Virginia State University was awarded the Trojan Book Scholarship;Desiree Rawlings of ARGS and Howard University was awarded the HBCU Tuition Scholarship;Hannah Bennett of Hopewell High School and Superman College was awarded the HBCU Tuition Scholarship; Jordan McClenney or ARGS and Superman College was awarded the HBCU Book Scholarship; and Taryn Gay of ARGS and Howard University was awarded the HBCU Book Scholarship.

Each year Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated offers scholarships to high school graduate seniors intending to pursue a college education at a Historically Black College or University.Students may apply for all listed scholarships, but only one will be awarded per person. For more information, please visit https://www.aka-deltaomega.org/scholarships.

Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated had a highly successful turnout for the “Black Dollar Days” during the month of June!

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®️ invited all of Sisters to “Wear Pink, Spend Green, and Buy Black,” to collectively support Black and minority-owned businesses. In addition, every week in June, they shared a new category and industry to support “PINK FRIDAY!” 

Pledges were made in the amount of $19.08 per week, and pledgers were able to track expenses by signing into the Members Only portal and find the “Black Dollar Days” tracking form to enter weekly spending. The goal was to collectively spend $8 million in one month! 

Delta Omega Chapter would like to recognize and thank everyone who participated in the Black Dollar Days by using hashtags: #AKAPinkFridays #BlackDollarDays #BuildEconomicWealth and tagged #AKA1908. 

On Sunday, May 7, 2023 the Delta Omega Chapter hosted a high tea party for its illustrious members, including those who have reached the milestone as Silver members, serving 25 years as active members; and Golden members who have served 50 years or more as active members.

Congratulations to the beautiful Golden and Silver members of Delta Omega's Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated! Their dedication and commitment are unwavering and greatly appreciated.

By Joyce Spencer

Petersburg, VA- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Omega Chapter hosted a well-attended, “Ninth Annual Archives Day” for the Mid-Atlantic-Region on June 9, 2023.  

Held under the leadership of Chapter President, Shelly Lewis Gatling, this informative workshop program, “How to Preserve Your Chapter Documents," engaged attendees in valuable presentations and activities.  The workshop was conducted by International Archivist, Linda Simmons Henry and greetings were extended by the Regional Director, Nadine Vargas Steward; and the President of Virginia State University (VSU), Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. Virginia State University serves as the repository for the regional archives.  Under the direction of the Mistress of Ceremonies, First Vice President, Latanya Davenport, the program flowed smoothly.  The “Occasion” was delivered by Ms. Deborah Green and dedicated in honor of recently deceased Ivy Beyond the Wall, Doris Howard Ridley, who was instrumental in initiating Archives Day. 

The theme of the occasion was “Welcome Back Archives Day: Inspired by the Past; Revitalizing the Present; Guiding the Future."  Archivists and historians of the Mid-Atlantic Region fellowshipped during the luncheon while basking in sisterhood among chapters.  Ms. Tessa Perry, Dean of the VSU Library Science Department, shared that "We as preservers of our history must record and protect authenticity."

The day closed with a presentation from Dr. Renee Escoffery-Torres, former President of Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated-- who recently wrote an updated Delta Omega history book entitled One Hundred Years of Excellence: A History of Delta Omega Chapter, The Centennial Edition, provided a tour of buildings named for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.  This long-awaited Archives Day will be recorded as a successful event after a three year hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Welcome Back, Archives Day!