Chapter History

In early 2006, Tiffany Moore Russell, Daya Irene Taylor, and Ereka Watson-Lee first discussed the idea of organizing a new chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in the metropolitan Orlando area. These three individuals, now known as the group’s visionaries, embraced the thought of reclaiming members who had graduated and were not affiliated with a graduate chapter, as well as members who had become inactive for various reasons.

After contacting several active members, the group held its first meeting at the home of Ereka Watson Lee on March 5, 2006. In attendance at this first meeting were: Keatrun Brown, Tiffany Cowart-Hughes, Jennifer Edwards, Candace Hendley, Tamara Johnson, Tiffany Moore Russell, Sonja Noland, Dionne Puckerin Holt, LaTonya Stark, Daya Irene Taylor, Roberta Walton, and Ereka Watson-Lee. At that time, all twelve (12) individuals voted unanimously to formulate an unofficial interest group called Project Orange County. It was at this meeting that an initial slate of officers was selected and discussions were held about the group’s purpose and priorities in the community.

The members of Project Orange County discussed their various programs and commitments to service and collected all of the required materials needed to establish a new chapter. As more members heard about the new project to establish a new charter, the group increased to thirty-five (35) members, all with the same vision to serve the community through illustrating Alpha Kappa Alpha’s dedication to “Service To All Mankind”. They worked diligently to accomplish the goal of reclaiming inactive members, while building on the goals of the sorority with its emphasis in leadership and economic development.

On November 11, 2006, the group hosted the Centennial South Atlantic Regional Director, Ella Springs Jones for the Pink Pearl Petition. It was at that time, the members of Project Orange County petitioned their regional administration for official interest group status. The hard work of the interest group came to a climactic moment when, in 2007, at the 55th South Atlantic Regional Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Ella Springs Jones officially recognized Project Orange County as the Pink Pearls of Class Interest Group.

By culture and by merit, the group accomplished many feats and became widely known throughout the local Greek community. The interest group developed an affiliation with Orange County’s Pine Hills Community Center as a meeting site and successfully launched a 9-month tutoring program at the Callahan Community Center resulting in a volunteer service honor from the City of Orlando. They provided a number of services including adopting a family all year long, providing food, clothing, and school supplies while also conducting a Non-Traditional Entrepreneur Empowerment Seminar highlighting several of the area’s top female entrepreneurs. Donations were provided to help with scholarship and service projects implemented by other Greek organizations such as, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and other Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chapters in the area. The group also participated in 5K Walk/Run events in support of programs such as Orange County Head Start, Sickle Cell, Diabetes, Cancer as well as local Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday parades.

With the guidance and dedication of the Centennial South Atlantic Regional Director, Ella Springs Jones, the Pink Pearls of Class received the good news on March 13, 2008, that the Directorate of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. had approved their charter application.

With hard work and commitment to “ESP”, the momentous occasion of chartering this new chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in metropolitan Orlando, Florida, was held on the afternoon of June 28, 2008. The foundation that was established created a dominating legacy that will forever reach the highest standards of success. This is her story, the journey from Project Orange County, to Pink Pearls of Class, and finally to Psi Theta Omega.

Psi Theta Omega Charter Member Certificate, June 28, 2008