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On March 15, 1997, a small group of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority women formed an interest group called Sisters with Pearls as the first step toward developing an AKA chapter in Madison County, Illinois, and to provide service to its communities. The Upsilon Phi Omega (UPO) Alumnae Chapter was chartered on Saturday, January 31, 1998, at Mount Joy Baptist Church, Edwardsville, Illinois, under the leadership of AKA’s Central Regional Director Peggy Lewis LeCompte within the administration of National President Eva Evans. Upsilon Phi Omega Chapter made history that day as the first graduate chapter of a Greek letter organization of primarily African American membership in Madison County. At the ceremony and the reception that followed, the seventeen charter members greeted local, county, and national political and service leaders as well as family, friends, and representatives from other Pan Hellenic Council organizations in southern Illinois and St. Louis, MO.
Subsequently, members of this growing chapter have worked tirelessly to make a significant difference in Madison County. UPO has provided more than $100,000 in educational scholarships to college-bound students; since 1998 donated literally tons of foods and thousands of coats to the Glen-Ed Pantry and the Alton Crisis Center; assisted in the revitalization of area parks; co-sponsored annual (1998-2015) G.E.M.S. Workshops (Girls Experiencing Math and Science); directed yearly youth enrichment programs (including Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) and ASCEND, the current AKA national initiative. Other UPO community endeavors include Book Bag/School Supply Drive (for Venice schools); Adopt-a-Family (Edwardsville elementary school); Turkey Give-a-Way (Alton Crisis Center); Angel Tree Adoption (Children of Incarcerated Parents); annual Back to School/Backpack distributions; Dress for Success; successful voter registration drives; and numerous health initiatives (annual Charles Drew Blood Drives, local nursing home visits, Lupus Walk, Komen Walk, Sistah Strut, American Heart Association, National Awareness of Mental Illness, and Relay for Life). |
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MEMBERS WHO HAVE HELD REGIONAL POSITIONS:
Heather Woodard Regional Protocol Committee, 2014- 2016 Shana Carpenter Central Regional Program Com. Cluster V, 2014- 2016 |
MEMBERS WHO HAVE HELD NATIONAL POSITIONS:
Adele Johnson Carpenter National Archives Committee, 1998-2002 Shana Carpenter National Rituals Committee, 2006-2007 |
